By Becky Streeter
Eating too much of a good (tasting) thing may cause uncomfortable symptoms in anyone, and it can be really hard to say “no” during the holidays. Instead of limiting yourself and creating a season of “avoidance” that can be difficult to maintain, Tamara Delveaux, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and owner of Belly Love Holistic Wellness, suggests embracing a season of abundance.
Tammie developed Belly Love as a food-first, body-positive approach to health. After discovering and managing her own autoimmune diseases, Tammie made significant lifestyle and diet changes that caused her to feel better and even thrive. She is now trained in Nutritional Therapy and Integrative Nutrition because she wants others to feel that same healing and love for their bodies. She says it all starts in the belly.
“I chose the name Belly Love for two reasons,” says Tammie. “Many of our health issues boil down to the gut–our own individual microbiome and everything happening in our intestines can be the cause of many of our ailments. The other part of my practice is to create an inclusive, body-positive safe space. We do not count calories, we count nutrients. We believe ‘food is medicine,’ and we use it as such to heal our bodies from the inside out.”
Tammie believes everyone can eat food that aligns with their goals and is still delicious, during the holidays and beyond. She says, “We are going to be health deviants on this journey together. We are going to treat ourselves with the most beautiful, delicious food from the earth that honors our body so that we can bring our body back in balance and be our best self.” Though this can be trickier during the holiday season, Tammie has a few suggestions for a good place to start:
1. Eat the Rainbow - Each color in produce has different purposes and nutrients. For example, orange carrots and yellow egg yolks contain vitamin A and retinol, which are important for tissue repair.
2. Eat What’s in Season - Our bodies are genetically driven to eat seasonally in order to get nutrients we need at the time of year. In the fall, we often crave specific produce, such as apples and squash, as well as nourishing soups and bone broth.
3. Fat, Fiber and Protein - These components provide a fully satiating, balanced meal that helps with focus and improves energy and mood. Find fiber in fruits and veggies, fats in unprocessed sources, and quality protein.
Tammie offers many services through Belly Love Holistic Wellness, including nutritional therapy and health coaching, as well as cooking classes at the Forage on S. Barstow St. in Eau Claire. She can help meal plan, provide customized grocery lists and even recommend local restaurants that stay within specific diet and lifestyle goals. “We are all made differently and we have our own light that we shine into the world,” says Tammie. “We want that light to shine as brightly as possible.”
For more information, or to sign up for a free consultation or cooking class, visit bellyloveholisticwellness.com.
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