Nutrition: Back To The Basics

You’ve heard the 3 words many times: VARIETY, MODERATION & BALANCE! What do they mean? VARIETY:

Eat foods from all the food groups each day.
Within each meal, aim to eat at least 3 colors. This will let you know that you are getting variety.
Test your palate! It’s never too late to try something new. You might even like it!!

This means letting all foods be a part of healthy eating. It is not eliminating foods/food groups.
It is finding the balance between the extremes of ALL of it and NONE of it.
It is okay to eat more refined foods combined with nutrient-dense foods to be part of a healthy diet.

Incorporating foods from all food groups and listening to the “everything can fit” mentality.
One never has to worry about not having the perfect ” balance” for one meal or even one day. It is about the balance over time that is the most important thing to remember.
Balance out refined foods with more wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. This way you are getting good nutritional value and enjoying what you are eating too.

P-C-F (Protein-Carbohydrate-Fat) Balance at meals to meet your needs and help you feel satisfied.
Do not wait longer than 5-6 hours to eat, rather eat meals and add in 1-2 snacks to avoid slowing down your metabolism, to regulate blood sugar levels, and stabilize your mood.
Take your time to eat in order to not overeat, but also to enjoy your meal.
Choose foods high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. They do so many wonderful things for our bodies.
Choose high quality proteins, and aim to eat fish weekly to get those great omega-3’s in!
Watch saturated and trans fat, but get in lots of those mono- and polyunsaturated fats for health.
Let yourself have sugar and desserts, maybe put a limit on them per day/week.
Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids to keep yourself hydrated and your body thriving.
Be physically active, including stretching, aerobic training and strength training.
Find a plan that works for you and make it a lifestyle choice.