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“What the heck should I be eating?”

This is one of the biggest questions I get from clients who are searching for that seemingly ever elusive answer. And rightly so with all the misinformation, overhyped fad diet of the moment, and celebrity endorsed crap out there, a la “I eat nothing but organic air and have officially canceled sugar” Ok, this is obviously a slight exaggeration but it’s not far from it.

You are unique. And that’s a cool thing. It also means that everyone has their own jam:

• different body types

• tastes/preferences for certain foods (some people have a serious love affair with carbs, others not so much, some people don’t tolerate dairy or gluten well, etc.)

• monetary budgets

• personal & or faith based nutrition beliefs and knowledge (ex. some faiths/religions exclude the consumption of certain animals or meat in general on certain days)

• and more!

Because of these cool, unique, traits you have, you need an equally cool unique way of eating that fits your way of living!

Makes sense doesn’t it?

Nutrition should support your lifestyle and fitness goals, boosting your mood and activity level to fuel your body to its optimum level. Too often in the health and fitness industry, certain foods or food groups are demonized or deemed “off limits” for this or that reason. And important note again: just because a celebrity is doing it or says it’s the bees knees, DOES NOT MEAN IT’S HEALTHY or scientifically supported in the nutritional realm of reality. #themoreyouknow

Low carb. Keto. Mediterannean. Paleo. Vegan. What diet is best for you?

The answer is finally here!

One you can enjoy, stick to consistently, and make a lifestyle!

Have a love affair with carbs?

Does enjoying higher fat foods spark joy?

All about that vegan lifestyle?

Great! Do you, boo.

So, what are the must haves for your best diet?

Your best diet consists of a lifestyle way of eating that supports you and has these keys in common:

Choosing a path of nutrition that you enjoy and that works for you, your tastes, preferences, & lifestyle sets you up for long term results that you can keep! ​

1.) Eating foods you enjoy

With choice comes POWER.

You have the power to choose foods that you want to eat to support your goals and keep you on track and enjoying life.

If you love bread/grains, pasta, wine, the occasional sweet treat or two, you are probably going to be a happier camper on a “diet” (read: lifestyle nutrition plan) that incorporates carbs into your daily eating. Likewise, if you have no problems consuming a lot of higher fat foods i.e. butter, avocado, nuts with very few carbs for the long term, keto may be a great option for you.

Eating foods you enjoy minimizes mental deprivation, especially when in a caloric deficit (fat loss phase) and is an important factor in setting you up for achieving and maintaining long term results.

2.) It has few strict rules/guidelines

The more rules, regulations, forbidden foods, etc. assigned to a way of eating, the harder it is to follow. Instead of focusing on restriction and deprivation, simplify nutrition and make it work for you!

The relationships you build with food long outlast the rules and regulations of the diet. That’s why it’s so important to foster good ones and enjoy the process so it will become something that enhances your life, accompanying you to your goals.

3.) It doesn't make you feel deprived &/or overly restricted

How nice does a cozy guilt-free dinner out sound with friends or maybe sharing a delectable dessert on occasion with a friend or loved one?

Nutrition should revolve around the foods you love and can have vs. the ones you can’t.

Over restriction and removing foods and food groups can lead to a path of mental frustration and is scientifically shown to increase the tendency of disordered eating patterns. Similarly, the more deprived you feel, the more likely rebounding will occur with over-eating and weight gain.

4.) You can adhere to it

If you hate something, you’re probably not going to do it or stick with it very long.

Do you look forward to your meals?

Do you enjoy what’s on your plate?

If the answer is no, odds are that your diet is affecting your quality of life and may need some adjusting.

As a human, you need to eat, so this is a lifelong thing you get to decide and sculpt from day to day.

For instance, if you’re struggling every day not to blow your calorie goal, then you may want to take a step back and re-evaluate. Could you add more exercise or steps to increase your daily activity level? Are your calories realistic for you and your goal at this moment in time?

Consistency is key with nutrition so if you have to increase your calories a bit but can adhere better to them daily (vs. blowing them sky high on the daily with the lower calories) then you’re actually in a better place adherence wise to keep progressing towards your goal!

5.) It’s a lifestyle

Diet comes from the Greek word, δίαιτα (diaita), meaning way of life.

Our bodies require nutrients to keep us kicking, literally. In typical “diet” culture, food gets attached to some unfortunate circumstances, i.e. extremely low calories, restrictive/rigid rules where certain foods/food groups are seen as off limits, no foods just liquids hold the magic to whatever it is you’re looking for, “this detox will fix it”, etc. These labels can then lead to frustration, burn out, binge/disordered eating, and an endless hamster wheel of yo-yo dieting with no lasting results and often weight regain.

Alternatively, setting up a nutrition plan that works for you & complements the way you move through life every day sets you up for long term success. #yaaaaassss

You have to power to choose what’s right for you & your body.

• What foods do you enjoy?

• How many meals do you like to eat in a day?

• What’s your food budget look like?

• Do you have certain faith or personal ethic based idea about certain foods?

• What’s your stress level like?

• What does your work environment look like?

• Do you like to cook or nah?

These are all great starting points to consider when choosing what long term diet/nutrition plan works best for you!

6.) It has nutrient dense foods

No matter what nutrition plan you choose, nutrient dense foods is one commonality they all share. Whether it’s low carb, high carb, keto, Mediterranean, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Flexible dieting/nutrition, etc., whole, minimally processed foods, nutrient rich foods are prioritized. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy the occasional treat on occasion.

Listen to your body, do some research, and don’t waste your precious time on the latest fad diets or detox teas, wraps, shakes, etc. You know your body better than anyone and know what foods work best for you and are ones you can stick to & enjoy long term.

Sometimes it takes a learning curve to find that too, so don’t be afraid to play around with it. I’ve been there done that with cut and dry meal plans of bland tilapia and asparagus fo’ dayz. Amazingly I can still stomach tilapia today 😉, but on MY terms. With butter. And some damn seasoning.

Here's to the good stuff without the guilt.

Cheers!

Meagan