Nutrition Overwhelm: Why Eating Healthy Feels So Complicated and 5 Simple Ways to Start

I’m a holistic health coach, but more importantly, I’m a mum of two and the person who manages most of what goes on in our home: the meals, the schedules, the food shopping, and the constant snack requests (so many snack requests).

And I’ll be the first to say: eating healthy can feel really overwhelming — even for me sometimes.

Getting inspiration for simple, nutritious dishes the family will love

We’re bombarded with food trends, wellness advice, and “must-have” products that promise to change your life.

Even with my background in biomedical sciences and understanding of how the body works, when it came to raising my children, the weaning stage made me question my knowledge on nutrition and got me curious. That’s one of the reasons I retrained to become a health coach, so I can cut through the noise and make eating healthily simple again.

So if you’ve ever thought, I want to eat better, but I don’t know where to start, you are not alone. And it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It just means you’re living in a world where food choices have become way more complicated than they need to be.

Food stores overwhelm us with choice that it makes it difficult to decipher what is healthy

Why Does Healthy Eating Feel So Overwhelming?

There are a few common reasons people struggle when they try to eat healthier:

1. Information Overload

There’s no shortage of advice - eat this, not that, go gluten-free, avoid dairy, count macros, try intermittent fasting. One minute carbs are the enemy, the next they’re essential. One expert says go plant-based; another swears by animal protein. Social media, and even your well-meaning friend group all have different answers. The flood of opinions can be paralysing.

2. Feeling Like You Have to Get It Perfect

The pressure to get it just right - organic, non-GMO, balanced, zero sugar, Instagram-worthy is exhausting. And honestly? It's not necessary. That mindset makes it easy to give up before you even start. Trust me, I’m a raging perfectionist and this mindset can be unhelpful when it comes to change. Get curious and focus on progress, not perfection.

Eating healthier is about making small, sustainable changes you can easily add in to your daily routine

3. All-or-Nothing Thinking

It’s tempting to dive in headfirst, cutting everything “bad” out at once or having a “clean slate”. But that’s a fast track to crash diets, pantry purges, and burnout. Trying to change everything overnight is not sustainable. Real change comes from small steps, not giant leaps. And yes, you’ll have to be patient and kind to yourself, which I have learned along the way.

4. Limited Time and Mental Load

Let’s be honest, even if you love the idea of meal planning, prepping, or trying new recipes, actually doing it while managing work, kids, and life… it’s a lot. Many of us weren’t taught how to read nutrition labels or understand what our bodies actually need. Without that foundation, even the simplest decisions (like choosing yoghurt) feel like guesswork.

5. Not Knowing What to Prioritise

Eating healthy is often perceived as expensive and time-consuming. And while it can be, it doesn’t have to be. When everything is labelled as “bad” or “superfood,” it’s hard to know what really matters. What’s worth your time, money, and energy?

So Where Do You Start?

Here Are 5 Simple Tips to Start Eating Healthier (Without Losing Your Mind)

As a health coach and a mum, I always bring it back to what’s realistic. Here are five low-stress ways to start eating healthier. No rigid rules, no guilt required.

1. Start With What You Already Eat

Instead of overhauling your entire diet, take what you're already eating and make one or two healthier swaps. Use whole wheat bread or wraps instead of white, add spinach to your pasta sauce or swap white rice for brown or quinoa. Small changes make a big impact over time.

Real life example: We LOVE spaghetti bolognese in our house, so I just added lentils and vegetables to the sauce and cook wholewheat spaghetti.

Make healthier swaps like wholewheat spaghetti for white or adding lentils to your sauce

2. Add, Don’t Just Take Away

Rather than focusing only on what you shouldn’t eat, try adding in more nutrients in. More colour. More fibre. More water. More healthy fats. When your meals are more balanced and satisfying, your cravings naturally shift.

Try this: Add a side salad or roasted veggies to your go-to dinner. Add berries into your breakfast (and the kids!), or drink one extra glass of water a day.

3. Stick to the Perimeter of the Food Shop

Most of the whole, fresh, less-processed foods live on the outer edges of the food shop. Think fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, etc. Start there, then move inward. You don’t have to avoid the middle aisles, but it helps keep your shop focused.

Pro tip: Make a shopping list and stick to it when you're tired or busy. Less impulse, more ease. Also, don’t go food shopping when hungry!!

4. Read Labels (Without Obsessing)

You don’t have to analyse every micronutrient. Start by looking for shorter ingredient lists, fewer added sugars, and less additives. If you can pronounce the ingredients and they read more like a recipe than a chemistry lab, you’re on the right track.

Rule of thumb I use: If I wouldn’t cook with it in my own kitchen, I think twice about buying it.

Writing a meal plan reduces mental load during the week. If this is new to you, or feels overwhelming, then start with one or two meals.

5. Plan Just One or Two Meals Ahead

Don’t stress about meal prepping for the week if that feels overwhelming. Just try planning one healthy breakfast or lunch a day. Once that becomes routine, build from there.

Start small. Making overnight oats sets you up for the day and creates a small win in the morning. Or perhaps you can pack your lunch the night before.

Bottom Line

You don’t have to have a picture-perfect meal plan or go full "clean eating" to start feeling better. Your version of healthy will look different than someone else’s, and that’s okay.

As a mum, I know how hard it can be to prioritise your own nutrition when you’re constantly taking care of everyone else. But here’s what I’ve learned: when I eat better, I feel better - and when I feel better, everything else flows more smoothly too.

So don’t wait until you have more time, or a new planner, or the perfect food setup. Start with what you’ve got. You’re already doing more than you think, and you’ve got this.

If you are feeling stuck, confused, or frustrated with nutrition and want support, I can help you.

Check out my private programmes here, or book a free discovery call to find out more.

As a holistic health coach, my mission is to help feel healthier and more energised. I'd love to work with you.