The Full Picture of Health: Beyond Nutrition & Exercise
Health is SO much more than the food you eat or the type or amount of exercise you do.
I admit — and I’m right there struggling along with you — that it can be hard to widen our view beyond diet and exercise. The reality is, there is a lot more out there that impacts our health.
A lot of what I end up helping my clients do is tune into some of these other areas. It’s really beautiful to watch their ah-ha moments and how their focus shifts to different areas as time goes by.
To keep things in proper perspective and help it not feel overwhelming, I created a model that I now teach all my clients. This month I want to dive into it a bit because regardless of if you work with me or not, it can be a helpful guide on your health journey.
The Setting the Table Model
Setting the Table is simple, but profound. Imagine a table at a wedding reception, or a special meal. Everything is chosen and placed with care and for the enjoyment of the guest. When we think of our lives like that beautiful table, we consider how God has given us all these areas of our lives and how we are called to utilize our gifts, our health, our lives, for His glory.
Tablecloth: Symbolizes our faith, the foundation for everything.
Charger/Service Plate: It rests on the tablecloth but under the dinner plate. We don’t eat off of it; it’s just there for beauty and support. The charger/service plate represents Primary Food, the 12 areas of our lives that impact our health.
Dinner Plate: Signifies the food we consume.
When you pay attention to how your table is set, your priorities are in the right order — God first! — and you’re better able to nourish yourself on all levels; not getting hung up on just diet or just exercise, for example.
This holistic approach gives you a complete view of health and reframes self-care in a whole new light.
Primary Food: Beyond What's on Your Plate
The concept of primary food is what my clients over and over again say is one of the most helpful and long-lasting adaptations they learn and practice with me. Primary food encompasses the areas of our lives that influence our health, for example, spirituality, career, and relationships.
When we stop and think about this, it can seem obvious—but how often do you stop and think about it? When was the last time you asked yourself how satisfied you are in your relationships? How about with your faith? In your job and/or vocation?
One thing I love about assessing these areas is that you get to define what success in each area looks like for YOU. On a call with a client recently, just the realization that she can define what successful movement looks like for her at this particular point in her life gave her a new sense of freedom and hope for her self-care.
Looking at these various areas helps us pull back and see the bigger picture. And, of course, we’ve started with prayer so we’re allowing God to guide and direct us as we look at the areas of primary food as well as the food on our plates.
Learn More and Get a New Twist
While primary food is powerful for us as moms, it can be really amazing to start teaching our kids to notice these areas, too.
Last fall I had the privilege of being interviewed by Katie Kimball, the amazing mom, educator, and businesswoman behind KitchenStewardship.com and KidsCookRealFood.com. When she and I first connected about a very special project she agreed to do for me (stay tuned!!), Katie was really intrigued about the whole concept of Primary Foods. In all her years in the wellness world, she’d never heard that terminology.
I’ve been an avid fan of Katie’s for years, and I was thrilled to be interviewed! In our conversation we explored the 12 areas of Primary Food as well as how they can apply to parenting. Click here to watch the interview for valuable insights and practical tips to help you and your family thrive.
