Despite being a nutrition coach, I’ve been following what I like to call the Raccoon Diet for much of the last two years.

Lots of easy carbs, especially of the potato variety, sweets, and bubbly wine (perhaps Hobbit Diet is more accurate as raccoons are not known for their alcohol consumption. I think). 

Anyway, there was a LOT of stress and a lot of coping with food which turned into comfortable habits. Even though the tightness of my waistband was anything but comfortable. Thankfully, I worked through a lot of the underlying issues through stillness with God and have experienced a lot of healing as a result. 

I’ve put on a new identity. Now, I just need to change my habits. Lucky for me, I’ve done this before and I’ve helped others do it as well. 

So if you’ve also been struggling with the Raccoon Diet or just know you need to create some new nutrition habits, here’s what I’m doing: 

As in one gram per pound of target body weight. Eating enough protein is so important for building and maintaining muscle mass (and especially important if you’re pregnant and building a new life). It’s also a slower-burning fuel than carbs, helping you stay satisfied longer.

Protein is also essential, which means you have to eat it. The body doesn’t have backup stores of it like glucose and fat. Unless you count your muscle, which your body will absolutely break down and use if you don’t eat enough protein. So if you’re working out regularly and not eating enough protein you are essentially trying to build a brick house by tearing down one of the existing walls.

Doesn’t work - you need to give it new bricks. 

I know this and yet, potatoes. 

Fun fact: I once led a nutrition challenge where the only thing I had my clients do for 30 days was focus on hitting their recommended protein amount. Everyone who did not only gained muscle, but lost fat. 

I took a microbiome and immune function biology class recently and after reading a ton of studies, I realized that a LOT of my digestive issues likely stem from dysbiosis, so I’m putting a huge emphasis on caring for my gut. That means reducing alcohol and other sources of inflammation, eating more fiber, taking a butyrate supplement, and taking pre- and pro-biotics daily, including Akkermansia, which has been found to improve blood sugar, gut inflammation, and insulin sensitivity. (source)

I have a capsule kitchen and plan my meals around that. Our meals are boring and balanced, but tasty, and I don’t cook separate healthy meals for myself. We all eat the same thing. I make everything from scratch but have taught my children how to cook, and they occasionally help in the kitchen, as does my husband when he’s not on duty. (That is, if I let them.)

Approaching food like this means I always have some source of protein on hand, which is helpful because that’s the hardest thing for me to get in if I’m not being intentional. 

Again, potatoes.

This was how I changed my habits and lost weight in the first place because it not only helped me hit my macro goals, but it helped me to stay accountable because I knew if I consumed it, I’d have to track it. MyFitnessPal FTW.

It also allows me to have things I enjoy and actually enjoy them because I can adjust serving sizes so they fit within my daily plan. This way I can still have a glass of bubbly, just not the entire bottle.

That’s it. Four habits. The rest is mindset and stillness - connecting with God throughout the day and reminding myself that I’m not a raccoon digging through a dumpster, happy to gorge myself on whatever I find. 

I am a daughter God and my body is a sacred temple. It is worthy of honor and care.

And potatoes.