Why Joy Matters in Healthy Eating: My Biggest Aha Moment
I had a big aha moment this week — one that came after a coaching session and a deep conversation on one of our VIP calls.
And honestly, it hit me so strongly that I knew I had to share it here with you.
It’s this:
So many of us are trying to be perfect with food… and it’s slowly hurting us.
Trying to eat “clean” at every meal.
Treating food only as fuel.
Feeling guilty the moment life gets in the way.
Thinking we’ve “fallen off” because of one dinner out, one skipped meal prep, or one weekend of fun.
We care so much about doing the right thing…
that we forget the part of eating that is just as important as nutrients:
Joy.
And here’s the part most of us don’t realize:
🌿 1. Stressing About Food Is Not Healthy — At All
When we stress about food choices, label meals as good or bad, or beat ourselves up for being “off plan,” our body releases cortisol — our stress hormone.
And high cortisol makes everything harder:
✨ Sleep becomes harder
✨ Losing weight becomes harder
✨ Cravings become stronger
✨ Digestion slows
✨ Mood dips
✨ Hormones feel unbalanced
So even if we’re eating the “perfect” salad or smoothie…
the stress around it quietly works against us.
This was my aha moment:
Healthy food loses so much of its power when it’s wrapped in guilt.
🌿 2. Life Is Meant to Be Enjoyed — And Food Is Part of That
I want to be really honest:
Food is more than macros and nutrition charts.
Food is culture.
Food is family.
Food is comfort.
Food is celebration.
Food is memory.
Food is connection.
Food is emotional nourishment, too.
We were never meant to live a life where we eat perfectly at every moment and feel shame when we don’t.
You can have a beautiful routine AND a life filled with joy around food.
It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
This is what I shared during my call:
When you truly enjoy your meals — not just “follow the rules” — you create a healthier relationship with food that lasts.
🌿 3. A Healthy Routine Isn’t Fragile
This is one of the biggest mindset shifts I wish all women knew:
You don’t ruin your health with one meal.
You support your health with your daily habits.
Your routine has anchors:
✔ your greens shot
✔ your morning multivitamin
✔ your big smoothie
✔ nourishing, colorful meals
✔ hydration
✔ sleep and rest
These are what support your body.
So when you do have that beautiful dinner with friends, or a holiday meal, or a dessert you love?
Enjoy it. Fully.
Without guilt.
Without “I’ll be better tomorrow.”
Without punishment.
Just come back to your routine the next day — naturally and peacefully.
This is the real secret:
Consistency comes from joy, not restriction.
🌿 4. The 80/20 Approach Is Not Cheating — It’s Healthy
I’m serious when I say this:
80/20 (or even 90/10) is magic.
Not because it allows “cheat meals,” but because it acknowledges real life.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need a home base — a foundation — that you return to most days.
And that foundation can be incredibly simple:
✨ greens
✨ protein
✨ real food
✨ colorful plants
✨ nourishing meals you love
The key is joy.
Without joy, routines break.
With joy, routines last for years.
🌿 5. Bring More Joy Into Your Kitchen
Here’s what I want you to remember today:
Food isn’t just fuel for the body — it’s nourishment for the soul.
Please — promise yourself this:
Find meals you LOVE.
Make healthy food that tastes amazing.
Let eating be pleasurable, delicious, and joyful.
When you enjoy your routines…
your body responds beautifully.
And if you ever feel “off,” the answer isn’t guilt — it’s compassion.
Just return to the habits that make you feel your best:
🌿 a greens shot
🌿 your daily multivitamin
🌿 a smoothie with 20g protein
🌿 lots of plants
🌿 hydration
🌿 rest
These are your reset button — not punishment, but support.
If you need inspiration for joyful, nourishing routines:
✨ Explore SuperPlants Recipes
✨ Build Your Daily Ritual
– Daily Greens → energy + detox
– Multivitamin → real wholefood nutrients
Eat Plants. Feel Alive.
Xo Kristel & Michael