You Are What You… Consume

The art therapist’s guide to curating what fuels your health and happiness

We’ve all heard the phrase “you are what you eat.” When I was a kid, I thought that meant people turned into giant pizza slices or burgers, like funny Halloween costumes. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized it’s not about the literal food—it’s about the nutrients inside it and how they shape our mental health and emotional wellness.

Feeding the Mind–Body Connection

In recent years, I’ve learned more about the gut–brain connection and the importance of nourishing the gut microbiome. Probiotics and fiber feed our good gut bacteria, helping our bodies and minds function at their best. When we eat mostly plant-based foods, inflammation throughout the body (especially in the brain) tends to decrease.

Eating a variety of plants, seeds, and whole foods helps boost our “feel-good” hormones like serotonin and oxytocin, improving both mood and emotional regulation.

The Culture of Consumption

Honestly, I wouldn’t know as much as I do about this if it weren’t for growing up in American diet culture. From TV and magazines to my parents, I was surrounded by messages about body image. My mom used to tell me my butt looked fat in my jeans or that I outgrew them because I was “eating too much.”

That was painful—but it also set me on a lifelong quest to understand health. Unfortunately, it started with yo-yo dieting and extremes. I could fast for days to drop weight fast, only to binge on sweets later. I’d feel guilt and shame, like I was making up for lost time, as if I’d never taste dessert again.

What I Fed My Mind

At the same time, I wasn’t being mindful about what I fed my mind. I watched garbage TV, zoned out, and filled my downtime with noise instead of learning or growth.

When I first learned about self-care in graduate school, I thought it meant indulgence: do whatever feels good because you work hard. But indulgence isn’t self-care—it’s temporary relief. Over time, I realized that the kind of self-care that actually heals is about intention, not escape.

The Power of Curated Consumption

It’s been nine years since I finished grad school, and I’ve finally learned that true self-care is about curating what you consume—not just in your body, but in your mind and environment.

Start with your influences. If you open Netflix and just watch whatever catches your attention, you’ll be swept up in whatever emotional chaos that show brings. But if you intentionally choose what you watch and when you watch it, your life will feel completely different.

These days, my go-tos are Yes Theory and The Diary of a CEO on YouTube—content that inspires growth and reflection. And when I’m ready for new material, I ask ChatGPT to recommend something uplifting for personal growth.

Why This Matters in Art Therapy

So how does this connect to art therapy? Well, art therapy is built on how visual and sensory input shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The visual cortex—the part of our brain that processes imagery—can influence how we perceive ourselves and others.

If you constantly expose your senses to fear, shock, or chaos, your dopamine system will adapt by seeking comfort through things like overeating, alcohol, or other distractions. If you watch shows where drinking or burnout are normalized, your mind starts normalizing them, too.

But when you intentionally feed your senses with positive, creative, and calming inputs, your brain responds with balance and clarity. This is how art therapy works: by helping you become aware of what you consume visually, emotionally, and spiritually—and shifting it toward what heals.

So yes, you are what you eat. But more importantly, you are what you consume.

Your eyes, ears, and heart are always digesting something. Choose wisely—and feed the version of you that you want to grow.