By: Alex Cooper
Sometimes the path to better health isn’t about discovering something new. It’s about rediscovering what worked all along.
That philosophy sits at the heart of Know the Enemy, the latest book from author and speaker Jodi Velazquez. Drawing from decades of personal experience and observations about changing eating habits, Velazquez introduces readers to what she calls Vintage Nutrition™, an approach that encourages people to revisit many of the everyday food and lifestyle practices that were common in previous generations.
For Velazquez, the inspiration behind the book was deeply personal.
When her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 19 months old, life changed overnight. Every meal, snack, and activity suddenly required careful planning, and food became much more than a routine part of the day.
“When my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 19 months old, our lives changed overnight,” Velazquez says. “Suddenly, every meal, snack, and activity required careful planning because every decision affected her health.”
What initially began as a necessity eventually transformed the way her entire family approached nutrition and wellness.
As the years passed, Velazquez noticed something else. The foods lining grocery store shelves, and the eating habits many people accepted as normal, looked very different from the world she remembered growing up in during the 1970s and 1980s.
Those observations became the foundation for Vintage Nutrition™, a philosophy that asks a simple but thought-provoking question: What changed?
Rather than focusing on complicated diets or chasing the latest nutrition trends, Velazquez encourages readers to compare today’s lifestyle with many of the habits that previous generations practiced almost automatically, including preparing more meals at home, eating fewer highly processed foods, and living more active daily lives.
She believes those comparisons can help people make more informed decisions about their own health without feeling overwhelmed.
“Our experience showed me that small, consistent choices often have a much greater impact than dramatic, short-term changes,” she explains.
Throughout the book, Velazquez explores how modern convenience has reshaped daily routines. From larger portion sizes and frequent snacking to the growing reliance on ultra-processed foods, she encourages readers to recognize gradual lifestyle changes that often go unnoticed.
One experience that reinforced her perspective came during a recent visit to Portugal, where she observed many traditional eating habits that reminded her of the way families approached food decades ago in the United States.
“American nutrition changed so gradually that many people don’t realize how different our daily habits have become,” she says. “We’ve normalized oversized portions, constant snacking, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods without recognizing their cumulative effect over time.”
Rather than criticizing modern life, Velazquez emphasizes practical adjustments that can fit into today’s busy schedules.
For readers feeling overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice, she recommends beginning with simple, sustainable steps: preparing more meals at home, choosing foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, and avoiding the pressure to change everything at once.
“The best advice is often the simplest,” she says. “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be consistent in making small changes.”
That focus on consistency instead of perfection runs throughout Know the Enemy. Instead of offering quick fixes, the book encourages readers to build habits they can maintain over the long term.
Velazquez also hopes the book leaves readers with a greater sense of empowerment.
“I hope readers realize that they have far more control over their health than they may think,” she says. “My goal isn’t to make people feel guilty; it’s to inspire hope for the future.”
She believes every healthy meal, every walk, and every decision to prepare food at home represents an investment in tomorrow.
Ultimately, Velazquez hopes readers begin asking themselves a simple question: How did we eat and live 50 years ago, and what lessons from that time can still benefit us today?
“If readers start asking themselves, ‘How did we eat and live 50 years ago, and what can I bring back into my own life?’ then I’ve accomplished my mission,” she says.
As conversations surrounding nutrition, wellness, and chronic disease continue to evolve, Velazquez hopes Vintage Nutrition™ offers a practical perspective rooted not in chasing the newest trend, but in thoughtfully revisiting habits that stood the test of time.
In addition to writing, Jodi Velazquez speaks to organizations and community groups, offering workshops and presentations on Vintage Nutrition™ and practical strategies for incorporating its principles into everyday life. Through her book and speaking engagements, her mission remains the same: helping people rediscover simple, sustainable habits that support healthier living, one choice at a time.
Know the Enemy is available now on Amazon.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and editorial purposes only. It does not provide medical, nutritional, or dietary advice and should not be used as a substitute for guidance from a licensed healthcare professional. Readers should consult a qualified physician, dietitian, or medical provider before making changes to their diet, lifestyle, or diabetes management plan, especially if they have a medical condition or take prescribed medication. References to Jodi Velazquez, Know the Enemy, and Vintage Nutrition™ reflect the author’s views and experiences and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
