By Jennie Delbridge, Peak of Wellbeing
Figuring out which ratios of Protein, Fat and Carbohydrate our body needs, can be quite a challenge. There are no hard and fast rules. It would be great if there were a really simple cookie cutter approach, a quick fix solution, but unfortunately it doesn’t exist.
Our unique nutritional needs are based on many things:
- Gender
- Genes/DNA
- Lifestyle
- Stress Levels
- Level of daily activity
- The weather
- Where we live
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Age
- Health levels
Unique Eating Plan
So, how on earth can we take all of that into account and figure out a unique eating plan?
Simple! We start somewhere and use that starting place as a baseline. When working with clients at Peak Of Wellbeing, we begin with an initial meeting and questionnaire to assess a client’s individual requirements. This is the baseline.
For those of you who are not working with us as clients, begin by adding Protein, Fat and Carbohydrate to each meal.
For example, wild salmon (protein and some fats), salad (carbohydrate) and avocado (good fats and carbohydrate).
Then monitor how you feel 1 hour after eating the meal:
- Do you feel hungry?
- Are you craving something sweet?
- Do you have good energy levels?
- Can you think clearly?
Ideally, you should be able to last 4 hours with great energy and good mental focus on a meal suited to your individual needs.
Finding the Right Ratio
If you find that you experience any of the below after a meal, then it’s highly likely that the ratios weren’t quite right for you the individual.
- Dark thoughts
- Moodiness/Irritability
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Sweet Cravings
- Foggy Head
- Feeling light-headed
- Problems sleeping
If you experienced some of these symptoms after the salmon meal mentioned above, adjust one of the variables.
For example, next time add olive oil to the salad. If this works for you, it may highlight that you need more Fats at each meal. If this doesn’t work, next time add a serving of sweet potato for example. If you feel better, it could indicate that you need more carbohydrates. If that still doesn’t work, eat a larger piece of salmon and see how you feel after that!
In our experience, people often mistake the signal from the body for more Fats at a meal, as a sign to eat more Protein.
Even just the simple action point of adding more Fats to each meal, can help most people enormously.
Good fats include:
- Organic Butter
- Organic Ghee
- Organic Coconut Oil
- Organic Olive Oil
- Avocados
- Nuts
- many Cold Pressed Oils such as Brazil Nut Oil or Avocado Oil. Be sure not to heat the cold pressed oils, such as nut oils!
If you’d like to find out more about how to create your own unique Primal Pattern Diet Plan with Peak Of Wellbeing, visit our Events to find out about our online Webinar series throughout October, November and December: http://peakofwellbeing.com/upcoming-events/.
Images by lockstockb, Egahen
Author's bio
Jennie Delbridge is one of the co founders of Peak Of Wellbeing.
She has been working professionally in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years as a Personal Trainer and Class Instructor, before she discovered Functional Medicine and the CHEK Institute.
As a CHEK Practitioner and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, she is able to identify the underlying problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. The key is to look at the body as a whole, focusing on seven simple Foundation Factors:
1 Eating
2 Breathing
3 Sleeping
4 Corrective Exercise for the Individual
5 Hydration
6 Stress Reduction
7 Thinking Patterns
She is passionate about helping others to achieve peak health and wellbeing and fulfill their own personal and professional goals.
Jennie works on a one to one basis and runs workshops, talks and seminars throughout Europe, including the UK.
