Tu B’Shevat is known as the New Year for the Trees — a quiet moment in the Jewish calendar that marks renewal beneath the surface.
At this time of year, trees don’t look particularly impressive.
They’re bare. Still. Seemingly dormant.
And yet, deep inside, something important is already happening.
Sap begins to rise. Growth is underway — even if we can’t see it yet.
This is what makes Tu B’Shevat such a powerful lens through which to explore our relationship with food, eating, and the body.
The month of Shevat is traditionally associated with eating — not dieting, restriction, or rigid rules, but how we eat and the awareness we bring to it.
So many women come to food carrying years of labels:
“good” foods
“bad” foods
foods that make us feel proud
foods that bring guilt or shame
Over time, this creates disconnection — not only from food, but from the body itself.
Tu B’Shevat invites a different approach:
What if eating wasn’t about control…
but about connection?
One of the core principles I teach is learning to work with the body rather than against it.
This means shifting from:
• forcing → listening
• policing → noticing
• overriding → responding
When we eat in partnership with the body, we begin to:
• Tune into hunger and fullness cues
• Notice satisfaction, not just quantity
• Recognize how different foods affect our energy, digestion, and mood
This aligns deeply with my WISE approach to eating:
Tu B’Shevat reminds us that change doesn’t need to be dramatic to be meaningful.
Eating mindfully isn’t about eating slowly all the time or getting it “right.”
It’s about presence.
Pausing before eating.
Tasting your food.
Checking in with yourself.
Asking simple questions like:
These moments of awareness rebuild trust — and trust is the foundation of sustainable eating.
Just like the trees on Tu B’Shevat, growth often happens quietly.
You may not see immediate results.
You may not feel “different” overnight.
But each small act of awareness — each time you choose curiosity over criticism — is part of a deeper process of renewal.
This is not about perfection.
It’s about consistency.
It’s about compassion.
It’s about learning to honor both your physical needs and your inner world.
As we move through this season, consider asking yourself:
Where am I still fighting my body — and what might change if I chose partnership instead?
Just like the trees, your body already knows how to grow.
Sometimes it simply needs the right conditions — patience, nourishment, and trust.
If this way of thinking about food resonates — softer, more attuned, and rooted in trust — this is the foundation of the work I do with women. My approach blends clinical nutrition with mindset and body awareness, helping you move away from food rules and toward a calmer, more sustainable relationship with eating and your body, especially during midlife transitions. Change doesn’t happen through force — it happens through understanding, support, and learning to listen again.
Explore my series of talks on this subject here
