the wholesome start wellness philosophy
Samina Qureshi is the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of Wholesome Start. Her nutrition counseling practice is based in Houston, Texas and she provides virtual nutrition counseling sessions to clients across the country. Schedule your FREE 15-minute nutrition session today!
It’s National Nutrition Month® and I wanted to celebrate with you by sharing a new post.
At the beginning of this month, I asked you for your nutrition questions and to my surprise, many of the questions I received were about my wellness philosophy at Wholesome Start. Let's take a dive into the three pillars of my practice.
Integrative and Functional Nutrition (IFN) emphasizes the importance of personalized nutrition therapy based on each individual's genetics, lifestyle, environment, and health concerns. IFN is based on patient-centered care that takes into account the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep hygiene, mental health, mind-body connection, etc., and makes use of evidence-based conventional and alternative therapies. IFN practitioners empower patients to achieve their best health by addressing the root causes of their health concerns. This approach enables patients to develop the tools they need to improve their health.
The Health At Every Size® (HAES®) Approach falls within the realm of holistic wellness and encourages healthy habits without focusing on weight. The HAES® approach is a framework that believes health exists on a continuum that varies with time and circumstances for each individual. HAES® acknowledges that social determinants of health greatly impact health inequities and empower people to respect, embrace, and trust their bodies in their journey to wellness. Learn more about the HAES® principles on the ASDAH website. A great place to start is learning from people with lived experiences and paying for their support and work in the HAES® community.
Intuitive Eating encourages developing a healthy relationship with food, mind, and body. It is based on 10 principles that help you honor your health without restriction, guilt, or stress around food. Learn more about Intuitive Eating here! A great place to start is reading and working through the Intuitive Eating book and workbook!
I've always been an anti-diet dietitian and have practiced nutrition therapy with a holistic approach that not only encompasses food and nutrition but also lifestyle factors that encourage healthy behaviors. I work with patients to address sleep hygiene, stress management, joyful movement, mind-body practices, and building a healthy relationship with food and body image to ultimately find relief from their uncomfortable gut symptoms. It's only natural to combine my passion for nutrition therapy with an approach that is built on these three pillars: IFN, HAES®, and Intuitive Eating.
There’s no magic pill to help you find balance with food, body image, and gut health. It takes time to change health behaviors and adopt new habits that fit your lifestyle. I believe it is important to find a balance that works best for you, be gentle with yourself, respect the process, and never compare your journey to someone else's. After all, comparison is the thief of joy! Everybody is unique and your wellness journey should be catered to you.
Wholesome Start provides virtual nutrition counseling sessions to help you discover the root cause of your health concerns, develop a healthier relationship with food, and unlock your healthiest self. I believe wellness is not a one-size-fit’s all approach and I celebrate body, size, gender, and cultural diversity. During your sessions you will have the opportunity to share your unique wellness journey and work with me to develop a customized nutrition care plan that fits your needs. Begin your Wholesome Start today!