FAQ

April 30, 2023

What is the Wise Mind Nutrition Framework?

What is the Wise Mind Nutrition Framework?

Critical Intersections Between Nutrition and Mental Health 

In the era of nutritional confusion, people are becoming frustrated by the ongoing search for the next trending diet. We all have unique neurobiology, psychological profiles, and cultural backgrounds. We live in different contexts and have different motivations. 

New frameworks that go beyond quantitative approaches (e.g., calories and macronutrients) and instead aim to embrace the qualitative (e.g., mental health) components of eating are greatly needed. Nutrition messages must be trauma-informed and nuanced.  

Thanks to scientific advances in our understanding of gut health, strategies for eating food for mood and brain health are now evidence-based. Wise Mind Nutrition has identified three critical intersections between nutrition and mental health:


  • Nutrients for supporting brain health. 

  • Eating to improve gut health. 

  • How we think about food and body. 

Wise Mind Nutrition honors the wisdom from eating disorders, addictions, nutritional psychology, and lifestyle medicine. The work we do here explores the evolution of nutrition frameworks in recent decades and explores why so much contention continues to plague the nutrition space.


What is the Wise Mind?

Utilizing the “wise mind” includes seeing the value of both reason and emotion while being able to see the middle path. This term was popularized with Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) which was designed to replace rigid dichotomous thinking with the ability to explore a wide range of possibilities. 

The Wise Mind can see the interconnectedness of systems. One example is viewing the gut and the brain as a system rather than distinct organs. The Wise Mind can see the value of physical and mental health rather than trading one for the other. The Wise Mind can also find a balance between dieting and non-dieting approaches. 


Eating-Disorder Informed

The biggest challenge in creating nutrition messaging for groups of people is the potential for some of the information to be triggering. The program avoids words like “diet” and discussion of body weight. Wise Mind Nutrition discourages counting and encourages connecting with food on a deeper level. 

We teach about mindful and soulful eating and positive body image. More details about eating disorder-informed nutrition messaging can be found here


The Wise Mind Nutrition App 

In addition to educational content, recipes, and meditations, the app contains a novel food log and a nightly review feature. The food log is based on the six food groups and hunger-fullness self-assessment, and more details can be found here

The first week of educational modules introduces the Wise Mind Nutrition Five Components


  • When to Eat

  • What to Eat

  • How to Eat

  • How Much to Eat

  • How to Think About Food and Body

Throughout the transformative educational journey, you will notice references to “guiding principles” that summarize the essence of the Wise Mind Nutrition message. Check out the Wise Mind Nutrition 12 Principles

The program is not simply a video series; it is a digital workbook filled with assignments, pinnable “gems,” and tons of resources. Links include blogs, videos, product recommendations, cooking guides and other guides, recipes, podcasts, functional medicine resources, and so much more! 

Don’t hesitate to ask any questions; we would love to hear from you. 

© Copyright 2024 Wise Mind Nutrition.

© Copyright 2024 Wise Mind Nutrition.

© Copyright 2024 Wise Mind Nutrition.