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Break free from the rigidity of dieting to discover a sustainable way of living that feeds your unique mind, body, and soul.

 
 
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hello beautiful!

I'm Lindsay Sparks, a registered dietitian on a mission to help others move beyond the numbers and recognize that their value and beauty comes from within. Life is more than just going through the motions, it's about getting in tune with your mind and body to live a life well-nourished.

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It's time to ignite and radiate confidence from within by creating the happy, healthy life you deserve. Together, we'll redefine the way you view what healthy is and help you make peace with food and your body.

 

Inspiration to Spark Your Life

 
 
 
 

Ignite Your Inner Spark

 
Current me is thanking past me for prepping this quinoa, kale and Gouda cheese egg bake this weekend. 🙌 Baby is teething + going through another sleep regression and I’m finding it hard to feel inspired to do much when she (finally😬) succumbs to naps...other than to nap myself, scarf down some food and/or stare off into space. 😴🤪 ☝🏼Reminder: Your body/mind needs *adequate* energy and nutrients (plus a variety of other things, of course, but food is part of the foundation) to live your best life. Do what you need to do to fuel your body. Do the opposite of what your disordered eating voice says. Find time to eat, no matter how busy or distracted with life that you may be. Your body deserves to be nourished, not deprived.
This drizzly fall Saturday in the Ozarks was filled with all da cozy feels ✨💕 Spent time with two of my bestest friends shopping at an adorable little lavender farm, which was hosting several local artisans/businesses, and topped it off with cheesey carb goodness at one of my fave restaurants. ✨🍂☔️ Now it’s time for pjs, hot tea, and chilling (as much as one can “chill” with a busy 6.5 month old 😆😉). ✌️ Happy weekend, y’all. What are you doing for fun this weekend?
Anyone else feel like this week is going by so ssslloooowww?? 🐢 Maybe it’s just me 🤷‍♀️ I have been trying to intentionally slow things down in my life lately (if that’s possible 🤪). This transition to #momlife has continued to be a process of learning how to juggle all the things, including taking care of myself — mind, body & spirit. For me, self-care these days has looked like: setting boundaries with my workload, reading fiction books (instead of my usual nutrition or business related), taking walks, and last but not least, getting creative in the kitchen. 👩🏼‍🍳 This morning, “creative in the kitchen” included making pumpkin pancakes 🥞 for Ginny (and me😉). I boosted the iron content (because baby’s iron needs jump up significantly around 7 months) by using a cast iron skillet + incorporating some iron-fortified baby cereal in the batter. 👉🏻Pro-tip: Serving these with a few berries or orange slices (Vitamin C sources) can increase the absorption of the plant-based iron. 💪🏻Check out the recipe below 👇🏻and swipe left to see what Ginny thought of them 😆 Do you find it challenging to take care of yourself and/or prioritize your needs sometimes? How does self-care impact your relationship with food and your body? What are some small “wins” you’ve made in your self-care game lately? Pumpkin Pancakes (makes ~6-8, 3” pancakes) 1/2 cup iron-fortified baby oatmeal cereal 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/8 tsp salt 1 egg 3/4 cup milk 1/2 cup pumpkin puree 1 tbsp canola oil 1/2 tbsp white vinegar 1. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients. 2. In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. 3. Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (being careful to not overmix). Batter will be thick and lumpy. 4. Lightly coat a griddle or large non-stick skillet pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-low heat. Pour about 1/4 cup batter on skillet, and cook for 2-3 mins until bubbly on edges, flip, and cook another 2-3 mins on other side. 5. Transfer to a plate to cool a bit. Serve!
Yesterday was #worldmentalhealthday and while I had hoped to get a post up, it didn't happen because I had to honor my own mental health and set boundaries around work (which is v v hard for this "must do all the things, all the time" person). You might be wondering, why does this dietitian care so much about mental health? Why is she always talking about it? 🤔 It's because I am a firm believer in that "there is no health without mental health." Food/nutrition/body image is entangled with mental well-being; they are interconnected. To be honest, I had no idea when I first became a dietitian just how much mental health could play into an individual’s physiological symptoms and their relationship with food/body. I was very naive. Once I began providing nutrition counseling, it didn't take long for me to realize how effed up diet culture is and how health is SO MUCH more than weight/BMI or simply "eating right and exercising." I'm grateful I discovered Health At Every Size and intuitive eating, or else I am pretty sure I would have found a different career by now. Lastly, I care about mental health because I've been personally affected by mental illness. I understand what it's like to have shame and secrecy around mental health struggles; to feel that no one understands, that it's best to "sweep it under the rug," to not talk about it openly. There is a lot of stigma in our culture around mental illness and mental health struggles. I want to be an advocate for change to end this stigma. How has your mental health affected your relationship with food/body and vice versa? Getting support and sharing your struggles, whether it's with a licensed professional or someone you trust, does not mean you are weak -- it means you are brave. You are strong. You are worth advocating for. You are worthy of compassion, love, and care -- from yourself and others.💕 [📸 cred to my dear friend/sister from another mister, @chelsea.rae.photography, who is one of the people in my life that holds space for me in both my darkness and my light]
Recently I saw a post on social media that said "medicine is not health-care, food is health-care, medicine is sick-care" and wanted to scream. 😱🤬This kind of messaging is incredibly damaging and creates shame, judgement, and personal blame around taking LIFE-SAVING medications. Medication has it's place and there is NO SHAME in needing medication to support your health -- physical and/or mental. Yes, food is powerful. Yes, adequate nourishment and dietary interventions can indeed be health-enhancing and can indeed change lives. But NO, food will not solve every health problem or condition. This is extremely able-ist, privileged thinking and so disrespectful to individuals who rely on medications to live better lives or prevent health complications. We must stop putting food on a pedestal, stop pathologizing body sizes, and stop shaming individuals for developing health conditions that are incredibly complex. This is not helpful. It is harmful. This kind of messaging often creates more fear, anxiety, and stress around food -- which we do NOT need anymore of in our disordered eating culture. Let's seek balance and enjoyment with food, instead of extremes. Let's put food in it's place as just ONE part of the puzzle of health.
Fall weather is officially here and I’m officially basic for busting out the fall decor, “fall air” candles, and the slow cooker. 🤷‍♀️🍁🍂 Not pictured: the extra mess I made trying to make this tamale pie in the instant pot at first. I learned I am very much an instant pot amateur.😆🤪 All said and done, the end result was worth it— this turned out 💯. [Recipe from “Slow Cooker: The Best Cookbook Ever with More Than 400 East-to-make Recipes” by Diane Phillips].