As a Vancouver holistic nutritionist and Abbotsford nutritionist, my approach is deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom, and utilizying bioavailable, balanced, and nutrient-rich foods to heal. A well-balanced meal isn’t just about eating enough—it’s about giving your body the right nutrients in the right forms, so they can be effectively absorbed, utilized, and transformed into the building blocks of your health. When we combine quality proteins, healthy fats, and nourishing carbohydrates in each meal, we create the ideal environment for energy, hormone balance, digestive health, and long-term vitality.

Why a Balanced Plate Matters 🍽️

Your body thrives when it receives a variety of nutrients in proper proportions. A truly balanced plate includes:

Bioavailable protein for muscle repair, hormone production, and neurotransmitter support.
Healthy, stable fats for satiety, energy, and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
Nutrient-dense carbohydrates to provide glucose for brain function and cellular energy, alongside fiber for digestive health.

This combination doesn’t just keep you full—it supports blood sugar stability, reduces inflammation, and ensures you’re nourishing every system in your body.

Quality Over Quantity: The Ancestral Lens for your Balanced Plate 🐄🌿

Ancestral nutrition focuses on how humans have eaten for thousands of years—prioritizing whole, unprocessed, and naturally nutrient-dense foods. Instead of counting calories or obsessing over macros, the focus is on quality.

This means choosing:

Pasture-raised meats and eggs over conventionally farmed options.
Raw or minimally processed dairy for optimal nutrient retention.
Seasonal produce for peak freshness and mineral content.
Properly prepared grains and legumes (soaked, sprouted, or fermented) to reduce anti-nutrients and enhance digestibility.

A Vancouver holistic nutritionist knows that not all foods are created equal—even if they look the same on paper. A factory-farmed egg and a pasture-raised egg both contain protein, but the nutrient profile is drastically different.

The Building Blocks of a Balanced Plate

Here’s a breakdown of what to include in every meal for optimal nourishment:

Bioavailable Proteins 🍳🥩🐟

Choose proteins that are easy to digest and rich in essential amino acids.

Grass-fed and finished beef, bison, or lamb
Pasture-raised chicken and turkey
Wild-caught fish and seafood (salmon, sardines, mussels)
Pasture-raised eggs
Organ meats (liver, heart, kidney) for unmatched nutrient density

Healthy Fats 🥑🧈🥥

Fats are not the enemy—they are the foundation of hormone health, cellular structure, and nutrient absorption.

Grass-fed butter or ghee
Extra virgin olive oil
Cold-pressed avocado oil
Coconut oil and coconut cream
Raw dairy cream
Animal fats (tallow, duck fat, lard from healthy animals)
Avocados, olives, nuts, and seeds (preferably soaked or sprouted)

Nourishing Carbohydrates 🍠🍎🥦

Whole-food carbohydrates provide glucose for energy, along with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Root vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips)
Seasonal fruit (berries, apples, pears, citrus)
Winter squash, pumpkins, and zucchini
Properly prepared grains (quinoa, oats, rice)
Legumes (soaked beans, lentils, chickpeas)

How to Put It All Together 🥗

A simple formula for each meal:

½ plate vegetables and/or fruit (colourful, seasonal, and minimally processed)
¼ plate protein (quality, bio available sources)
¼ plate healthy fats and/or starchy carbs (to keep you satisfied and energized)

By following this ratio, you’re naturally supporting balanced blood sugar, preventing mid-day crashes, and keeping your metabolism strong.

Seasonal Eating in Vancouver 🌸🍁❄️☀️

One of the benefits of working with a Vancouver holistic nutritionist is learning how to eat in harmony with the seasons. Here’s a quick example of seasonal produce you can find locally:

Spring: asparagus, spinach, radishes, strawberries, salmon
Summer: blueberries, peaches, tomatoes, zucchini, leafy greens
Fall: apples, squash, beets, carrots, pasture-raised meats
Winter: cabbage, leeks, kale, stored root vegetables, hearty bone broths

Seasonal eating ensures that you’re consuming foods at their peak nutrient levels and supporting your body’s natural rhythms.

The Role of Ancestral Wisdom 🪶

As a Vancouver holistic nutritionist and Abbotsford nutritionist, I emphasize that food should be nutrient-dense and minimally processed, focusing on how our ancestors ate—nose-to-tail, seasonally, and without industrialized oils, additives, or excessive refinement. The result? Meals that not only taste incredible but deeply nourish your body from the inside out.

As a Vancouver holistic nutritionist, I see the difference firsthand: when clients shift from processed, low-quality meals to nutrient-dense, balanced plates, their energy levels soar, their digestion improves, and their hormonal health begins to regulate naturally.

Your Takeaway 📝

A balanced meal isn’t a fad—it’s the foundation of vibrant health. By combining bioavailable proteins, nourishing fats, and nutrient-rich carbohydrates, you give your body the tools it needs to thrive. Whether you’re shopping at a local Vancouver farmers’ market or planning meals at home, focus on quality, seasonality, and variety.

When you eat this way consistently, you’ll notice:

Steadier energy
Improved digestion
Stronger immune function
Clearer skin
Hormonal balance

Eating for balance isn’t about restriction—it’s about abundance, satisfaction, and connection to the foods that truly serve your body.
Check out our FREE MEAL PLAN which provides examples and recipes for blood sugar balancing meals.

Need Further Support? Talk to a Vancouver Holistic Nutritionist Today!