Making a Difference - One Healthy Choice at a Time

“There's a lot of times, that if our creativity is not expressed and if our talents are not used, we are going to go to food to compensate.”
- Rachel Kieffer

When do women place themselves on their priority list? Is there a love of self? What are the feelings women have about body-image? These are the three common concerns Rachel Kieffer, certified holistic nutrition and health coach, hears from women all over the world.

I am blessed to call Rachel a dear friend. I have been following her, the Health Nut Girl, on social media for years. She is part of the reason I registered with the Institute For Integrative Nutrition. Modest, with her attention focused on helping others, Rachel claims she's not a guru, only a guide specialized in working with women who struggle with their relationship with food, their bodies, and with themselves.

With a deep love and appreciation for animals, Rachel became a vegetarian at the age of ten. Concerned, Rachel's mother began exploring vegetarian food options to make certain Rachel received the important nutrients to stay healthy. When Rachel was a teenager, her parents opened two health food stores in the city they resided in, in Israel. Working in the stores provided her the skills to listen to customer's health concerns on a deeper level to determine what the real issues were beyond the surface of their words. She learned how to assist her parent's customers with exploring healthier food choices. Curious, and passionate to learn more, Rachel began to collaborate with individuals with a nutritional background, researched the healing powers of food, and developed the skills of asking high-mileage questions. She was immersed in the philosophy of Food is Health.

Rachel moved from Israel to New York City at the age of twenty-three. To expand her education, she attended the Institute For Integrative Nutrition to gain the knowledge and coaching skills to guide women. In addition to her certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she received an educational certification from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). Her lifelong learning experience is the basis of her coaching practice.

Rachel resides in New York City with her husband, Izzy Kieffer – a musician, and her son, Gavriel.

“It's okay that this is where you start.” Rachel has spoken these words to me in several of conversations. It's a powerful, yet subtle reminder we are in the perfect spot to begin.

Women are taught to take care of everybody else, but who's taking care of the woman? Different cultures have different standards. Rachel stated, “Where do we place our self on our priority list? We need to prioritize ourselves.”

A holistic health coach is a guide with the intent to empower their clients with support, and assist in making sustainable changes that improve not only the health of the individual, the state of being as well. It is all connected: mind, body, spirit, and food. Rachel primarily works with women who struggle with their relationship with food and their bodies, and with themselves.

“If you don't make the change to learning to - first of all - appreciate your body..." she paused, and continued, "and then start liking your body and then to love your body, you're not going to do what is necessary to take care of your body. Because, why would you take care of something you don't like?”

Self-love isn't something vague, it is vital. When we are motivated by self-love, there's nothing we wouldn't do to take care of our self. We become our number one priority.

“I encourage women to find something creative,” Rachel said. “There's a lot of times, that if our creativity is not expressed and if our talents are not used, we are going to go to food to compensate.”

Take a moment and ponder: what is your relationship with food? Are you using it to fill a void? Does it bring you comfort when you're feeling emotional or as though something is lacking from your life? In Rachel's experience, she's noticed we have an unhealthy relationship with food because we don't express that which is within us.

How does Rachel express herself? “I love to sing,” said Rachel joyfully. “I sing in the car. I sing in the shower. I sing Karaoke.” She pauses before continuing, “I actually have a story that goes with this. Because I grew up in Israel, and I grew up in a religious home, and went to a religious school. In the orthodox Jewish community, they teach young girls not to sing because they say our voices are sinful and they can lead men into sinful thoughts.” Not being able to sing and express her internal voice had an impact on Rachel's self-image. The fact that she is singing now is a very healing act for her as a woman. “It's like finding my voice,” she explained. “To feel myself loud and be heard, and not caring what other say about me.”

Rachel is naturally gifted with the ability to educate women on how to love themselves, their bodies, and explore their relationship with food on a deep level. She has a special way of sharing how the elements for a healthier life are connected and affect us in various ways.

Rachel is a contributing author in 365 Ways To Connect With Your Soul and Unleash Your Inner Magnificence. She has penned several ebooks that are available at www.healthnutgirl.com.

To learn more about Rachel Kieffer and her one-on-one coaching services, group sessions, and online study courses (7-Day Cleanse and Freedom From Sugar Addiction), please go to her website www.healthnutgirl.com. I recommend joining her email list (you'll receive her valuable free opt-in offer) and taking the time to read her informative blog posts. 

A Summertime Favorite Smoothie

A handful of arugula
One small cucumber
1 cup frozen mango
1 small ripe banana
2 teaspoons of flax seeds
Water and ice.
Blend until smooth!

Cindy (C.K.) Kochis is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who transformed her coaching practice as the foundation of Elements For A Healthier Life. She is providing a community space for people to share their personal stories, professional knowledge and healthy eating options. Cindy is a coach, virtual assistant, author, grandmother and sassy redhead. She self-published “Get A Compass Not A Clock” and “Unleash Your Inner Story”. For more information about Cindy’s services, visit ckkochis.com.

This article was originally published in the June 2016 edition of Elements For A Healthier Life Magazine.