McKel Hill - Nutrition Stripped

I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO YOU. Youre part of a global movement and shift to nourishing our bodies in the way nature intended, simple and back to bare basics. I hope this cookbook guides you to live better, inspires you to create in your kitchen, and infuses as much nourishment into your bodies as it does inspiration for your mind and happiness in your heart. This is just the beginning.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this space with me; to you I will be forever thankful and inspired to create!

For Mom, Dad, and Josh, with all my love and light.

xM

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

The part can never be well unless the whole is well.

PLATO

M y philosophy about living whole and eating well extends far beyond that of eating or dieting and has everything to do with the entire framework of your lifestyle and well-being. Its about cultivating balance, happiness, and inner strength; managing stress; nourishing relationships; engaging in supportive communities; and taking care of your physical body as well as your mental, emotional, spiritual body. We must, we must, start taking better care of ourselves and respecting our bodies and the vast potential thats within us. Nourishing your cells with fuel from beautiful whole food is the catalyst.

Growing up, I knew food was good for us and loved eating, but beyond that I never realized the power that nutrition had on the way we felt. Until I had to. It wasnt until I started experiencing horrible migraines in high school that traveled with me into college that I knew my lifestyle had an impact on the way I felt. Initially I went to a neurologist and began taking prescription medications, but although I no longer felt the migraine, I didnt feel anything else either. The lethargy took me out of my element. I had trouble doing the things I normally enjoyedlike creating art and hanging out with friends. Im talking about your basic functions of being human! For years, this was my life, kind of just dealing with this on and off because there was no other solution. Fast-forward a couple of college majors later, and I landed at my home base. The world of nutrition.

In high school and the early years of college, I used to consume health foods that werent the best for my body, mind, or spiritthey were heavily processed quick fixes, full of ingredients I could barely pronounce. These foods never made me feel well physically or look my best either; instead I had poor digestion, low energy during workouts, and dull skin and hair. I wasnt feeling good, radiant, or balanced. I knew something had to give.

Another fast-forward to honing in on my research, studies, and academic experience, I found what worked for me and what didnt. Using protocol and nutrition phases as I do now with my clients, I noticed a radical shift in my health within weeks of replacing foods I was sensitive to (dairy and gluten) and changing my lifestyle and healing my gut. I no longer felt bloated, my digestion issues resolved, my hair grew longer and stronger, my acne breakouts started to clear, I had immense energy, my athletic performance increased, and, best of all, my migraine headaches decreased dramatically. I know what its like to feel unhealthy, subpar, and unbalancedand I never want to look back. If I have the ability to help you find your inner health, whether you feel like its buried in your core or just about to break the surface, then Im here. Im here because I want to help you. Nourishing your body with whole foods is the first step you can take to a healthier and happier life.

Our bodies are multidimensional, unique, and beautiful in their own waysremember this the next time you read a blogger recommending a juice fast or a tabloid boasting about the latest diet trend a celebrity is following, or when a friend suggests that you eat x pounds of fruit a day or tells you that you can cure an illness overnight by eliminating everything toxic. Its all too dogmatic and impractical, and quite frankly, its missing the biggest piece of the puzzle that is your uniqueness. Were all incredibly different, and when it comes to nourishing your body, transforming your health, or finding your healthy and happy weight, it all depends on you. The only way you can ever find the magic sweet spot is adjusting your lifestyle so that it works for you, not against you, and helps reap the benefits you desire. My approach to healthful living is simple: going back to bare basics and stripping away all the confusion, the past ideals, societal pressures, and giving you the tools to do YOU... which is infinitely more amazing than you may think.

The recipes in this book are rooted in simplicity, but they also incorporate a little fun with a global fusion of flavors. You may see ingredients that are new to you and your kitchen. When cooking with global flavors I do my best to keep with that regions traditional ingredient, but often youll see a play on a traditional dish that draws on ingredients from different regions: The . Since many of my recipes use seasonal ingredients, always consider your region and what season youre cooking in. For example, if a recipe calls for spring green peas and its winter, consider using asparagus, broccoli, or squash. In a nutshell, be flexible and go with the ebb and flow of the seasons.

I use a variety of kitchen tools and equipment, but dont feel obligated to go shopping to pick up every single pieceI have a . When I talk about blenders, Im always referring to the high-speed kind; this is the class of blenders that will make your smoothies ridiculously smooth and will have enough power to make nut/seed butters. I even opt for a blender instead of a whisk or food processor when combining batters and doughs for ease of cleanup!

The Nutrition Stripped way of living encompasses more than just food and nutrition. Other pillars of this whole lifestyle that keep you living well include stress management, exercise, cultivating healthful and positive relationships with others, sleeping well, drinking water, attending to spiritual health, and engaging in work that makes you truly happy!

Its difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.

LEWIS GRIZZARD

I want to show you that eating nutritious foods and living a whole lifestyle can transform your well-being on all levels, nourishing your body from inside your cells so it radiates out. Thats some powerful stuff! I know what it feels like to be out of balance and miss lightness and pep in your step, but if I can manifest a healthful life, I know you can too. Plus, I did a lot of the hard work of figuring out tips and tricks so you dont have to. The Nutrition Stripped food philosophy is rooted in these core nutrition principles: