I never expected a jar of marinara sauce to spark one of the most memorable arguments of my marriage—but looking back, it was never really about the sauce. It was about the challenge of learning how to fuel our bodies properly while trying to juggle every day life. That night was just one many bumps my path toward understanding nutrition.
This post isn’t just about a funny fight over a store bought item. It’s about how easy it is to get nutrition wrong, even when you think you’re doing everything right. Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your wellness journey, this is for you. Because nutrition isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and it’s definitely not just about weight loss—it’s about fueling your life, your workouts, your recovery, and your goals.
One of the most ridiculous marital spats Austin and I have ever had was about marinara sauce. Store-bought marinara, to be specific.
We were just a couple weeks into our first real attempt at changing our diet alongside a rigorous workout program. Add in being new parents, a major shift in our household routine, and some legitimate financial adjustments, our timing might’ve have been less than optimal for a lifestyle overhaul.
We were working out six days a week and cutting ALLLL the things out of our diet (I ❤️U 🍞🥖🥪💋💋). I was in charge of the food—planning, shopping, prepping, cooking. That particular week, I made a grave mistake: I bought a jar of marinara. And I was going to cook with it.
Austin scanned the label with a critical eye and announced, “I’m not eating that. There’s sugar in it.”
And he was dead serious.
A quick pause for context:
If you don’t know my amazing husband, he is BY. THE. BOOK. Textbook, cookbook, map, IKEA instructions—he’s not one to deviate.
So back to the scene: he finds sugar in the sauce, and since sugar wasn’t on the list of “allowed” foods, that was that. I pushed back—because really? Was it that big of a deal?
Yes. To him, it was.
And in no time, we found ourselves “discussing” the small amount of sugar in marinara sauce, at a level I imagine the neighbors could hear.
Now I look back and giggle.
Not because it’s silly (it absolutely was), but because it was just one of a million steps and missteps in the process of learning how to take care for my body.
That argument taught me something. At the time, it felt ridiculous. But years later, I see it for what it was: a moment where we both cared—maybe too much—because we were trying so hard to get it right.
Reading labels and paying attention to added sugar might seem minor, but it adds up. And more importantly, it reflects the bigger truth: nutrition is hard. Especially when you’re just trying to do better and feel better—but all you’ve got is a list of “can’t haves” and a million mixed messages.
I’ve been in fitness my whole life. But what I was taught about nutrition…stunk. It was all about cutting fat, dropping carbs, and burning more than I consumed. Even though I’d already been on this “sugarless journey,” I had no real idea what I actually needed. I didn’t find that out until my hair started falling out—but that’s a story for another day.
So why am I telling you this?
Because nutrition isn’t just for people trying to lose weight. It’s for everyone.
Let me ask you a few things:
• Do you feel like garbage after a hard push in the gym?
• Do you find yourself injured, often?
• Have you been stuck at the same weights, staring at the same barbell, wondering why nothing’s changing?
If you nodded yes to any of those…
Then it might be time to stop focusing only on what you’re cutting out and start learning what your body actually needs.
That’s what this journey is about. And that’s exactly what we’re going to explore over the next six weeks.
Because real, lasting change doesn’t happen overnight—and it definitely doesn’t come from screaming about marinara sauce in your kitchen. It comes from small steps, taken consistently. From learning, adjusting, and fueling your body with what helps you perform, recover, and feel your best.
So let’s find out what your numbers are.
Let’s make it personal.
Let’s stop guessing—and start fueling.
Come join me for six weeks. See what you’re missing. And discover just how much you have to gain.
-Written by Coach Kristin Jones
Head Nutrition Coaching & Personal Training Leader
Join us at Black Iron Athletics for a Nutrition Seminar and Spring Challenge Kickoff!
Saturday March 29th @ 11:30am
