It’s that time of year when many people are focused on sticking to their New Year’s resolutions, and for a lot of them, that means dieting. But what if there was a different approach? What if you could abandon dieting altogether and still reach your health goals?
I’m not suggesting some outrageous fad diet or an unproven “hack.” Instead, I’m advocating for the development of a nutritional culture. Nutritional culture revolves around making healthy eating habits a natural part of your daily life, without deprivation or calorie counting.
It may sound impossible, but it isn’t! Here are four tips to help you get started.
What Is a Diet? (And Why It Usually Fails)
A diet is a plan people use to lose weight or manage their weight. Most diets tend to be unsustainable because they are overly restrictive, making it difficult for people to adhere to them over the long term.
Additionally, diets often come with a set time frame – once the diet begins, it must end at some point. After that, it’s only natural to revert to ‘normal eating.’
Unfortunately, this concept of ‘normal eating’ often revolves around a multitude of poor food choices, leading to overeating and compromised nutrition.
What Is Culture (And How It Applies to Eating)
ICulture plays a significant role in shaping the way we eat. It informs us about what is considered good or bad food, what is appropriate to eat, and how we should act around food. Our culture also influences the foods we associate with celebration or sadness.
Moreover, our nutritional culture is profoundly shaped by our cultural values. In some cultures, large meals featuring a variety of foods are prioritized, while others prefer smaller, more focused meals. Some cultures even emphasize fasting or avoiding certain foods as a show of strength or piety.
However, in today’s world, our global nutritional culture has become distorted. With our fast-paced lifestyles, eating fast food has unfortunately become the norm.
As we mentioned, a nutritional culture emphasizes making healthier food choices without relying on strict diets or calorie counting. It’s about shifting your eating habits and maintaining them for a lifetime!
Here are my best tips to help you achieve that:
#1 Choose Whole Foods
Modern fast-food diets often fail because they lack sufficient high-quality nutrients. To ensure you receive the nutrients your body needs, focus on whole food products.
Aim to consume foods that are minimally processed and as close to their natural state as possible. Whole foods, such as grass-fed beef, organ meats, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and dairy, provide essential nutrients for your body’s optimal functioning and help keep you satiated, reducing the need for unhealthy snacks.
#2 Indulge More Frequently
Wait, did I just say to eat cheat foods more often? No, there’s no mistake here! I actually encourage you to enjoy those less healthy foods more frequently – but in smaller amounts.
The idea behind this is that by indulging in cheat foods more often, they lose a bit of their allure, decreasing the desire for them. When we do something repeatedly, it becomes less special, as our brains adapt to the stimulus and stop releasing as much dopamine – the “pleasure” hormone.
As long as you maintain a balance that favors nutrient-dense, whole foods, everything is perfectly fine!
#3 Exercise!
Establishing better eating habits aims to improve your health, well-being, and overall appearance. The nutrients from your new eating routine can truly make a difference when paired with exercise.
Quality protein aids in muscle recovery, carbohydrates provide energy, and healthy fats help with nutrient absorption and hormonal balance. Therefore, combining good eating habits with exercise is a sensible choice with numerous benefits.
Final Thoughts
While it’s easy to label someone as lazy or undisciplined, it’s often more accurate – and helpful – to view them as simply misinformed.
The great news is that with a bit of education – and perhaps some gentle encouragement – even the most dedicated junk food enthusiast can embrace a nutritional culture.
Are you ready to take on the challenge?