A warm welcome to Grace Goodwin Dwyer who will be hosting our Nutrition for New Mamas & Raising Intuitive Eaters Workshops in May & June!
When it comes to our own nutrition and self-care, we mamas time and time again make a key mistake - and it might surprise you to find out what it is.
It's not eating too much sugar, nor is it skimping on fiber (if you know me or have worked with me before, you know that I'm not about restriction or food rules).
Nope - the common mistake I'm talking about is all-or-nothing thinking.
As a dietitian who specializes in working with moms (and as a new mom myself), I see so many parents struggling with the all-or-nothing mindset trap. In essence, this involves feeling like we have to do everything perfectly - or not bother at all.
Here's how all-or-nothing thinking may show up in your health journey, as a mom:
Either making a "complete" breakfast or just skipping it entirely because you don't have time for multi-step prep
Pressure to feed yourself (or your family) fresh homemade meals - and feeling like you failed if you ordered takeout or microwaved packaged meals
Trying hard to restrict your sweet tooth - then feeling guilt when you over-eat treats during nap time
Feeling like you need to devote an hour for a “real” workout - or it’s otherwise not worth it
Can you relate?
All-or-nothing thinking is harmful for two reasons:
There's no such thing as "perfection" when it comes to nutrition and health - so pursuing perfection (a.k.a., the "all" portion of all-or-nothing) is not just unsustainable, it's also unrealistic.
Being healthy is made up of small actions that accumulate over time, and may look different day to day. Doing whatever you have the space for on any given day - and feeling pride in that, rather than guilt - sets you on a true path to being healthy.
The alternative to all-or-nothing thinking is embracing the "in between" and doing what you have the bandwidth for. And I see you out there, mamas - you're taking care of small humans (maybe even multiple of them) amidst a heavy mental load, and your bandwidth may feel very constrained most days. That means small actions - like making time to sit down while you eat a snack or taking a few extra minutes to breathe - are more important than ever before.
Or maybe you're on the verge of motherhood - managing the physical and mental challenges of pregnancy while you deal with work and everything else on your plate. This is also a great time to start letting go of perfection and embracing the “in between.”
Here's what embracing "in between" may look like for you, health-wise:
Consistently eating breakfast, understanding that some days it may be more complete and other days it might be granola bars on the go, depending on your schedule
Prepping meals that are part ready-made (like frozen meatballs) and part fresh (like sliced veggies & rice), so that you're not too rushed in the kitchen after a busy day and can enjoy more family time
Giving yourself plenty of permission to eat sweets alongside all other foods, realizing that all foods can fit in a healthy life
Taking a 10-min walk or stretching session to move your body, and resting easy that that can be enough
We live in a culture where being "in between" can be hard because it's not as glamorous or frequently depicted on social media. But trust me when I say that once you release the pressure of trying to do it “all,” you may find it's a lot easier to do some :)
This is partly a behavior shift, but is also a mindset shift. Try it out today by identifying an area in your health where you feel guilt. Then, examine where you can soften the lines between all or nothing and find a happy medium.
If any of this resonated with you and you'd like more mindset shifts for nourishing yourself during motherhood, check out our upcoming workshops on May 25th and June 3rd - we’ll dive deeper into similar topics, along with connection and conversation with other mamas.
Hope to see you there!
Grace