Most major companies and organizations have a Mission & Vision statement that guides their practices and tells the world who they are. I’ve sat in on my fair share of meetings and conference calls to hash this out and wordsmith something that represents the core beliefs and values deemed most important.
I figured, why not take some time to create something that shares the mission of Street Smart Nutrition?
Yep, that’s what I’m about to drop on ya.
What is Street Smart Nutrition all about? It’s not just a name, it’s also a unique way of thinking about health and nutrition.
To put it simply, it’s what I believe not only as a dietitian, but as a human. Food is one of, if not the most, powerful connectors in our culture. It has the power to bring people together and because it’s essential to our existence, we come face to face with it multiple times a day (hopefully) each and every day of our lives.
But also a play on words because…Harbstreet…street…Street Smart…you get where I’m going with that.
How do we become more street smart? We learn through experiences…past mistakes or past successes, each brings us closer to where we’d ideally like to be to balance it all. When it comes to nutrition and health, this is easier said than done but we’re all a work in progress and at the end of the day, perfection is not the goal.
To make truly SMART decisions for how we eat and live, we must ask:
…is it Sustainable
Sustainable for the planet, sustainable for our lifestyle, sustainable for our family. In any meaning of the word “sustainable”, it has to be something that will serve you not just today or tomorrow, but into the future. The reason that diets don’t work is that they’re not a permanent solution or long term lifestyle change. To break the cycle, we need sustainability for us to continue building and maintaining new habits.
…is it Mindful
This life moves fast. Like, really fast. And in the rush we can forget to slow down and take time to bring mindfulness and awareness into our lives. We can blindly accept the next trend or fad, sure, but if it doesn’t address how we think, perceive, and feel about things it’s unlikely to make a lasting change. It’s a learned skill to realize what our bodies and minds are telling us, but it can be learned with practice.
…is it Affordable
“ is so expensive”. Fill in the blank with you-name-it, and yes, we could argue that there’s a cost we might be uncomfortable with. But thinking beyond the monetary or financial cost of things, consider: how valuable is your time/energy/peace of mind? I’ll never say we need to spend money out the wha-zoo to get the latest & greatest gadget but we can pick our battles. We have the power to decide what we can afford to spend time, money, and energy on, and after all, an investment in our health gives us quite a return on that investment!
…is it Realistic
This is a great question to pause and ask every once in a while, especially if we’re thinking about trying something new. Is this realistic for me? And if the answer is “no” right now, that doesn’t mean it will always be a “no”. It may change over time as you make progress towards your goals or inch closer to your version of a balanced, healthy life. What’s realistic for one person is not realistic for everyone, so consider your priorities and values to determine what you can truly commit to.
…is it Tasty
Does it taste good, or does it not? End of story. It’s not nutrition until we eat it, so regardless of how amazing a food’s nutrition profile is, if it tastes like dirt, I’m sorry, I’m not putting it in my mouth.
So there you have it…the Street Smart Manifesto by yours truly. I’m still working on these things myself and some days are better than others. But keeping this in my mind (even on the back burner) helps me realize if what I’m doing is helping or hurting. This is what I believe to the core of my being, and I pledge that anything that appears on this blog will take that into account to be sustainable, mindful, affordable, realistic, and tasty.
What would you add to this list to make your own personal health manifesto?
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Questions & Reviews
Cara- I love this. This is a fabulous manifesto and I loved the podcast version so I could really listen and think while you talked. Excited to see where this goes and to continue to learn from you!
Thank you so much Jancey! I’m glad you were able to listen along. Check back soon, I’ll try to feed your appetite for more foodie knowledge!
I love your take on life & eating. You’re officially added to my feedly “dietetics” collection. I can’t wait for more Posts!
Thank you Amber, I’m a work in progress but learning as I go! Thanks for stopping by!
Very cool!! Can’t wait to follow more! 🙂
Thanks Andrew! Appreciate you stopping by to check it out!
This is great, Cara! I love your manifesto and your Street Smart philosophy!
Thank you Jessica! After years of putting thought into it, this is what seemed to sum it up the best. Of course, it is always subject to change 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Cara, I really love this post! Recently, I have been trying my hand at more sustainable practices all around including in my eating. It makes you feel like a better human! My personal health manifesto would always include moderation; moderation in your eating, exercise, work, and fun! Thanks for sharing this
Absolutely, moderation in all things makes life so enjoyable! And we could all use a little more fun 🙂 Thank you for stopping by to check it out!