What Motherhood Taught Me About Nutrition (That I Wish I Knew Years Ago)
Unconventional tips for eating healthy as a busy mom (from fellow busy mom & dietitian)
I owe every mom that I ever worked before 2024 with a huge apology.
Ugh, I'm embarrassed to even admit this but in my early years as a registered dietitian at Nutrition Awareness, I used to try to motivate my clients with kids by saying things like: "we all have the same 24 hours in a day."
Now that I'm a mom myself, I know that doesn't hit the same when you're a parent to young children.
Sure, the clock still ticks. My brain and body only have so much bandwidth and the vast majority of that energy is going into keeping my kid alive (and quiet. Like please, be quiet).
With 15 months of motherhood and 8 years of dietitian experience under my belt, I'm sharing unconventional tips I share with my mom clients wanting to eat healthier that actually make sense. Moms (and dads) don’t just need another meal plan. They need tools, compassion, and strategies that actually work in the messy, unpredictable seasons of parenting.
Whether you’re a new mom or have been doing this for years, below are the four traits I believe every mom needs to embody to truly take care of herself in the earliest years of motherhood!
1. Plan (But Within Reason)
Yes, planning still matters. It’s the difference between a week where a healthy dinner magically comes together and a week where you’re scrolling Postmates for the third time.
But here’s the difference: your planning these days has to fit your actual life, not your idealized version of it.
That means:
Choosing 15-minute meals or 5-ingredient dinners, not complicated recipes with 14 steps.
Planning meals your kids might actually eat (bonus points if you only cook once).
Accepting that your workout plan might be a 20-minute YouTube Pilates session while your toddler uses you as a jungle gym.
2. Practice Self-Compassion
Because no matter how beautifully you plan, life with kids will throw curveballs. Sick days. Last-minute work deadlines. Blowouts five minutes before you walk out the door.
There will be days you skip the gym, eat dinner later than planned, or forget the veggie side completely. That’s not failure, it’s just life.
Instead of spiraling into “I blew it,” self-compassion says, “Woo, that was ROUGH. But I tried, and that’s what counts”
3. Be Gritty
Self-compassion helps you through the bad days, but grit keeps you going long-term.
Grit means knowing your why. The reason you want to take care of yourself in the first place and coming back to it, even when things get hard AF.
For me, my why is simple: I feel awful when I don’t fuel my body well. I’m not the mom, wife, or dietitian I want to be when I’m running on coffee and random snacks.
For you, it might be:
Wanting more energy to keep up with your kids
Improving your health markers so you can be there for the long haul
Feeling confident in your own skin again
Recovering stronger after pregnancy
Your why is what helps you get back on track after the off days—without the all-or-nothing mindset.
4. Get Creative
I once heard a mom say, flexy is sexy. Meaning, being flexible with your plans makes for a happier life!
Healthy living as a mom rarely looks like it did before kids, which means you get to become more creative on how you parent and take care of yourself.
Creativity might mean:
Turning a stroller walk into your workout, complete with snack breaks and singalongs to keep the peace.
Mixing and matching healthy foods you have on hand, even if the combo wouldn’t win a chef’s award (my “balanced bowl” method makes this super easy- grab the free guide here).
Ordering groceries from the bleachers during gymnastics practice.
Letting your kids join in meal prep, even if it’s messier and slower.
Creativity makes healthy living possible in the season you’re in (not the season you wish you were in).
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Motherhood changes everything from your schedule, your energy, and your priorities. It’s no wonder even the most disciplined women struggle to “prioritize themselves” the same way they used to.
But I promise, it is possible to feel good in your body, eat well, and live a healthy lifestyle without burning out. You just need a plan that fits your reality, a hefty dose of grace, and a dietitian who gets it.
That’s where I come in. At Nutrition Awareness, we work with busy women and moms to create doable nutrition strategies that actually stick. You can see our completely transparent pricing here and even start with a single consultation before committing to coaching package.
Because you deserve to feel good in this season not just when life “calms down.”
