I used to ask people during their first appointment about their eating habits, and I would encourage them to do research on the link between what they eat and how they feel. Very few would take me seriously, and in over 14 years, only one client followed up on my suggestion to consult a nutritionist.

Most think they are eating a fairly decent diet. Once, I had a client tell me that he thought he ate a fairly healthy diet. He went through a fast-food drive-thru most days for breakfast, he went in to one of several other fast-food establishments for lunch, then ate a “healthy” dinner of mostly pasta with butter.

We can all do better than that.  As a colleague of mine once said, you don’t put ice cream in the gas tank of your car and expect it to run well.  Same thing goes for human beings.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or faddish. As author Michael Pollan said, “eat food, mostly plants, not too much.”

Food really is connected to emotional and not just physical well-being. A recent blog from Harvard Health Publishing, which is part of Harvard Medical School, addresses the link between food and brain health.  You can access it here.