WHAT IS THE BEST DIET?

I get this question all the time and my response is always “everyone thinks the best diet is whatever diet worked for them!”

The first thing to consider is what do you think of when you hear the word diet?  

Food and drink regularly consumed to provide nourishment? 

The kind and amount of food prescribed for a person for a special or medical reason? 

Or a way of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight?

The overwhelming response I get to this question is answer number 3 – a way of eating to lose weight. In a society where we are bombarded by the idea that thin is healthy – this isn’t surprising.  But what if we shifted our thinking of what a diet really is? What if we thought about how to nourish our bodies in a healthy way with the food we consume?

What that nourishment is won’t be the same for everyone. You are different than your aunt Susan or cousin Fred or co-worker Joe. A six-foot tall professional athlete in heavy training has different needs than a full time working adult that exercises a few mornings a week and has a desk job. An individual with a strong family history of high cholesterol may need to eat differently than someone with pre-diabetes.

What foods will best nourish an individual is dependent on a lot of factors – including goals, activity level, genetics and lifestyle to name a few. The three big factors I consider in helping someone find the best way for them to eat are:

Variety

Moderation

Sustainability

While there are many quick fix diets (I’m sure you have a co-worker, friend, or family member that has told you about the latest and greatest), these most often also lead to quick weight regains when people stop following such a strict set of rules. A very large percentage of diets fail and most people will regain their lost weight, and more, in 1-5 years.

So instead of jumping on the latest diet trend or relying on information from the google search bar, why not think about your specific goals? Let’s set up a plan that is not only good for you but realistic - something you can maintain and enjoy! We’re here to consider all those factors and come up with the best diet for YOU.