Are you confused about how to eat healthy?

You're not alone!

2012 Food & Health Survey, International Food Information Council Foundation

Contradictory Media Messages About Nutrition Confuse People, Really?

I don’t know about you but it seems that every day there is a new nutrition headline that contradicts what we thought we knew. With so much information, it’s hard to know what to believe in terms of good nutrition.  

A recent study from the Journal of Health Communication: International Perspective states that exposure to conflicting news about the health benefits of certain foods, vitamins and supplements often results in confusion and backlash against nutrition recommendations.

So, what is a balanced healthy diet?

Eating a balanced diet doesn’t have to be so complicated.  There is not one food that will make you unhealthy or healthy.  There are no super-foods.  Nutrients work in harmony together and individual food choices matter less than what our overall diet habits look like.  

A balanced diet is not about nutrients, it is about a selection of foods in certain portions.  If you are eating a balanced diet, you don’t have to worry about getting enough of XYZ nutrient.  Focus on eating whole foods instead of individual nutrients or calories.  Eating eggs and zucchini for breakfast instead of Rice Krispies with sliced bananas will give you a balanced nutrient dense meal that has protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates for energy all morning versus a high carb one from mostly from processed foods.

So, how can you make your meals more balanced?

Eat more veggies and fruits.  Today, only about 25% of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruit and veggies every day.  So, the biggest change that will give you the most health benefit is to aim for half of your plate at every meal to come from veggies.  Limit fruit to 1 – 3 small servings per day.   To get more veggies into your diet, check out my 30-day veggie Challenge post.
 
If we were all more mindful to eat more unprocessed real whole foods and less processed foods that come in a package, most of our health issues from poor eating would be solved.

Image what would be possible if we were all a little bit healthier?

Free 30-Minute Consult