When we think about wellness, it’s often food or diet that first comes to mind. After all, what we eat plays a huge role in how we feel and how our bodies function.

At Integrative Nutrition, we believe there is more to a healthy diet than just the food we put into our bodies.  Simply changing your diet may not be enough to help you thrive if other areas of life are out of balance.

For example: you can eat brown rice and kale every day and go to the gym every evening, but if you’re stuck in an unfulfilling job or a toxic relationship, then you’re just not going to feel truly healthy and happy on a deeper level.

That’s why one of the core concepts we teach in our Health Coach Training Program is called Primary Food, and it’s not quite as edible as it sounds!

The bottom line is: when you are nourished and happy in the ways that truly matter, food becomes secondary. 

Here are some of the things we consider to be Primary Foods:

• Regular physical movement
• Meaningful positive relationships
• Fulfilling work
• Some form of spiritual connection (whatever that means for you)
• Following your personal passions
• Non-dietary forms of self-care
• Playfulness, creativity, and fun

We believe these things are very important, don’t you?

At Integrative Nutrition, our students not only learn over 100 dietary theories, unique wellness concepts like bio-individuality, and how to actually begin a Health Coaching practice, but they also walk away having touched upon countless other forms of personal wellness that should all be addressed in the interest of whole mind-body wellness.

Holistic balance is at the heart of our approach, and it’s one of the things our students and graduates value most about their Integrative Nutrition education!

With the concept of Primary Food in mind - take a moment now to assess the above areas of your life. Does anything stand out as currently lacking or out of balance? Pick just one for now, and bring some mindful attention to it over the next few weeks and months. Sometimes just realizing that something isn’t quite right is the first step to reclaiming balance in that area.

What are your thoughts on Primary Food? We welcome any takeaways in the comments below!

If you’d like to learn more about this concept, check out Primary Food: Nourishment Beyond the Plate, written by the Founder and Primary Teacher of Integrative Nutrition, Joshua Rosenthal.