We can reframe how we look at how we eat together as a family.

– Julia Sarver

On this episode of the Plan Simple Meals Podcast, I’m really excited to talk with Julia Sarver, a holistic health coach and business strategist for health coaches. She’s run her own health coaching practice based in Portland, Oregon since 2009 and has led over 1,000 clients to success with her short detox program (we’ll dive into that).

Julia and I talk about what it’s like eating outside the norm. Julia’s mom is from Denmark and had ideas about food that didn’t fit the Standard American Diet, so Julia grew up eating healthy meals and not having dessert every day. Even so a health crisis made her take a new look at what she was eating.

We talk about detoxing and the mindwork around making major changes in how you eat. Julia is all about getting people to make the better decision in the moment—and showing them how much better they can feel. We both agree that too many people tolerate things in their lives because they don’t realize how much better it could be.

We talk about:

• How Julia found out her body couldn’t handle gluten or dairy (she was convinced that she’d never eat anything delicious again)—and how she felt when she cut them out
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• Why short detoxes are successful—they’re approachable and and you have a moment when you rebel and decide to up and quit
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• Trusting our bodies and how we feel, not just studies
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• Simplifying meal routines and meal planning and having a list of go-to places to give yourself a break
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• Finding a way for you to eat that works for you without you feeling guilty about it
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• And Julia’s best birthday meal ever.
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BIO

Julia Sarver is a holistic health coach and business strategist for health coaches. She’s run her own health coaching practice based in Portland, OR, since 2009 and has led over 1,000 clients to success with her short detox program. She’s also the mom to the world’s cutest 3-year old. Julia loves a giant salad with a side of fries, and doesn’t like sugar-coated anything—including advice.

LINKS

eatwithoutapology.com

Doable Changes from this episode:

• FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. If you are making changes to your diet, focus on what you can eat, instead of what you can’t. Stock up on delicious foods that fit your new way of eating, so that when you are hungry you can eat something yummy that serves your body.
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• WRITE DOWN WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR BODY. Keep a journal about how you feel—did you sleep poorly, have gas, feel bloated, get tired at 1PM . . . It’s easy to overlook symptoms until you start to see how often they happen. Knowing what is happening in your body (and that you can do something about it) is a doable step toward deciding to make a change.
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• SIMPLIFY MEAL ROUTINES AND PLANNING. Have a few go-to breakfasts that you put in rotation. Simply what you cook—few ingredients, steamed veggies. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be healthy. Focus on what works, not what you think you “should” be making.
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REALLY getting healthy as a family can be a big lifestyle change. But no matter how insurmountable it may feel, focusing on one doable change at a time can help you take small steps toward your big goal. 

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