Do The “You” Diet

Chicken-veg stirfry and corn

Specifically, it’s a good idea to spend some time reading about nutrition.

I’m also the first one to say–you can’t know everything.

You don’t have the time to conduct really exhaustive research.

You also don’t have the advanced background that “experts” do, the years of study in their fields, the ability to differentiate between meaningful vs. poorly-designed  studies or  to decipher “conclusions” and “results,” etc.

I rely on experts who DO have that background to instruct me in the ways of a healthy diet. 

BUT, it’s smart to keep in mind that even the EXPERTS disagree.

Even the EXPERTS I admire disagree. For example, each doctor or nutritionist I read has some advice that may be different from another.

• Eat sprouted grain bread. Skip all wheat products.
• Eat yogurt. Avoid all dairy. 
• If you can’t afford it, eat non-organic produce-it’s the antioxidants that count. Non-organic? You’ll kill yourself with pesticides!
• Eat saturated fat. Avoid it at all costs!

So what am I to do with all this disagreement?

Focus on the consistencies.

Not one of my nutrition experts extolls the “virtues” of processed foods, additives, sugary desserts.

In fact, I can read books by 5 nutrition experts and walk away with sound advice that no one will disagree with:

• Whole foods.
• Ample amounts of vegetables. (Where produce is heavily sprayed, go for organic.)
• A couple of antioxidant-rich fruits (including berries and apples). Same advice applies. Organic is preferable.
• Adequate protein from hormone- and antibiotic-free meats and eggs. Again, organic is better than “conventional,” if you can manage it.
• Healthy fats, such as that contained in avocado, wild salmon, nuts, flaxseed (or flaxseed oil), extra virgin olive oil.

I can then construct a pretty healthy diet all by myself. It’s not the Dr. This Diet, or the Dr. That Diet. It’s the Kathleen Diet, because I know enough to make my own rules.

I am also open-minded and constantly learning. Plus, I am willing to experiment. So I go without dairy…or I’ll include some yogurt in my program…and see what happens.

Do the YOU Diet

Only YOU know what you’re willing to eat and what you are willing to “give up.”

Buy healthy stuff. Eat healthy stuff. Don’t keep the junk at home.

Figure out “healthy treats” to enjoy. I whip up a yummy mango “ice cream” in my VitaMix, using a bit of unsweetened coconut milk (the kind you can buy in the dairy section, in the half-gallon size) with protein powder and frozen mango chunks.  

Figure out tricks to take your mind off of foods that don’t enhance your health. I’ve gotten into the tea habit. I make it ceremonial, have cool tea cups and tea pots. Automatically, I brew a pot of tea to have after dinner. Right now, I love the Celestial Seasonings vanilla-flavored Sleepytime tea!

You know what? I don’t always want to have a smoothie for breakfast!

And no doctor can make me, hehe!

So when I read that Dr. So-and-so’s diet calls for a breakfast smoothie, it doesn’t phase me. I might be in my “egg plus whites, and sprouted grain toast” phase.

Try new things. But respect your own tastes. As long as they are health-enhancing choices, you’re not stuck with a program that does not give you pleasure.

And, yes, pleasure HAS to be a part of your daily diet!

Interestingly, your concept of pleasure changes with time, as you appreciate foods that do your body good!