Written by: Chandra Zas, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Parents keep asking me what makes my little one so outstanding. They look at me trying to figure out what I am doing differently. They ask questions. They want to know. One of my little one’s teachers noticed the connection between which foods we send her to school with compared to the kids who get a bagel. Her teacher, Lisa, asked me to educate the other parents on which foods give kids the best chance of self-regulating. The bagel kid was struggling while my little one was showing up present.
Food makes a tremendous impact on the health of our body, our microbiome, our brain, our emotional state, and our ability to show up present. Food affects how we feel in all the ways.
The loop that many modern humans are stuck in is over-using food. We use food to comfort a hard emotion, we use food to celebrate, we use food to distract us, we use food when we are bored, we use food to get a dopamine hit, and we use food as a reward.
This is the food and mood journey that changes food relationships permanently
And it is how I feed my little one. Ninety-nine percent of the time I offer her nourishing food or nourishing food. She gets to choose between avocado and egg or flour-free tahini bread and egg.
To serve food for the purpose of nourishing our family is the best gift we can give to everyone. To reduce the likelihood of disease. To gain energy and time of day. To have a clear and productive mind. To feel and show up emotionally stable. To self-regulate.
When we eat nourishing food, we feel good, when we feel good we show up and behave better. Happiness and mood regulation start with good food.
A new teacher gave our little one a donut a few weeks ago for Hanukkah. I was so glad she told me because then I knew why my little one had a melt down. I held her and loved her through her meltdown. Sugar makes kids feel and act crazy.
Now, parents, you might be wondering right about now if feeding your kids nourishing foods means food changes for you. It does. Stay with me. Being a parent is a special window of change where we innately want to give our kids the best. We want to grow and be a healthy role model.
Once we see how powerful their desire to imitate us is, we get a wake up call, a clear reflection of what we are teaching by example. There is no better time than being a parent to embody the change. I encourage you to take this golden opportunity and make the food changes you have always wanted to make for yourself and for your family.
The trick is to get into your WHY. Why do you eat the way you do? Because you are not clear on what is actually healthy? Because everybody else does? Because it's a habit? Because you're ignoring parts of your life that need addressing?
I made a class to share exactly how to deal with the 'why' and the food practices that I recommend for every family. https://zen-odyssey.passion.io/
Chandra Zas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Chandra Zas is helping entrepreneurs prioritize their health with the goal of super-athlete performance and presence; both in their business and their personal life. Her childhood lack of health made her realize at a very young age how crucial health is for being able to fully function and thrive. The same Food and Mood process that Chandra used to heal her health is the very process that her clients use to become their own body and brain expert, empowering them to perform at exceptional levels and achieve their dream work-life. The leader is the one who is able to regulate stress under pressure. A high performing mind starts with a healthy gut.
