Finding the Art of Nutrition: A Guest Post

Hello everyone!  I have a wonderful guest poster for Dining By Numbers today: Dani, Health & Nutrition Counselor and Fitness Trainer, and blogger at Dani Spies.  Dani is sharing her very wise tips for finding “the art of nutrition,” in those instances when science isn’t present (i.e. when you are unable to dine by numbers).  There is some great food for thought here, so I’ll let Dani take it away.

How To Tap Into The Art Of Nutrition When The Science Is Nowhere To Be Found

If there is anything that I’ve learned in my lifelong studies of health and nutrition it’s that there is both a science and an art involved.

The science of nutrition entails the tangible, concrete facts. Things like micro and macro nutrients, carbs, proteins and fats, and of course, calories. These are topics that most of us are very familiar with.

The art, on the other hand, is a little less tangible, a lot more elusive and invites us to find comfort within ambiguity. The art asks us to let go of some of the scientific rules we hold in our minds and to tune into what is our bodies are asking for. The art asks us to let go of the need to control every calorie we consume and just kind of ride the wave.

I have found that it is somewhere in between the science and the art of nutrition that I have been able to reach my health goals all while finding balance and happiness in the journey!

Now, since Lara is our go-to girl when it comes to having the scientific nutritional info we need when we’re eating out, I thought I would approach eating out from the angle of “nutritional art”.

Here are a handful of tips you can use to practice your nutritional art skills the next time you find yourself out for a meal without the nutritional guidelines you might prefer to have.

Five Ways to Practice The Art of Nutrition When The Science Is Nowhere To Be Found:

1. Think ahead. Try to get in touch with what you are in the mood for before you even enter the restaurant. Often times we know exactly what our bodies want but end up being swayed by the sights and smells that surround us in the restaurant. We’ve all had that moment when we order the fries “just because they look good” and not because we really want them. Taking a moment to tune into your body before ordering is a great way to make a nutritious choice.

2. Go with the flow. Now I know this may seem like I am contradicting number one but sometimes when you go to a restaurant you really do want to order something just because it looks or sounds good and that’s okay too! I mean, how many times have you wanted the fries but wouldn’t let yourself order them because you know they aren’t “healthy” just to end up eating more food than you ever would have had you just ordered the fries in the first place! This, my friends, is why sometimes we need to just go with the flow.

3. Breathe. Taking a few deep breathes between bites or simply engaging in some good, juicy conversation can help us to slow down the pace at which we eat making it a lot easier for us to recognize when we have had enough and avoid the discomfort of overeating. Not to mention that oxygen literally helps to speed up our metabolism, so the next time you are eating out don’t forget to breathe!

4. Share. What’s more fun than sharing something you love with someone you love? And as we all know, restaurant portion sizes can be humongous these days! Try finding a dish that you and a friend both want to try and then rather than ordering two separate dishes you can split your newfound favorite and save a few bucks too.

5. Enjoy. It is nearly impossible to over eat when you are taking pleasure in the act of eating. Pleasure is all about feeling good. It’s about going slow, savoring and enjoying. Staying present with our bodies and our eating experience is a sure fire way to eat the right amount of food for our bodies and avoid the dreaded conundrum of over eating.

Hopefully you guys will find this tips helpful the next time you find yourself eating out without the help of nutritional guidelines!

Dani Spies is a Health & Nutrition Counselor, Mom, and Author & Host of DaniSpies.com. She is passionate about creating realistic nourishing meals for a healthy home and sharing them with others.