From vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, paleo, high-fat, low-fat, high-carb, low-carb, ketogenic…I could go on…the range of nutritional philosophies is endless! Not to mention the countless articles and reports that are released every day offering up conflicting advice around what is good and bad for you – one day coconut oil is the supreme giver of life, the next it gives you cancer. It’s no wonder people are chucking food into the ‘too hard’ basket, it’s overwhelming!
Over the last week, many of you have felt just that – overwhelmed with food, and have been asking what ‘diet’ I follow. Although my answer to this might not be what you are looking for, I hope it gets you thinking….
We are all unique, therefore there is no one-size fits all approach when it comes to food.
What works for your best friend, might not work the same for you. So, I invite you to become curious with food, and have fun discovering a way of eating that matches your needs. For example – notice what types of food make you feel amazing and full of energy, versus those that make you feel flat. What foods make you feel full and content versus those that make you feel gluggy? Start to take note of what happens to your body and mind when, how, and after what you eat – what does this tell you about yourself?
In saying that, there are some basic guidelines that I believe we can all consider when it comes to choosing what we put on our plate, that will provide a solid foundation for optimum health.
Good food – PPFF!
If you break every nutritional philosophy down into what is ‘good’ for you, there are 4 common denominators:
- Protein
- Plants
- Fats
- Fibre
By including these four components in your food choices, it ensures you are ingesting all of your essential nutrients and providing your body with a complete meal. No more racking your brain around what you ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ be eating, it’s as simple as looking at your plate and asking ‘Do I have all four components?’
I also consider the following –
- Is it whole, real food? OR is it something pretending to be food? E.g. processed, powdered, highly-refined products.
- Is it organic, free from pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones, chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and dyes?
- How much sugar is present? Is it natural or refined?
- Is it gluten free? Being coeliac, I stay 100% away from all gluten, however I believe reducing the amount of gluten we ingest is beneficial for everyone. Sadly, our modern-day wheat is not like it used to be, and contains more starch, gluten, and harmful preservatives than its ancient cousin.
I love discussing food, and the benefits our mind and body receives when we fuel ourselves with delicious and nourishing options. I hope these guidelines will support you in starting a loving, fun, and personal journey with food, and remember… we are all unique, it’s about being curious and finding what suits you.
