Hi, I’m Shanti, owner of Happy Belly Health®, a functional medicine health coach practice specializing in weight loss and digestion.
Some people prefer eating plain and simple, unpretentious food. (Protein, starch, and vegetables.) This is perfectly fine and can be a very healthy and balanced diet.
However, if you’d like to venture out a bit and start adding more complexity and variety to your foods, please read on…
It can be intimidating moving to a foodie city like San Francisco. There will be items on a menu or at the grocery store you’ve never heard of or didn’t know were edible. Pairings of foods might also seem odd depending on your ethnic background and experience with food.
Becoming More Adventurous with Food
Step 1: Get Exposure
- Try Something New: Visit an unfamiliar restaurant and ask your waiter for help.
- Explore: Read food blogs, sift through popular menus, and get curious about different cuisines.
The Benefits of Food
Food offers more than just nutritional nourishment. It:
- Connects Cultures: Experience and appreciate diverse traditions.
- Helps Us Socialize: Food can be a great way to connect with others.
- Fills Our Hearts and Souls: Trying new foods can enrich your life.
Embrace New Flavors
Learn about the 5 flavors foods can offer:
- Salty
- Sweet
- Sour
- Spicy
- Bitter
In addition, umami is now recognized as a distinct flavor. When you chew your food well and engage all your senses, you’ll notice both bold and subtle flavors. For example:
- Rice can be surprisingly sweet.
- Kale is quite bitter but can be mellowed by pairing it with sweet ingredients like cinnamon, nutmeg, or butternut squash.
- Marinara Sauce: Italian chefs use a bit of sugar to balance the pungency of tomatoes.
Experiment with Ingredients
Visit one of my favorite local grocers and prepared food markets in San Francisco, Luke’s Local. Whether you visit in person or order delivery, explore their menu on the mobile app and notice the ingredient combinations. Think about how the 5 flavors are used to add textures and richness to simple ingredients.
P.S. If you’re interested in finding out more about health coaching and how we can help you, please contact us here and you’ll be prompted to schedule a free 15 minute chat. We look forward to supporting you.
The folks at Luke’s Local have partnered with us to create Happy Belly Health® approved meals. They are all about helping busy people eat well, like we are. Order exactly what you want today (groceries, flowers, chef prepared and HBH approved meals) and they’ll deliver it tomorrow.
No membership or charge for delivery. Receive a discount with code: HAPPYBELLYHEALTH10 (by the way, we don’t receive any kickbacks for your orders, we just like supporting good local businesses that care about your health.)
