….We eat food because it gives us essential nutrients, nutrients that our bodies cannot make on their own. This is why we would DIE without food!….

With that simple thought, I had a fabulous revelation that serves to inspire my blog post: Like food, fashion gives us essential fabrics, fabrics that we dress ourselves in each morning, allowing us to go about our day! This is why we would DIE (of boredom) without fashion! Fashion and Nutrition really do make sense together!

The Designer Clothes (Real Food)

We all know that when we buy a piece of designer clothing, there is something different about it. Something better. So, you saved up a few paychecks to buy something nice. And you can justify the purchase to the cashier and tell her exactly why this piece of clothing is worth investing in. For a date? For a big party? For a premeditated run-in with an ex and his new girlfriend? Go YOU! Bonus points if the clothing is in season when you purchase it! The same goes for real food like fruits and vegetables, when buying it in season means getting fresher, tastier, trendier nutrition. Eating real food might mean more meal prep, more frequent trips to the market, more out of your wallet, but isn’t real food a worthwhile investment? For increased energy? For easier weight control? For a premeditated commitment to lifelong wellness?

The Imitation-Designer Clothes (”Diet” Food)

You didn’t quite want to commit to the real deal, so you went for the wannabe instead, hoping no one would notice. Or maybe you thought this was the real deal and were fooled with the faux fur! Look at the signs! A Coach purse for $50?!…hmmmm must be a knock-off. A pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream for 50 calories?…hmmmm must be a knock-off. “Diet” food lacks what real food has in excess amounts–real nutrients that the body WANTS and can USE. Sure, “diet” food is low in calories, but are calories what determine nutrition quality?

Time for a lesson! In true nutritionista fashion (ha!), I will organize food like my walk-in closet.

1.) High in calories and high in nutrients
(avocados, almonds)
2.) Low in calories and high in nutrients
(spinach, broccoli, apples, strawberries)
3.) High in calories and low in nutrients
(most fast food, junk food)
4.) Low in calories and low in nutrients
(fat-free, sugar-free cookies)

Do you see the difference?

The Cheap Clothes (Fake Food)

There are clothes that do not fit well, but are so cheap and always available that you figure, why not? Does this sound familiar?

“I just found this AWESOME blouse for only $9, but one of the buttons just popped off when I tried to put it on. It’s not really my color either, but it was such a good deal! “

Technically you could put a sweater over that blouse, and still look OK, but is the blouse really doing it’s job? Eating fake food won’t kill you, but it doesn’t really do it’s job either because it lacks some essential nutrients that keep you kicking! Not only the ‘calories’, ‘fat’, ‘protein’, ‘carbs’, but the vitamins and minerals and undiscovered molecules and processes that all work together in ways scientists may never be able to understand. Did you know that humans have existed for thousands of diet-free years without Cheez-Its!? Fake food does not fit with our bodies, but real food has fit, does fit, and will always fit with our bodies.

Nutritionista Rule #8: Because real food creates the highest quality fabric from threads of many essential nutrients, your diet becomes your wardrobe, your life becomes a fashion show, and the world becomes your runway! Strut your stuff!

By Jenny Westerkamp. Jenny is the co-founder of All Access Internships (allaccessinternships.com) and a Nutrition Consultant for Sportfuel Inc. (sportfuel.com) and Eat Like the Pros LLC. Visit jennywesterkamp.com for more blog posts on “Trendy Nutrition.”