Emily Butler

Gorgeous certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor Emily Butler, 36, says good food isn’t the only thing we need to nourish our lives. Everybody needs a side dish of good lovin, too!

Emily Butler, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it. You’re darling! So is this what good nutrition does for people? I’ve GOTTA start eating better.
The better you eat, the better you look and feel. I’ve been doing this 10-12 years now. It didn’t happen overnight. It just takes a different mindset and a little planning and forethought.

So you’re a certified holistic health and nutrition counselor, a food and health writer and a fine art painter. What brought you to Paducah?
I was working at an artist colony in southern Indiana and heard about Michael Terra and how he’d bought a house in Paducah for $10. I was looking for a small town, so I was intrigued. I went to the Paducah Arts Web site and saw all these artists as well as people in the healing arts like Christi Bonds, Emily Young and Nicole Brown. I thought, oh, wow, this place has both the fine arts and healing arts. These are my two passions coming together! I knew I needed to check this place out.

So you came for a visit?
Yes, and it just felt like the next right step for me in my life. I wanted to get my feet wet in my new career as a health counselor, and I also enjoy the companionship of artists and the creativity. I knew there would be lots of opportunities for me. I moved here in October 2008.

Tell us all about your work of making people look better and feel better!
I started Core Wisdom Wellness a little over a year ago as a way to offer a holistic approach to nutrition and health that honors each person’s unique body and lifestyle. There is no one diet that’s right for everyone. And when we change how we eat, that changes everything.

I listen to people’s health concerns. Often, people will be unhappy in one aspect of their life, but when they start eating more whole foods, like greens and grains, and less processed foods, they feel better. They have more energy.

I’m a bit of a coach and a cheerleader. I encourage people to take small steps and make small changes that lead to a new, healthy lifestyle. It’s powerful to think that what we eat can change our lives — we have the ability to fully embrace our lives just by eating better. It’s exciting.

How do people sign up for your services?
One way people can sign up is to visit my Web site and contact me about a free introductory session. Another good way to learn about what I do is to attend one of the health education talks and classes I offer at various locations. I advertise those on iList Paducah.

Good girl!
I also do a lot of phone consulting – I have clients all over the country. Last month I launched my first ever teleclass, which is a new service that’s very exciting! Teleclasses are where you can dial in and learn about health and nutrition from the comfort of your own home. So that’s a great way for me to reach a lot of people at a reasonable price.

I also have some one-on-one clients that I see on a consistent basis. And this fall I’ll be starting a group program at the Paducah Yoga Center.

I also offer a free emailed newsletter that includes tips and recipes, all designed to help people reclaim their health and enrich their lives.

And you were recently featured on the Paducah 2 Healthy Living TV show!
Yes, I was invited to talk about how nutrition transformed my own health, and to do a cooking segment. I’d suffered from a chronic illness, and it was through nutrition, cooking and living well that I was able to heal. So I’m always excited when I can share what I’ve learned to help others move into a new lifestyle of health, vitality and joy.

So what’s your typical eating day like?
Well, this morning I had some toast — which was some special toast because I don’t eat gluten or wheat. I make my own bread using almond flour and nut flour, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. And I usually use an all-natural fruit spread. Apricot and strawberry are favorites. And I had an apple with some almond nut butter and some herbal tea.

Another big breakfast favorite of mine is greens. I call it my power breakfast. I make a nice big plate of steamed greens and put poached or fried eggs on top, and I start my day with that.

What kind of greens?
Just a variety. I like kale a lot. We tend to think of kale as a garnish on the side of a plate at a restaurant, but it’s loaded with vitamins and minerals. I like kale, chard, spinach and arugula. Those give a lot of energy. I put them in a sauté skillet with a little bit of olive oil. Then I add water to create more steam. And a few minutes later, I have delicious greens and I’m good to go.

And what about lunch?
Lunch is usually more protein like some fish or chicken. I don’t do sandwiches with processed meats. But I’ll have more veggies, more greens.

I like making big chef salads with boiled eggs, fresh beets and maybe some feta cheese. I love having all kinds of veggies on hand. I throw them together and make amazing dishes.

And dinner?
Something on the lighter side. Soup or salad — maybe a baked sweet potato. I love making my own stocks. And I soak beans ahead of time, so that way everything is prepared ahead of time and I just throw it in a pot.

That sounds very time consuming!
It sounds like it’s complicated, but it’s really quick and easy. It just takes forethought and planning.

Choose a day when you have some downtime — a couple of hours. And focus on some simple food prep. Make a big batch of brown rice, cut veggies for a stir fry. Or use a crock pot. You throw in veggies and meat and you go about your day. And then you come home to a delicious smell in your kitchen and your meal is ready.

Still sounds time-consuming.
I try to “cook once and eat twice.” With brown rice, you can be very versatile. You can throw in stir fries, put in with veggies for lunch, or make brown rice pudding for breakfast or dessert.

Besides, I’d rather spend more time in the kitchen than in the hospital. And I’d rather spend more money in the grocery store than on drugs and doctor visits.

Good point! OK, I’m sold. Where do you shop for groceries?
I really love the Downtown Farmers’ Market. Golden Carrot is great, Heath Health Foods is great. I also take a cooler to Carbondale and stock up on fresh organic fruits and veggies, local farm raised meats, wild Alaskan salmon, beans and grains from their bulk bins, and other specialty items that aren’t available here. Or you can grow your own food if you’re game to explore any interest in gardening.

And what do you do for exercise?
I do yoga at Paducah Yoga Center. I’ve been studying it about 10 years now — I’m always learning. I go whenever I can get it to jive with my schedule. I also do yoga at home and lift hand weights. And I do cardio. I do a lot of walking in nature. Nature inspires me in my artwork.

That’s right! You’re a fine artist, as well!
Yes, I’ve always enjoyed how colors and light play with each other, and I can remember being mesmerized by my first big box of Crayola crayons as a little girl. I remember making colorful scribbles on paper and giving them as gifts to my parents’ friends.

Today I love plein air painting. That’s the French term for painting outdoors. It’s food for my soul.  Sometime I like to paint food too!  I’m all about food and creativity.

Right! As a holistic counselor, you coach people on other aspects of their lives — not just food?
That’s true. There’s food that nourishes us that does not come on a plate. I always ask how clients are being fed in other areas of their lives. If we’re not getting enough affection or there’s something going on in our jobs, sometimes we turn to food. When we get those other aspects of our lives back on track, we’re not so tempted to overeat or to eat the wrong things.

Speaking of affection, how is your love life? There’s lots of super cute men in Paducah!
Well, my love life has been on the back burner because I’ve been very focused on getting my certification. And starting the new business takes time and energy. So it’s not a big priority in my life.

Emily! It’s one of the nourishments!
Yes, it is. I’m open to meeting people and making new friendships. Male companionship is always a good thing.

Maybe I need to be your holistic love coach!
Hah! We could trade services!

Done! So I suspect your guy would have to be in good shape!
Yes, I’m interested in someone who’s into health, takes good care of himself, is able to cook up a healthy meal, and at times I like to be treated like a queen!

You should totally be treated like a queen! What else are you looking for?
I’m looking for someone with a warm heart, nice smile, I’m a sucker for blue eyes, and I also like someone who has a creative side, not necessarily an artist per se, but someone who plays guitar, enjoys poetry and is in touch with his softer side. I want someone really laid back and level-headed.

That sounds very holistic and healthy.
Nutrition is a powerful way to help keep all aspects of your life in balance. When we eat well, we begin to feel better in our body and have more energy…which leads to more exercise, a brighter outlook, improved relationships and more gusto to live our best life! 

In general, we eat three times a day, and when we have the “know how” to nourish ourselves on the most basic level with food, we ultimately embrace a higher level of fulfillment in all aspects of our lives.

Emily Butler, you are just too cute. Grains and greens and all!

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