There is so much conflicting nutrition advice available today, isn’t there?  This can make it virtually impossible to wade through the vast sea of never-ending options.  Many programs tout the healthiest way of eating, but oftentimes they are vastly different from each other.  For example:

• The government’s published standards include a 144-page document that tells us to eat grains, low-fat dairy, and plant oils from canola and corn.
• A Paleo diet suggests that we avoid those foods altogether.
• The American Heart Association tells us to watch calories and “use up at least as many calories” as we take in.
• A Mediterranean diet emphasizes mostly plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil, as well as fish.
• Dr. Atkins proposes a low-carbohydrate diet to keep blood sugar from spiking.
• A Traditional diet praises foods that our ancestors ate before industrialization.
• Weight Watchers uses a SmartPoints system based on keeping calories, saturated fat, and sugar low, and includes 200 foods that are zero points.
• The Ketogenic diet promotes a low-carbohydrate, high fat way of eating, with about 20% of food coming from protein.
• Whole30 is a 30-day whole foods diet that avoids sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, and processed foods.
• Restriction diets eliminate certain ingredients like gluten, dairy, sugar, or other allergens.

And still other ways of eating include Intuitive Eating, Trim Healthy Mama, Intermittent Fasting, Plant Paradox, Flexitarian, Autoimmune Protocol, MIND, Mayo Clinic, Volumetrics, Nordic, Ornish, Jenny Craig, Anti-Inflammatory, Engine 2, Spark, Nutritarian, South Beach, Biggest Loser, NutriSystem, Glycemic Index, Zone, Macrobiotic, SlimFast, Alkaline, Raw Foods, … and so on and so forth.  In fact, the U.S. News & World Report recently published the 2019 Best Diets Overall with 41 different options, a few of which were new to me.

The seemingly limitless number of available diet and nutrition opinions suggest, to me, that many people are either confused about what to eat or are extremely convicted that their way of eating is the best.  In fact, a crowd-sourcing post I published on Facebook ran up 71 comments about all the popular diet options, with some people feeling strongly that their plan was working very well for them.  The plethora of conflicting advice makes it obvious that nutrition is something people think about a lot.

So what the heck do we eat?

While some approaches dwell on calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, other programs include lists of restrictions and label foods as good or bad.  Although I agree that some foods are certainly not nutritious, I don’t subscribe to a particular dietary program.  I believe in a bio-individual approach:

No one diet or lifestyle works for everyone, and one person’s food can be another person’s poison.

We are all so very different, with different chemical makeups, different body types, different genes, and different ancestry.  There is simply no one-size-fits-all diet for everyone.  Our nutritional needs are extremely individual, so it’s important that we listen to our bodies to determine the best way to eat for ourselves.  By tuning in to how we respond and how we feel after eating, we can intuitively figure out the best sources of food to fuel our bodies for true vitality.

Ultimately, eating well is about honoring our bodies so we can feel good and live our best lives.

While that looks different for everyone, I do agree that there are healthier ways to fuel our bodies in general.  Though I don’t believe in eliminating foods completely, I adhere to five basic principles for myself:

1. Stay hydrated with lots of water.  I usually try to get 80-90 ounces of water each day.
2. Eat clean, whole foods.  I try for non-GMO and organic whenever possible.  For me, this includes lots of veggies and traditional fats, as well as pastured animal products and some limited whole grains.  It also means preparing my meals at home in a way that’s delicious, yet simple.  I believe eating is an experience that should be fun!
3. Minimize (eliminate) processed foods.  I do sometimes eat processed foods, but it’s rare because I simply don’t feel good afterward.  If I can’t pronounce the words in the ingredient list, I typically try to find something else.
4. Use the 80/20 Rule.  80% healthy foods and 20% fun.  Yes, that means occasionally indulging because sometimes that’s what the moment calls for!
5. Honor my body.  By being mindful and listening to what my body is telling me, I can intuitively make the right food choices so I feel good.  This is a principle that I am also teaching my children so they learn to make the best choices for themselves as they mature.

The bottom line is that our eating habits should be intentional lifestyle choices based on the natural ways our bodies need to be fueled.  Though diet plans may be a temporary decision to help meet a specific short term goal, they are difficult to maintain and are rarely successful long term.  Most times, they simply fail.

Instead, our long term lifestyle choices regarding food should be determined by our bio-individual requirements.  When we prioritize our well being and intentionally listen to what our bodies are communicating, we can honor ourselves by mindfully eating in a way that’s satisfying and fulfilling.  I encourage you to reflect on what foods fuel you best to give you balance and make you feel the most vitality.  Really, truly listen to the cues your body is giving.  Doing so will impact your health and happiness in significant ways!