How to Stay Consistent with Food Freedom This Summer: Without Starting Over in September

 

Hey friend! Before we jump into it, I’ve gotta let you in on something that’s totally free and made just for YOU.

If you’re craving more support on your food freedom journey—especially when life gets busy and summer gets chaotic—then come join us inside the Food Freedom & Body Image Support for Christian Women Facebook group.

It's a safe, Jesus-centered space where we talk about real-life wins and struggles (and where you can breathe a BIG sigh of relief that you’re not doing this alone).

You might feel overwhelmed or afraid you’re about to fall off track this summer... or like all the progress you’ve made is going to vanish with the first s'more or poolside cookout. But here’s the truth: food freedom doesn’t require perfection.

Inside this community, you’ll find the support and truth-filled encouragement to keep going—even if life slows you down.

Summer's Here... Now What?

Let’s rewind the clock for a sec. 🕰️

Picture this with me... I'm fresh out of my dietetic internship, engaged, halfway through a master’s degree, and determined to keep all my healthy habits intact. I had BIG plans.

Meal prepping? ✅ Long quiet times? ✅ Workouts and journaling? ✅ ✅

...until real life hit me like a sunscreen-slick toddler cannonballing into the deep end.

We’re talking unexpected job shifts, packing up apartments, and spontaneous Chick-fil-A runs (because, well, #weddingplanning). I remember sitting in the tension of: "Do I want to have fun or stay 'on track'?" I genuinely didn’t know how to adapt. My only tools were full stop or full speed.

And friend, if you’re there too? I see you. And I wish someone had told both of us this back then:

Food freedom isn’t all-or-nothing.

And summer? It doesn’t have to be a setback. In fact, it might just be the perfect opportunity to grow—not just in your habits, but in your faith.

So today, we’re diving into 3 super practical (and totally doable) ways to stay consistent this summer without falling into the "I'll just start over in September" spiral.

Spoiler alert: you don't need to be perfect. Just be present.

#1) Don’t Pause—Just Pivot.

(Why "off track" isn't a thing in food freedom)

Life happens, especially in summer. The kids are home, the schedule is bananas, and your usual rhythms feel more like suggestions than structure.

So let me hit you with a metaphor: If your GPS hits traffic, do you cancel the trip entirely? Um, no. You reroute.

👉 Consistency isn’t perfection. It’s progress in motion.

If you’ve built momentum with your food freedom goals, summer doesn’t have to mean scrapping everything. Yes, your pace might slow. Yes, things might look different. But you can still move forward.

Practical Pivot Examples:

• Instead of three new fear foods per week? Try one every two weeks.
• No time for a full meal plan? Jot down just 3 dinner ideas.
• Traveling a lot? Choose simple meals with flexible components.

Progress > perfection. Always.

#2) Focus on 1–2 "Anchor Habits".

(Bare minimums that help you feel grounded even when life is nutty)

Anchor habits = the things that keep you tethered when the waves of life hit.

Think of it like packing for a beach trip. You don’t bring your whole closet—just your essentials (hello, swimsuit, sunscreen, and a good snack stash).

Same goes for your health and food rhythms. What are the absolute non-negotiables that help you feel like you?

Anchor Habit Ideas:

• Drinking a glass of water before your coffee.
• Eating three meals a day—even if snacks get wonky.
• Pausing before a meal to say a quick prayer of gratitude.

If your full routine isn't possible, these anchor habits act like spiritual + physical reset buttons.

📌 Pro tip: Want a deep dive into this concept? Go check out my Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast where we break it down even more.

#3) Make Room for Joy-Filled Flexibility.

(Because freedom means enjoying summer, not obsessing through it)

Let me say it loud for the mamas in the back:

Food freedom isn’t rigid. It’s responsive.

This means you can say "yes" to:

• Spontaneous popsicle runs
• Poolside nachos
• Rest days that turn into rest weeks
• Last-minute road trip snacks

...and NOT feel like you’ve failed.

Instead of asking, "How do I stick to the plan perfectly?" try asking, "How can I stay connected to my values, even when my routine changes?"

Because THIS is where the good stuff grows:

• Trust in your body
• Trust in God’s provision
• Grace for your pace

Some days food freedom might look like a colorful salad and a peaceful walk. Other days? A PB&J in the minivan with Goldfish crumbs everywhere.

Both are valid. Both are valuable. Both are enough.

Faith reminder: The Lord doesn’t measure your worth by your food choices. He delights in your heart, not your habits.

You Don’t Have to Start Over in September

Let’s recap, shall we?

When you choose to pivot instead of pause, focus on a couple of anchor habits, and make room for flexibility, you build a food freedom journey that doesn’t fall apart when life gets full.

Whether you're on vacation, home with wild toddlers, or juggling 3 VBS schedules, food freedom can still work for you.

You don’t need a reset. You don’t need to earn your next meal. You don’t need to start over.

You just need to keep showing up.

With grace. With curiosity. With trust in the One who created your body on purpose, for a purpose.

 

Want More Support This Summer?

✨ Come hang out with us in the Food Freedom & Body Image Support for Christian Women Facebook group!

It’s totally free and filled with women who love Jesus and are DONE with diet culture controlling their joy.

You can also leave me a voice message at brittanybraswellrd.com/podcast or shoot me a DM on Instagram@brittanybraswellrd to tell me:

• What’s been helpful here and on the podcast?
• What do you want to see or hear more of?
• What types of episodes (or blog posts!) would serve you best?

I love hearing from you! Truly.

You help shape this space into something meaningful, Christ-centered, and full of grace.

Until next time, keep pivoting, keep trusting, and as always—keep chasing joy from choosing freedom. ✨

 

With Grace,

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD

Food Freedom Dietitian & Body Image Coach for Christian Women