Should I Be Avoiding Processed Foods? The Great Clean Eating Debate

Let’s be honest for a sec.
If you’ve ever stood in the grocery aisle debating between the “organic, non-GMO, clean” label and the one that’s two bucks cheaper, wondering if you’re about to poison your family (or your testimony 😅)… you are so not alone.

Clean eating has become one of those buzzwords that sounds holy and healthy, but deep down can make us feel anything but free.

In episode 187 of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast, I tackled one of the most common food fears I hear from my clients: Should I be avoiding processed foods?
And girl, buckle up, because we’re breaking chains, not bank accounts, today.

What Even Is “Clean Eating,” Anyway?

You’d think after years in the nutrition field, we’d have a universal definition of “clean eating,” right? Nope. 🙃

Everyone seems to define it differently. For some, it’s “only foods from the earth.” For others, it’s “nothing with preservatives, sugar, or that you ...

Spoiler alert: You don’t need a wide-open calendar or a weekend retreat in the mountains to finally start healing your relationship with food. 🙃

What you actually need is 5 minutes.

Yes, you read that right. Five. Little. Minutes. ⏱️

Because friend, I know what your days look like. Between work deadlines, kids’ practices, church commitments, and that never-ending pile of laundry that magically regenerates overnight (seriously, how?!), finding “extra” time feels impossible.

But here’s the truth that might just change everything for you:

Healing your relationship with food isn’t about finding time. It’s about dedicating time and using what you already have with intention.

In this post, we’re going to get super practical (and maybe a little sassy 😉) about how to stop waiting for the “perfect time” to start your food freedom journey and start using those tiny, overlooked moments in your day to make big progress.

The Myth of “More Time” in Food Freedom

Let’s be honest. How many t...

Ready for Food Freedom? Here's What It Actually Looks Like for Christian Women

Ever had your computer freeze on you mid-task and that little rainbow wheel of doom just spins… and spins… and spins? 😵‍💫

You're clicking, typing, praying over the keyboard like, “Lord, PLEASE let this thing come back to life”… but nothing happens.

All the potential is sitting right there on your screen, but you can’t move forward.

Sound familiar?

For so many Christian women struggling with food and body anxiety, that’s exactly what happens in your brain every single day.

The mental load, the constantly spinning thoughts about what you “should” eat, whether you messed up, if your body looks bigger today, whether you exercised enough, what people are thinking…

It's exhausting.
It steals your peace.
It hijacks your joy.
And it absolutely freezes forward movement in other areas of your life — especially the ones God has actually called you to.

But here’s the thing, sis:

Freedom is possible. Yes, for...

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, “God, why does it feel like my body betrayed me?”

Maybe you’ve spent years fighting food, resenting your reflection, or trying to pray away the shame that creeps in when your jeans feel snug. Maybe deep down, you wonder if God can really redeem a story that’s felt so broken for so long.

If that’s you, friend, take a deep breath.

In this episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast, I sat down with Naomi Wyant, and whew — her testimony is such a powerful reminder that our messiest food stories are not the end of the story. God’s not done yet.

Let’s talk about what it looks like when redemption meets food freedom, even when you feel like your body has turned against you.

When You Feel Like Your Body Betrayed You

For years, Naomi felt like her body had failed her — the pain, the exhaustion, the digestive issues, and all the mental load that came with it. She described it as a constant battle between wanting to trust her body and...

Ever find yourself praying desperately for a breakthrough… when all you really needed was breakfast?
Yeah. Same, friend. 😅

Here’s the truth that no one warned us about in adulthood:
Most of the transformation you’re praying for doesn’t come from a mountaintop moment. It comes from mastering the gloriously unsexy basics.

In a recent episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom Podcast, we dove headfirst into the surprising power of doing the “boring basics”—and why they matter so much more than you think.

So grab your coffee (I know it’s reheated; mine too), get cozy, and let’s talk about the simple, steady habits that help you care for your body, support your mindset, and grow spiritually… even on the days when you’re running on fumes and Jesus take the wheel is your full personality.

What Are the “Boring Basics” in Food Freedom?

Let’s define it upfront, because you and I both know “basics” can mean wildly different things depending on the season you’re in.

The “boring basics” are...

Food Freedom Isn’t “For Later” — 5 Excuses Christian Women Use (and How to Break Free Today)

Whew — we’re going there today, friend.
If you’ve ever thought…

“I want food freedom… I really do… BUT ____.”

…then pull up a cozy chair, grab your chai, and let’s chat. Because you are not the only Christian woman who loves Jesus AND still finds herself wrestling with food guilt, body stress, and the sneaky voice saying you “should” have this figured out by now.

And hey — I get it. I’ve heard all the fears, excuses, and “not yets” over the years (and honestly? I’ve believed half of them myself at some point).

But those fears?
Those excuses?
Those sneaky thoughts that sound logical?

They're often the very things standing between you and the joy-filled, peace-drenched food freedom Jesus desires for you. 🕊️

So today, we’re breaking down the Top 5 Excuses Christian women believe about pursuing food freedom — and replacing them with Scripture, clarity, and encouragement that empowers you ...

If You're a Christian Woman Who's an Over-Analyzer, Perfectionist, Achiever, or Rule Follower... THIS One Is For You!

Hey friend, can we just pause for a second? Because I have a question for you: Do you ever feel like your mind is doing backflips around food, body image, and what it means to “get it right”? 🙃 

I see you. I’ve worked with hundreds of Christian women just like you—women who love Jesus, care deeply about stewardship of their bodies, and want to honor God in every part of their lives. But food, body image, and the endless spiral of rules, perfectionism, and overthinking? Oy vey. It can feel exhausting.

And that’s exactly why I created The Joy-Filled Eater course—to give you practical, faith-driven tools to stop the overthinking, the guilt, and the shame, and start cultivating a joy-filled relationship with food, your body, and Jesus.

Today, I want to walk you through seven types of women this program is designed for. And if even one of these hits you in your gut (o...

Ever felt that wave of shame hit right after eating—like somehow you’ve “messed up” again?
That internal voice whispering, “You shouldn’t have eaten that. You should’ve had more control.”

Guess what? So has nearly every Christian woman I’ve coached through her food freedom journey.

In this episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast, I sat down for a live coaching call with one of our Joy-Filled Eater students, Michelle—a compassionate, faith-filled woman who’s been doing the hard, holy work of untangling years of disordered thoughts around food and her body.

What unfolded was a powerful conversation about how faith can motivate healing instead of fueling shame—and how to finally stop feeling like God is disappointed in you every time you eat.

What Shame Around Food Really Sounds Like

If you’ve ever struggled with food guilt or body shame, you’ll recognize the mental chatter Michelle shared during our session:

“I know what I should do—I teach these same principles to other...

Have you ever found yourself curled up on the couch, coffee in hand, watching Fixer Upper or Home Town and thinking, “Wow… I wish someone could do that to my life”?
You know — take something that feels a little cracked, a little worn down, and turn it into something beautiful and strong again?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat there cheering on Chip and Joanna Gaines as they work their magic. But I’ll be honest — every time the homeowners find out their dream house has a cracked foundation, I cringe a little.

Because once that foundation is damaged, it doesn’t matter how many pretty pillows or fresh coats of paint you add. That house isn’t going to stand for long.

And you know what?
That’s exactly what so many women are doing with their relationship with food and their body image.

They’re trying to redecorate a house that’s built on a shaky foundation.

When You’re Building on the Wrong Foundation

I’ve talked to so many women who feel trapped in this exact cycle. They’ve...

Ever find yourself “saving up” food or calories during the day… only to end up raiding the pantry or finishing off the ice cream carton later at night?

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ll just eat less now so I can ‘earn’ my dinner later,” or “I better skip breakfast since we’re going out tonight,” this blog post is for you.

This pattern might feel like control, but spoiler alert: it’s actually restriction in disguise. And restriction almost always backfires—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

In a recent episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast, I sat down with Lindsay Nichol, a woman who knows this struggle firsthand. Together, we unpacked what’s really going on when you save food or calories for later… and how you can break free from this exhausting cycle once and for all.

So grab your coffee (or your LaCroix 😉), and let’s dive in.

Why Do We Save Food or Calories for Later? (The Real Root Issue)

On the surface, it might seem logical. Diet culture has t...