With the countless amounts of fad diets out there, as a registered dietitian I always get the question, “Well, what really is the BEST diet out there?”
On this week’s Real SOULutions Podcast:
The keto diet, going vegan, the Whole 30, juice cleanses, the South Beach diet, meal replacements, or here’s a fun one…. breatharians?! That’s right… I literally had someone talk to me once (being totally serious) about wanting to try being a breatharian, where they only survive off of breathing exercises, sunlight, and tea. I couldn’t believe it- if you can’t either, try googling it for a good laugh!
So what do I really believe and prescribe to, as for as the best diet goes?
The thing is, I’m a nutrition agnostic. We can talk about what research shows, what my experiences have shown to work, and we can figure out what’s best for you.
But as far as what and how do I feel about it? I try not to tie in my personal emotions and feelings with how I work with clients- which is where a lot of people go wrong.
The thing is, everyone’s body is different. Everyone requires different things and every body is an individual body.
As a health professional and dietitian, if I tied my personal biases and personal beliefs into how I coach other people, I would be doing such an injustice to my clients.
What might be the perfect fit for one person might be totally and radically different than what someone else needs. Everyone with their own goals, eating habits, nutrition knowledge, time, budget, and overall health goals and needs.
So no, I’m not going to give you a cookie cutter nutrition program.
A “one-size-fits-all” diet, like the countless amounts of fad diets out there, that don’t actually and truly fit anyone. I can’t prescribe a basic and unrealistic diet plan that’s going to be the perfect fit for everyone’s health goals.
That’s why I studied nutrition and dietetics for 6 years- so that I could adapt to YOUR needs, your goals, your eating habits, etc., and still find the best way to help YOU. Which is going to be totally different from the next person. The biggest thing for me is not only giving someone a good, science-based, research-based plan for their bodies, but also making it practical and realistic for you. Because really, there is not best diet for everyone.
Even though people will swear by keto, veganism, or other specific and strict diets, at the end of the day, they really are raising nutrition awareness. So you go from not being mindful about your nutrition to being way more aware about the food you’re eating. A lot of those diets also just up the quality of the foods you’re eating and eliminate nutrition deficiencies just by making sure you’re getting in good, whole, nutrient-dense foods (though of course, not all). A lot of them can also help control your appetite, eat smaller portions, and usually promote some kind of regular exercise.
So, do people see results?
They definitely can. Because though it might be a fad diet, some of them can still be a healthier diet than the diet they’ve carried their entire life. But it’s about sustainability and not putting the weight back on when you quit that fad diet. It’s about making the process of eating healthy and seeing the results you want fun and enjoyable, so you can make it a lifestyle instead of a temporary quick (but not really) fix.
Was it actually the paleo, keto, or the South Beach diet that helped you lose weight? Or was it just being more mindful about the foods you’re eating, eating whole goods, smaller portions, and exercising regularly that did the trick for you?
I just want you to become aware and mindful about the food you’re eating, and how you feel after you eat it.
Even if it’s a food you always considered healthy and good for you, if it doesn’t make you feel good after eating it, then maybe it’s not for you. And that’s okay. You know why? Because everyone is individually different, and there’s not a perfect food out there for everyone.
So, what is the best diet for you?
The best diet is the diet that helps you live out the best life you want to live, helps you reach the results you want toes, and that you can say 2 or 5 years down the line that you still follow. And with most strict diets, you cannot say that about.
Don’t demonise foods, don’t praise other certain foods, just eat according to the foods that make you feel the best, helps you reach your goals, and feels like the best diet for YOU. Depending on your family, your life demands, your stress level, your work situation, cooking knowledge, food availability, income level, physical capability, time availability, and so much more- really depend what diet is the best for you. And it’s what helps me as a health professional decide what plan is the best for my clients.
So I can’t tell you that this or that is best diet for everyone.
If someone is telling you that one diet is the best diet for you and everyone else, just know that even if they’re intentions might be good, it really might not be the best thing for you. So tune out the voices that this or that is the best for everyone. Because if someone is telling you that this diet is the best diet for everyone and you, they likely don’t have the best interest in mind.
So I hope this short little post and podcast helps and gives you some insight on really, the best diet. And know that Sarah Grace, RD and MS is a NUTRITION AGNOSTIC.
If you are looking for more insight on how to get started with your own individualized nutrition programming and have your one on one session with me as a registered dietitian, then go here!
I want to here what you think about being a nutrition agnostic, and what kind of diets you are or aren’t following.
Until next time!