Daily Thrive Nourishment Expert Maria Schonder Composts Dieting

 

Maria Schonder, Nourishment Expert in The Daily Thrive, is a certified natural chef and culinary consultant with a master’s in health and nutrition education who is passionate about “simplifying food.”

“Our food choices have become increasingly confusing to navigate,” says Schonder, owner of Harmony Nutrition. “We women can all name 20 different diets off the top of our heads, many of which we’ve tried. In my opinion, it has gotten out of control and overwhelming and we need to compost the word diet from our vocabulary and our behavior.”

According to Schonder, “We each have a unique health history, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle habits, but the bottom line is real food is healthy food, and food is our fuel. Our choices matter.”

Schonder’s approach is integrative, focusing on nourishment and all the layers that make up the big picture, spanning everything from nutrients to physiology.

“I want to know why, how and when my clients eat. We all know we can benefit from eating more broccoli and less pizza, but something gets in the way. Part of it is chemical, part of it is emotional, and part of it is habitual. I bring the all of the pieces together to help create authentic and long-lasting change.”

Schonder says if she could shift one thing it would be “seeing cooking and eating as a mandatory part of self-care, just like brushing your teeth.”  When we do this, adds Schonder, “things fall into place. Productivity and satisfaction increase, our energy level rises, and the nagging voices in our heads quiet down.”

Nourishment, she says, “is not an all-or-nothing equation and small changes can make a significant difference.”