Like exercise, diet is another loaded term that makes you think you have to be paleo, keto, high-protein, vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, gluten-free, Whole 30, DASH, etc., when what we really need is just to find a good and healthy way of eating.
In my opinion, there is so much we do not know about proper eating, one could almost compare different diets to religions. Everyone has a diet they think is the best. I have certainly been guilty of that in the past (with diet and religion, for that matter). Perhaps the best-studied diet with the most benefits to date is the Mediterranean diet, but that probably means that the other diets just have not been studied as much. (That does not mean that other diets do not have some validity.)
My current principles:
* Subject to change
- I try to avoid added sugars of all types (and there are a bazillion).
- At least 50%, half of my plate, should be veggies. Veggies, veggies, veggies, say it with me.
- A quarter, 25% of my plate, should be lean meat or vegetarian protein of some sort.
- The last quarter, 25%, is healthy fats, healthy starches, or fruit.
- I try to avoid processed junk foods, highly saturated fats, fast food, greasy foods as much as possible.
- I am low gluten. I was gluten free for about 8 years. (I lost 20 pounds right away, but probably not in a healthy way because I was also fueled by stress and maybe got malnourished in the process.) Over time, I have found some products that contain gluten that I can tolerate in moderation, such as the sourdough pizza crust (fermented for 36 hours) from @flourhousebakers. Of course, if someone has celiac disease, they still have to avoid gluten entirely. In general, Americanized wheat and gluten are probably not good for most people.
- I eat meat, but I do worry about the effect on my coronaries.
- From everything I read, there is almost nothing healthy about alcohol … except … the power to bring people together in community, and community is extremely beneficial to your health. I enjoy a drink once in a while and will even drink gluten containing beer from time to time. I also enjoy clean, small batch, or international wines (fewer additives) and high quality tequila in moderation.
- Junk food is junk food, even if it is gluten free or vegetarian or keto.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Hardly anyone drinks enough water or other low-calorie fluid throughout their day.
Two of my passions are cooking for my family and drinking coffee. Locally in Houston, I love to get my food at @tfmmarketdays, @dappergoatdairy, rainsongfarmtx.com, and flourhousebakers.square.site. I get my coffee at drinktrade.com and beanbox.com.
Last words: Please consider a dietician or nutritionist. Tara Torres at @skytherapeutics or the folks at simplynutritionhouston.com are excellent choices. If you do not have a good relationship with food or your body, I recommend eddinscounseling.com. All of these recommendations have virtual and in-person options.
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