When I was a child, mealtimes were simple. Each day of the week delivered the same familiar fare, and nothing was ever questioned (certainly not by us children). If certain items were not available from the local greengrocers or supermarket, there may have been a change that week. Choice was limited, yet I never felt like we went without.

My mother knew that we had to eat vegetables. She also liked the convenience of the new meals stocked in the supermarket’s freezer. We’d seen these new foods advertised on the TV but mum still knew best. She made us eat our limited choice of vegetables first to ensure we received our nutrients. I can’t imagine her thinking too much about the food on offer. Cost and availability played a huge part in what made it to our table. Her main aim was to ensure that we never felt the pangs of hunger that were so familiar to her as a child.

Healthy eating was probably important when I was growing up, but I didn’t pay it much attention. We were constantly reminded that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Porridge in the winter, Cornflakes and wheat cereal were our staples, and we were off to a great start. The TV adverts, and the health benefits on the boxes, showed just how healthy our choice was! Of course!

When my own children were young, I also worked hard to ensure they received healthy meals. I based these meals on what I knew to be healthy at the time.

I remember the plate from my Home Economics lessons, making sure that there was something from each of the food groups on our plates. Understanding the importance of a healthy diet wasn’t always the answer though. I so desperately wanted to give my children the best start in life, but I have to concede that convenience and cost often meant different choices.

Now, there’s so much information around that it’s easy to make healthy choices. Or is it?

I’ve jumped on board with many, many health fads.

Butter was replaced with margarine because it contains less fat, and we all know how bad fats are for us… Scrap that butter is natural and therefore better for us??

Skimmed milk or full fat milk. Eggs that were dangerous. Blueberries being the answer to everything. Super foods, toxic foods, fermented foods. Plant milk. Coconut oil for everything. Seeds and grains. Wholemeal is better than white bread. Processed food, ready meals, SUGAR is the enemy!

Both my parents suffered with digestive illnesses, so diet and nutrition are very important to me. Yet the more I try to eat healthily the less I’m convinced I am eating healthily.

I meal plan to make sure that I’m getting ALL the right nutrients. I’ve read many books on the subject, I’ve followed nutritionists advice, and I’ve tried so many diets.

Going back to the question I asked originally, have I really stopped listening to my gut?

I eat so many different foods now, have I stopped to check if this is what my body needs?

I know that when I eat certain foods I feel a little off. Maybe it’s time to realise; Is that my body trying to tell me it doesn’t like it? Does it not want it? Is it not doing me any good?

Maybe my body is trying to tell me that it’s not actually hungry right now. It might be that I can skip a meal while it takes the time to digest whatever I last ate.

Maybe it’s time to start listening to myself a little more – to trust my gut.

We used to listen to friends and family. Now, we are listening to the internet. Are these really our friends?

Sharing meals with our family and friends is more than nourishing our bodies. The conversation and connection is nourishing our minds at the same time. Who cares if there’s a little over indulgence. As long as it’s not all the time surely it’s ok?

Are we listening too much to experts? Who are these experts and what makes them experts?

Stories where patients have been cured of terrible diseases, simply by changing their diets grab the headlines. Is it really that simple though? To me this simply adds too much pressure when someone is going through something so terrible. Why are we being made to feel it’s all our fault?

If there is so much powerful information out there from experts, why are so many of us struggling? Struggling with obesity, mental health and struggling financially to put food on the table.

Are we really not trying hard enough or is something else at play?

We must stop this nonsense now.

We need to start thinking for ourselves. We need to learn how to focus on what we and our families need, not what’s been pushed down our throats as the healthy choice.

The Eatwell Guide offers nutritional information in simple terms. Nothing is banned and there are no fancy alternatives. Just a simple suggestion of what to include. Is this enough information for us?

We need to stop labelling food as good or bad.

If I’m out and about I’m now, I’m choosing a bar of chocolate instead of a grain bar laden with syrup and who knows what. A bar of chocolate kept me going on long treks years ago so why shouldn’t it keep me going now?

I am not an expert when it comes to health and nutrition and I’m not in any way asking you to follow my advice.

I am however, an expert on myself and I am leaning in to trusting myself a little more.