How to Diet
In three easy steps
Step 1:
Let go of everything associated with the word "diet."
It's kind of intriguing how, in our world today, "diet" has become synonymous with "calorie deficit eating" But what does that really mean? Typically when someone talks about being “on a diet” or needing to “change their diet”, what they often mean is that they're planning to eat less - a lot less – sometimes to the point of feeling seriously deprived. And to make matters worse, this often involves sticking to a rigid, hard-to-sustain meal plan or forcing down foods they don't even enjoy, which, let's face it, isn't a recipe for long-term success.
Here’s what I’d like you to consider, the word "diet" also simply means the foods we enjoy regularly. It can be cultural, where we live, whether we're focusing on including or excluding certain foods, or just the delicious stuff that we genuinely savor. Diet just means, what we eat.
Step 2:
Picture a world where we shift away from the idea that drastically cutting calories and adhering to strict calorie deficit, is the recipe for healthy eating. Instead, let's explore a more balanced and sustainable approach to eating and overall well-being. Sound appealing?
Today’s challenge
Look at the meals below and choose which you believe is the healthiest option and then which you’d prefer for dinner:
Baked Chicken, broccoli, potato Chicken Jalfrezi Shrimp Quesadillas
Made your selection? Which one is the healthiest? Is it the same as the one you'd choose for dinner? Truthfully, only basing what we consider healthy "diet" food, on calories, all three are relatively the same! The biggest difference in these three meals isn't calorie intake but largely just cultural.
It's interesting how we've been led to believe that healthy or "low calorie" meals are exclusive to a very specific North American cuisine. In reality, every country and culture boast their own culinary traditions, and the good news is that healthy eating is achievable worldwide. Let’s take a look at the calories associated with our examples:
Chicken, broccoli and a baked potato, Total: 359 calories
Chicken Jalfrezi, the average serving size has around 180 calories leaving room for a side of brown rice or even a serving of pita bread at 165 calories!
When eating out, quesadillas can easily boast 1,000 calories, but this version is only 340 calories
Now that we've discussed a little about calories, it's crucial to underscore that the caloric content of a meal isn't the sole determining factor in whether it qualifies as 'healthy eating.' If any of the dishes we've discussed were prepared using canola, corn, or vegetable oil, they might look the same but could be considerably less healthy from a holistic perspective. Factors like ingredient choice, salt and sugar levels, portion control, and the overall nutrient balance on your plate are just as significant as the number of calories you consume. Take, for instance, the fact that a very popular fast-food hamburger contains only 250 calories.
This was alot of info, how do we tie it all together? To put it simply, calories alone do not a healthy meal make. Embracing holistic eating can be a thrilling journey filled with a variety of flavors and cooking styles. After all, eating is not just about survival; it's an integral part of our lives, and making it pleasurable should never cause guilt or shame.
Step 3:
Follow along with me as we discuss things like macro nutrients, the blood sugar curve and a wide range of other fascinating insights into optimizing your health and wellness journey. Let us help you put it all together to make a healthy diet that isn't focused just on weight loss but holistic eating to properly nourishes our bodies as well as our souls. ‘
Ready for a more personalized and in-depth journey towards improving your diet and embracing holistic eating? Our team of Health and Wellness coaches is here to guide you every step of the way. Sign up today, and let us help you create a tailored plan that's designed exclusively for you. Don't miss this opportunity to take charge of your health and well-being!
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