Episode 183: Spring Reset: Simplifying Wellness in Small, Sustainable Steps

Alcohol is often seen as a go-to way to relax or take the edge off after a stressful day. But how much does it really help—and where might it actually be adding to the problem? This episode explores the connection between alcohol, stress, and overall health, offering a clear, no-pressure look at how drinking habits can impact your body and mind.   Many people turn to alcohol to cope with stress, but few realize how it can affect things like sleep, mood, and long-term health—even when it doesn’t feel excessive. This episode of Real World Nutrition breaks down the facts in a realistic and approachable way, helping you understand how alcohol interacts with stress hormones, energy levels, and decision-making.   Shelley Rael, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, offers practical strategies to create more balance without extreme restrictions or guilt. Whether you’re reassessing your relationship with alcohol, looking for better ways to manage stress, or simply curious about the effects of everyday drinking, you’ll find supportive, judgment-free guidance here.   🎧Tune in to walk away with realistic ideas you can use right away—so you can support your health without giving up the things you enjoy. Blogs from Real World Nutrition:  Alcohol & Stress: How Drinking Impacts Your Body and Mind Apr 8, 2025 Mindful Drinking: Enjoying Alcohol Without the All-or-Nothing Mentality Apr 10, 2025   Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Start your Spring Reset with small, manageable wellness steps. In Episode 183 of the Real World Nutrition Podcast, Shelley breaks down simple tips for making sustainable changes in hydration, nutrition, and lifestyle. Tune in today for actionable advice you can implement right away. 🎧 Listen now. Blog from Real World Nutrition: How to Simplify Wellness: 10 Small, Effective Changes for a Healthier Life April 4, 2024   Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

In today’s fast-paced world, eating has often become a mindless activity—something we do while multitasking, scrolling on our phones, or rushing through meals. But mindful eating offers a different approach, one that encourages us to slow down, be present, and truly enjoy our food.   In this episode, Shelley explains mindful eating and how it benefits digestion, increases satisfaction, and improves overall well-being. We’ll also discuss the challenges of practicing mindfulness at every meal—because, let’s be honest, it’s not always practical to eat in silence and focus on every bite.   So, how can we find balance? Find realistic ways to bring mindfulness into your meals, even when life is busy. Small shifts can make a big difference, whether pausing for a deep breath before eating, chewing more slowly, or simply turning off distractions. Explore simple, sustainable ways to connect with your food and improve your relationship with eating.   🎧 Listen now. Blog from Real World Nutrition: Mindless vs. Mindful Eating (live after Mar 29, 2025) Mindfully Eating A Raisin – Script (Written and audio)   Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Frozen, Fresh, or Canned? Choosing the Best for Your Health & Budget   March is Frozen Foods Month, making it the perfect time to talk about one of the most underrated food choices! Many people assume fresh is always best, but did you know that frozen fruits and vegetables can actually be more nutritious than fresh? In this episode, I’m breaking down the nutrient retention of fresh, frozen, and canned foods, plus how to make the best choices for your health and budget.   What is covered: ✔️ How freezing preserves nutrients better than long-haul “fresh” produce ✔️ The cost benefits of frozen foods (and how they reduce waste!) ✔️ Smart ways to freeze ingredients for meal prep (think onions, garlic, cheese, and more!) ✔️ When to choose fresh, frozen, or canned, depending on your needs No matter your budget or lifestyle, there’s room for all forms of fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet. Listen now to learn how to shop smarter and make the most of what’s in your kitchen.   🎧 Listen now.   Past episodes of the Real World Nutrition Podcast on Frozen Foods:    Episode 3: Fresh, Frozen, or Canned   Episode 127: Frozen Foods - Myths and Facts   Episode 158: The Frozen Food Aisle: Making Healthy and Convenient Choices     Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Meal planning often gets a bad reputation for being too structured, but it can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and improving nutrition. At the same time, intuitive eating encourages listening to your body’s cues instead of following strict food rules. In this episode of Real World Nutrition, Shelley explores the pros and cons of both meal planning and intuitive eating, how they can work together, and why flexibility is the key to sustainable nutrition.   Some people thrive with a structured meal plan, while others find it restrictive. On the other hand, intuitive eating helps build trust with your body but may feel overwhelming without some structure. The best approach? A balance that allows for planning with flexibility—choosing meals that nourish while still honoring hunger, cravings, and real-life needs.   If you’ve struggled with rigid dieting or chaotic eating patterns, this episode will help you find a middle ground that supports your health and lifestyle.   🎧 Listen now.   Past episodes of the Real World Nutrition Podcast on Meal Planning:    Episode 97: Top Excuses for Not Eating Well Episode 98 Meal Planning vs. Meal Prepping: Which is Better? Episode 99: The Art of Efficient Grocery Shopping Episode 100: Ten Hidden Benefits of Meal Planning 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating   Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals.   Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Diets come and go, but why do some trends stick while others fade into obscurity? In this episode of the Real World Nutrition Podcast, Shelley takes a deeper dive into diet trends through the decades—from the Grapefruit Diet of the 1950s to the rise of keto and intermittent fasting. What have we learned from these trends? Many diets promise quick fixes but fail in sustainability. Some resurface under new names, while others quietly disappear.    Learn why certain diets gain traction, why they often fail, and what truly works for long-term health.   Drawing from the carrot vs. stick approach to behavior change, Shelley discusses how motivation, restriction, and sustainability impact diet success. Do people respond better to strict rules or flexibility? How do social trends and marketing influence what we eat?   🎧 Tune in to find out how to move beyond fad diets and focus on real, sustainable nutrition.   Read more: Diets Through the Decades: What Have We Learned?   Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

We all set goals—whether it’s eating healthier, exercising regularly, or making more time for self-care—but staying consistent can be a real challenge. Motivation is often the deciding factor in whether we stick with our habits or let them slide. This episode breaks down two common motivational approaches: the carrot (reward-based motivation) and the stick (consequence-driven motivation). Which one works best for you? And how can you use it to build long-term consistency? You’ll hear practical strategies for staying on track with various wellness goals, from maintaining a regular fitness routine to making better food choices without feeling deprived. We’ll also talk about setting realistic incentives, building lasting habits, and understanding what drives your motivation.   Tune in to discover how to use the right motivation style to create sustainable, positive changes in your health and wellness journey.   🎧 Listen now    Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

In this Real World Nutrition Podcast episode, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Shelley explores the connection between nutrition and mood. While last week’s episode (176) focused on how emotions influence eating habits, today’s discussion flips the perspective—showing how food impacts neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine and affects overall mood.   Shelley breaks down the science behind the gut-brain connection, explains how blood sugar fluctuations impact energy and emotions, and offers practical nutrition strategies for mood stability. Listeners will learn how omega-3s, probiotics, protein, and whole foods contribute to emotional well-being while understanding the risks of excessive caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.   She also provides an important disclaimer: while food can support mental well-being, it is not a cure for mental health conditions.   Tune in for science-backed, practical nutrition tips to help you feel your best daily!   🎧 Listen now    Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Do you reach for food when stressed, sad, or overwhelmed? Emotional eating is a typical response to feelings, but it’s not just about food—it’s about how we cope. In this episode of Real World Nutrition, Shelley explores why emotional eating happens, the most common triggers, and how to recognize and manage these patterns.   She discusses practical strategies for navigating emotional eating without guilt, including mindful eating, alternative coping mechanisms, and self-compassion techniques. If you’ve ever felt bad about eating because of emotions, this episode will help you shift your mindset and develop healthier habits. It’s also important to note that occasional emotional eating is not the same as an eating disorder. While they can overlap, emotional eating is a behavior many people experience, and learning to recognize and manage it can support long-term wellness.   Tune in to learn how to build a balanced relationship with food, recognize emotional triggers, and manage cravings in a way that supports your overall well-being!   🎧 Listen now    Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about the number ONE cause of death worldwide—heart disease. While diet plays a significant role in heart health, it’s not the whole picture. In Episode 175 of the Real World Nutrition Podcast, Shelley discusses the non-food factors that impact your heart, including stress, sleep, and physical activity.   Chronic stress increases blood pressure and inflammation, poor sleep raises cardiovascular risk, and lack of movement weakens the heart. But small, sustainable lifestyle changes can make a big difference!   In this episode, Shelley shares practical tips for managing stress, improving sleep, and moving more—without completely overhauling your life.   Let’s chat if you want to improve your heart health beyond just diet! Schedule a free Introductory Call today.    Prior episodes related to heart disease and heart health:    Episode 20: Eating for Your Heart Episode 71: Five Foods for a Healthy Heart Episode 72: Heart Disease and Cancer - Many Diseases Under Those Names Episode 125: Understanding Heart Disease and the Many Risk Factors   Schedule a free 30-minute introductory call today to learn how I can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook