Episode 3: Supercharge Your Breakfast and Increase Your Energy Levels with May Tom, RD

If you're walking the path of healing, there's a moment when you begin to see that what you remove from your diet isn’t just about restriction—it’s about making space for deeper nourishment. With each new nourishing food choice, you are rewriting old patterns. You are actively reshaping the story of your health. You are rewiring your body and brain toward the state of vitality and well-being you desire. So as you begin to explore new food swaps for old, familiar favorites, remember that with every bite, you are powerfully shifting your internal chemistry. You are turning down inflammatory pathways. You are turning on healing and anti-aging pathways. And you are creating a future self who feels more vibrant, resilient, and at home in your body.

Sometimes the deepest healing doesn’t come from adding more—but from letting go. When we release what no longer serves us, we create the space our body needs to restore balance and begin to heal. The remove phase of the elimination diet process invites us into a rare and sacred moment: a pause. Not just from inflammatory foods, but from the unconscious patterns and loops that have kept our bodies in distress and our minds disconnected from our inner knowing. This isn't about lack or restriction. It’s about reverence. The kind that allows us to create space for healing, listening, and nourishing ourselves on every level. Letting go can stir up more than just cravings. It can awaken grief, uncertainty, even identity questions. You may find yourself asking: Who am I without my morning coffee? Without that glass of wine to unwind? Without the comforting foods I reach for when life feels overwhelming?

Have you ever wondered if gluten could be silently sabotaging your health—affecting your digestion, brain, skin, hormones, or immune system—even if you’ve never been diagnosed with celiac disease? You’re not alone. More and more people are waking up to the realization that their daily discomforts—like bloating, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, joint pain, migraines, or stubborn skin issues—might not be random…but rather connected to something as simple and foundational as what’s on their plate. Gluten is often viewed as harmless unless you have a medical diagnosis. But emerging research—and the powerful healing stories of those who’ve removed it—tell a different story. For some, gluten is just another protein. But for others, it’s a daily trigger for immune disruption, systemic inflammation, and a slow, quiet breakdown of the gut lining.

Food is more than just fuel—it’s emotional, cultural, and deeply tied to our daily habits. But for many, it also becomes a source of addiction, keeping us stuck in negative cycles of cravings, energy crashes, and emotional eating. Processed foods, high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives, are designed to hijack our brain’s reward system, triggering dopamine releases that make us reach for more, even when we know they’re harming our health. Letting go of food addictions isn’t just about willpower—it’s about breaking free from old patterns and stepping into alignment with your future self. Over the years, one of the biggest struggles I’ve seen during the elimination diet process is the difficulty of letting go of foods that have been part of one’s daily diet for years—or even decades. The cravings for sugar, gluten, dairy, and processed foods can feel overwhelming, and ironically, they often get stronger when we try to break away from them.

Embarking on an elimination diet can be a transformative journey toward better health, helping you identify food sensitivities, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion, energy levels, and overall well-being. But for many, the biggest challenge isn’t deciding to start—it’s knowing how to stick with it. Success with an elimination diet isn’t just about what you remove; it’s also about having a solid plan in place so that nourishing meals are always within reach. Without structure, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, unprepared, or tempted to fall back into old habits. But with the right meal planning strategies, you can set yourself up for a smooth and sustainable experience, allowing you to focus on the healing process. In this guide, I’ll walk through the essential steps to help you navigate meal planning for any type of elimination diet.

If you’ve ever struggled with chronic symptoms—digestive discomfort, brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, skin issues, or any number of persistent health concerns—you may have wondered whether the foods you eat are playing a role. The truth is, what you put on your plate can either nourish your body or contribute to inflammation and imbalance. This is where an elimination diet becomes a powerful tool for self-discovery and transformation. Embarking on an elimination diet can feel overwhelming at first—figuring out what to eat, ensuring balanced nutrition, and staying motivated are all key factors in success. This is where Nourishing Meals® becomes an invaluable tool in your journey.