Fuel Your Body, But Don’t Fight It: Why Balance Beats Perfection in Nutrition

We’ve all heard the phrase, “you are what you eat.” And while it’s true that what you put into your body matters - it impacts your energy, mood, hormones, recovery, focus, and more - there’s a second part we often forget:

It’s not just what you eat. It’s also how you eat.

When you’re too strict, constantly under-eating, or labeling foods as “bad,” you’re not just making nutrition harder; you may actually be triggering your body’s stress response. Cue: cortisol spikes. And chronic stress is the exact thing that slows down your metabolism, increases inflammation, and throws off hormones.

So while eating clean matters, so does mental flexibility. Because wellness isn’t about control. It’s about care.

Here’s the truth we live by at @Well:

We follow the 80/20 approach - focusing 80% of the time on real, whole, nutrient-dense foods that fuel our bodies, and leaving 20% for flexibility, fun, and the foods that simply bring us joy.

Balance > extremes. Every time. Also, parmesan truffle fries. Nuff said.

So today, ask yourself: Am I eating to fuel my life—or trying to shrink myself out of it?

You deserve to feel strong, energized, and at peace with your plate. If you need help with how to find that balance, feel free to send me an email at caroline@well-simple.com to set up a consultation.

XO,
Caroline