My Food Philosophy

Over the past few months, I’ve gotten so many messages asking about my diet. 

And I get it. Our society is obsessed with the pursuit of health; obsessed over every little nuance and detail. Making it harder and harder to figure out what a healthy diet looks like, that isn’t influenced by brands or diet culture. 

At Munching with Mariyah, my slogan is “nourishing recipes to feel your best” because I truly believe that food has the power to change your well-being. The choices we make when it comes to our meals have a massive impact on our health over time. Which is why I believe in consciously choosing foods proven to help you feel your best, both mentally and physically. 

So I thought it would be fun to share my food philosophy with you. And explain a little bit about why I eat the way I do in hopes that it will help you!

But first, a quick disclaimer. 

There is no perfect diet. Everyone is unique, and it’s so important to eat in a way that is right for you. Don’t copy anyone else’s diet, because chances are, their diet won’t work for you. 

Some Background 

Going back to my slogan “nourishing recipes to feel your best” I wanted to expand on this a bit because it truly sums up my food philosophy. 

Dietary choices are a major factor of feeling good in your mind, body, and soul. Such as prioritizing nutrient-rich foods and fueling your body with balanced meals. Because feeling good in your body positively reflects into other facets of your life (such as family, work, overall mood, etc.)

This is why I’ve never been able to get behind mainstream dietitians who claim eating Oreos every day or chips whenever you want is healthy. Yes, you should have those now and again as a treat, but having unhealthy, highly processed foods every day is not good for your long term health. 

To be clear, I will never restrict myself from any food. If I’m craving something, I’ll make space in my diet for it. 

Going off of this, I believe it’s equally important to nourish your soul as well. Food goes beyond nutrition; it’s a source of pleasure, a way to connect with loved ones, celebrate special occasions, embrace different cultures, and so much more. 

My Food Philosophy 

My approach to eating healthy is super simple. Like super simple!!

Minimally processed ingredients, whole foods, and mostly plants. That’s it. That’s what a healthy diet looks like to me. 

That said, I truly believe that a healthy diet starts at the grocery store. The ingredients you use to cook with every single day have a huge impact on your health. Which is why buying quality ingredients and products is my main focus. 

That said, I’ll leave a link here with my grocery list of brands and ingredients I keep stocked in my kitchen.

But Do You Avoid Anything?? 

Keep in mind that when I say avoid these particular ingredients, it means I don’t eat these things regularly. Occasionally, I will have a treat or meal that has these ingredients in it; and I don’t sweat it. Life is meant to be enjoyed! 

• Flavors of any kind, both natural and artificial.
• Monosodium glutamate, MSG for short. 
• Artificial food dyes.
• Highly processed packaged foods, so most packaged cereals, cookies, etc. Again I’ve put together a list of brands I regularly buy from that I think use high-quality whole-food ingredients. 
• Seed oils; I don’t religiously avoid them, I just don’t cook with them at home.
• Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda, fruit drinks, and sports drinks. This also applies to artificially sweetened sodas as well and “healthy soda”. 
• Artificial sweeteners, including monk fruit sugar and stevia.
• Limit eating out as much as possible; tbh I don’t enjoy eating out much and as a family, we only do so for special occasions.

Current Diet 

I naturally gravitate towards plant-based foods and have always thrived on this dietary pattern. However, I still eat animal products; butter, eggs, and beef being the main three.

I know, I know, it looks like I’m fully plant-based. But in reality, I eat mainly plant-based with animal products dotted in whenever I can source it ethically.

Unfortunately, it’s become harder and harder to source ethically raised animal products, especially in the U.S. And let’s be honest, it’s now become a privilege to be able to buy meat/eggs/dairy from local farms that still have ethical and quality standards in place. 

Again, this is all my opinion and personal thoughts; everyone’s diet will look different, and this is what works best for me. 

Recap 

Okay, so that was a lot. So let’s recap. 

• My food philosophy is super simple; minimally processed ingredients, whole foods, and mostly plants. My sole goal is to fuel my body with balanced and nutrient-dense meals so I can feel good in my mind, body, and soul. And that starts with proper nutrition. 
• Nourishing your soul is another facet of a healthy diet, so indulge here and there, go out with friends, create memories, and don’t let diet culture influence your food decisions. 
• I still eat butter, eggs, and meat when I can ethically source it from local farms in our area. Animal products are super nutritious and should not be villainized or avoided (unless of course you have an allergy/intolerance).
• Lastly, everyone’s diet will look different. There is no one-size-fits-all diet; there are overarching healthy-eating parameters of course, but ultimately you should eat what makes you feel your best.

If you have ANY questions at all, please DM me on Instagram or leave a comment below, I love chatting with you!