Diets

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of dieting. Depriving yourself of all of the bountiful gifts of this earth is just a sin in my eyes. I believe that the best way to lose weight and feel great is to eat whole foods. This means apples, chicken, garlic, bok choy or any other food in its original state. This means no packaged foods, or even simpler, nothing with a nutrition label. Doing this is almost completely impossible if you work and even more impossible if you have children. So I would say that a manageable healthy eating plan consists of 60% to 70% whole foods. The other 30% to 40% of your diet can consist of packaged foods. This means whole grains, Greek yogurt, juices, condiments in moderation and the occasional cheat food. You’ve got to live, right?

I think that most people make a mistake by dieting. They deprive themselves of all of the amazing tastes and vitamins that are rich in whole foods and find that they can’t keep the weight off and gain it all back. You have to commit to a lifestyle change; there is simply no way around it. So, I offer a solution to all of the dieters that yo yo and are unhappy with their relationship with food. Rather than focusing on the negative of what you can’t eat, focus on the amazing seasonal foods that you can eat. Fall brings a bounty of fresh apples, squash, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Yum! Explore new recipes and experiment with these amazing foods. Celebrating whole foods rather than depriving yourself is the only diet you will ever need.