In a family where medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes runs rampant, nutrition has become an important part of our lives. When I was seven, my mom told me we needed to eat healthier to help my brother lose weight and prevent him from developing long-term health problems such as diabetes. I didn't understand why my Doritos were replaced with carrots, or why I was strung into random appointments with my brothers dietitian. When I turned 11 the cycle started over again. Both my brother and I had high cholesterol which was to be expected given our family history, but I didn't want to live filled with fear of a heart attack. I proposed that my family start making better choices in the kitchen to minimize our chances of serious issues. Choosing better snacks has spiraled into a healthy obsession with food and wellness. Food is a powerful tool, it give us energy to move and heal our bodies, brings people together, and allows for unique experiences at every meal. For most people, food is a huge source of joy and relief, they can just relax with a comforting meal for a few minutes. Unfortunately, many foods considered for "comfort" may not fuel someone the way their body needs. These foods are often low in nutrition, containing high amounts of sugar, and fat which will impact them if consumed regularly. Over the past few months, countless videos have popped up on my social media feeds, telling me to cut out this, and start eating that. It gets overwhelming- being told that all foods will kill you, but also heal you. I want to help people facing the same problems as me, seeing advice that makes me question everything else I have learned through hours of research and personal trials. Even though the body is far from simple, its needs are not as complex as it may seem. The priority is making sure someone gets enough calories to support basic metabolic functions, the next step is including all the food groups ensuring to help the body run at its peak. All food groups are crucial to a healthy, happy life, but it is just as important to get enough of each type of food. To help patients I would prioritize simplicity and balance. A diet of mostly whole, nutritious foods is seen as the most sustainable, healthy way to live. However, including a cupcake a few times a month won't necessarily impact ones physical health. However, when the diet turns into chips and cupcakes multiple times a day it can lead to serious problems like obesity, heart problems, and various types of cancer. The poison is in the dose, too much "unhealthy" food leads to health problems, while never enjoying these foods can take the joy out of ones life. Staying simple, and staying balanced is a great way to improve ones physical and emotional health.