As every season comes and goes, so do the weight-loss and diet trends… eat this, don’t eat that. Carbs are bad… wait, no, carbs are good. Seriously, who can keep up?

And even if you could, why would you want to spend all that time disecting every little detail of what you’re eating? It’s got to be so darn tiring… so much so that I don’t think I’d even want eat after all of that.

And to me, that’s a shame. Restriction never works, it only makes us feel worse when we cave in, and often times overindulge. That’s why, I choose to take a nod from our slimmer, healthier and mostly happier neighbors across the pond.

Many European countries treat meals and food as an experience, not just a time to gobble down whatever fast food, processed creation happens to be on the corner. Meal time is a time to savor your food and talk with family and friends. It’s a time to unwind and take a break from the busy day.

Furthermore, these meals aren’t full of “diet” foods, but rather fresh produce, full-fat cheeses and a lot of times, wine. The quality of food is key and in my opinion, it’s just what our bodies need. High-quality, unprocessed, whole foods – eaten the way nature intended.

So think about it – next time you are short on time and rushing to whatever food establishment is closest, is it really worth it? I promise homemade food always tastes better and is usually healthier. Invest in yourself and your health and choose foods that are whole, nutritious and delicious.

You wouldn’t put garbage in your car and expect it to run, so why do we expect our bodies to?

I like, no I love food. To me, it should always taste good and never be a means of punishing or restricting oneself. Never. It should be enjoyed with a glass of wine (well maybe not breakfast…) and good company. Always, always, always.