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SALT LAKE CITY — Navigating the current nutrition landscape can, at times, feel very confusing.
Everyone you ask may have a different idea of what “healthy eating” looks like. Some may be extreme in their views and others might jump back and forth between different nutrition beliefs. So who’s right?
Probably all of them — to a certain extent. That’s because every nutrition idea or health paradigm contains at least some validity and is usually just a very sensationalized version of the truth.
To eat in a way that supports true health, there are some broad ideas most people can get behind:
- Eat fresh foods often
- Emphasize plant-based foods in your daily diet
- Prepare more of your own meals
- Honor hunger and fullness cues most of the time
- Enjoy meals with people you love
- Eat adequately and regularly to support your body’s metabolic functions
- Incorporate a balance of foods and food groups into your daily diet
Many diet plans or food rules are much more extreme than the principles mentioned above. So, when did nutrition get so hard?
Some of us are putting butter in coffee, using pH strips to test our urine, meticulously combining foods, diligently tracking food and exercises and spending lots of money on new diet books, color-coded food containers and supplements. It seems like we may be getting obsessed with small details.
It’s so easy to get sucked in and believe that if you aren’t overthinking everything you eat, then you aren’t doing enough for your health. However, I'd like to invite you to consider the impact that that level of preoccupation is having on your overall well-being. I’m positive you can support your health without being fixated on it.
If you have concerns about your health and well-being, avoid looking for a dramatic and quick solution. I encourage you to consider the seven principles listed above and identify areas where you can focus your time and energy. Note that all of the principles are positive behaviors versus a list of things you shouldn’t be doing. I hope you’ll see a big difference as you focus on what you can add to your daily diet versus what you should subtract. Focus on the positive or the things you’d like to start doing more of instead of beating yourself up over what you may perceive as nutrition failures.
Editor’s Note: Anything in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition; Any opinions, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of KSL. KSL does not endorse nor is it responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, information, or statement made in this article. KSL expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.
