If you ask a group what it means to eat healthy, you may get a different answer each time.
For some, eating healthy means breaking fast food habits or eating more fruits and vegetables. For some, it means eating a piece of cake now and then without feeling guilty.
Still, people with certain medical conditions and food allergies can create their own healthy eating ideas. In short, there is no right answer to what constitutes a healthy diet.
Healthy food is human. And as humans, we all have different needs and desires. It inevitably influences our food choices. In the meantime, what it means to eat healthy can really change as your needs change as you age and at different stages of your life.
What does healthy eating mean to me?
The definition of healthy eating has changed a few times for me over the last few years. When I was in college, eating healthy meant following diet guides and writing everything down in a book, however it changed my perspective on the food on my plate. I switched from looking at food to looking at nutrition.
Suddenly I changed to seeing traditional Costa Rican gallopinto or rice and beans. Move on to looking at complex carbohydrates and plant proteins. When I started training as a dietitian, the idea that dietitians had to fit a certain look or body shape. I used to believe that good health mindful eating meant that I measured my food to see what I ate. I’ll eat whatever I want as long as I get the nutrients I need.
I give my body everything it needs to be healthy. But eating healthy is more than just nutrition. The way it feels. and that food is an integral part of culture and social activities. Therefore, food should be something we enjoy. Today I have a way for you to eat healthy. I’m very flexible with my diet. And I believe that a balanced diet is the key to eating happily.
Now, healthy eating means I always make sure I have to measure anything on my plate, or think about plant versus animal protein or simple versus complex carbohydrates. It also means that small things like sweets, fast food, and sweets can be enjoyed in moderation and without measuring or thinking about it.
As you can see, finding the right balance for me didn’t happen overnight, rather the definition of healthy eating changed as I went through different phases of my life. As long as you work to nourish your body and listen to what it needs. You can also understand what it means to eat healthy. Because healthy food is for everyone.
Looking at the big picture
Like so many things in life, healthy eating doesn’t always go as planned. You may be too lazy or tired to prepare a home-cooked dinner, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t order takeout and actually eat it. You have to be happy
Eating healthy means being flexible with what you eat. You have to learn to adapt. This is not usually the case. In case I decide to eat, I try to make the best of what I have. Whenever possible, I’ll try to order something close to a home-cooked meal or go for a sandwich, salad, or bowl.
Still, sometimes I feel like pizza – so I enjoy eating it too! It is at times like this that I remember seeing the bigger picture: healthy eating is not defined by eating less. But it depends on the choices we make on a daily basis. A good friend used to tell me that “bad diets don’t make you sick. Like good food won’t make you comfortable.”
Can be difficult
If you are a nutritionist, most people think that eating well is natural. But we are also human. Our tastes and appetites are the same as everyone else’s.
One of the biggest challenges for me is having to cut out a lot of carbs to deal with my progressive disease. Carbohydrates are found in many foods. This includes whole grains, starchy vegetables, legumes, fruits, and dairy products. It is also found in baked goods and desserts.
Experts generally divide them into two groups based on fiber content.
- The perfect fruit: keep the natural fiber.
- Refined carbohydrates: These are processed to remove fiber and add sugar.
In theory, you should cut down on refined carbohydrates. which some believe is the healthiest. But in practice I stopped the type of carbohydrates that are processed. This includes bread and pasta, starchy vegetables, whole grains and milk.
So my list of low carb foods I can eat is fruit, oats, quinoa, legumes – lentils, beans, chickpeas, edamame. As a nutritionist Some say this change is not difficult for me.
I have learned that planning and creativity are the keys to meeting my nutritional needs.
3 things I can do, you can too
As I mentioned above, planning and creativity help us make better food choices every day.
That’s why we try to make the choice of food and snacks as easy as possible. Here are three things I do every day or every week to make eating easier.
Cook
It may sound like a cliché. But last week’s cooking went well. Cooking can be time consuming. But just eating them when served warm can feed you in minutes.
The 1st cooking secret is making protein packs. (usually chicken or lean meat), separated and frozen for a week or more. and dissolve only when necessary
I also try to stock up on groceries for the week. So you don’t have to think twice before eating a salad or cooking. I try not to eat it, thinking about how to tire myself.
When it comes to carrots and pumpkins, for example, I cut, peel, grate and grind them all to make them easier to incorporate into my diet.
Bring this soul to you
The texture of the fruit reminds me of eating fruit during the day.
Studies have shown that we are more likely to eat food that we put near us. Or fruit or sweets (2, 3, 4)
I follow this principle every day. By choosing to keep fruit on the table and stay away from snacks and sweets.
Follow the schedule
We don’t have an official weekly meal plan. But there are certain types of foods that we always eat at every meal.
For example, my breakfast usually consists of:
- Classic Costa Rican Gallo Pinto and Eggs
- Toast with peanut butter and eggs
- oatmeal and fruit
Oatmeal sandwich
The same goes for your other meals and snacks. Here are at least three different options that you can choose from without worrying about limitations.
Identifying your favorite foods in advance eliminates the need to decide what to eat. It also allows you to switch between foods depending on whether you want something sweet or salty. This is also useful for restaurants, because they already know what they can eat at each meal.
Words below
We are all human beings who are always growing and adapting to change. This is how we think about eating good food.
Here’s how the definition of healthy eating has changed over the years. The biggest challenge on the food journey is hard and what can I do to make healthy eating easier. Share tips and advice.
But so is my system. The “right way” or the only way to eat healthy It worked for me. It might work for you. It may not work for you. Eating healthy is a human task and it seems that each of us is different. Think about what you can do with your schedule.
