I’ve been hearing a lot of sugar-bashing in the ladies locker room of late and seeing a lot of it online too. With all the anti-sugar messages floating around, I thought I’d share my two-cents on making smart food choices and eating a well-balanced diet.
- Eat WHOLE FOODS (foods in their natural form). Prepare your own meals (using whole foods as much as possible) for you and your family and be confident that you know exactly what you are eating.
- Avoid processed foods (i.e. packaged, already prepared/seasoned/cooked foods). These typically contain additives which may be artificial and range from sodium to sweeteners to colouring. To be clear this isn’t just McDonald’s and chocolate bars, everything in the ready-meal and frozen dinner isles and things that come in a jar or can are some other examples.
- Sugars: know the difference between naturally occurring sugar (fructose found in fruit), refined sugar (HFCS, cane sugar, etc) and how to spot them on a food label. Remember that “No added sugar” does not mean that there is zero sugar in the food; it means that refined sugars have not been added to the food and naturally occurring sugars remain in the food.
- Understand carbohydrates and why they are good for you.
- Include good fats in your meals too.
- Pay attention to the entire food label and choose nutrient-dense foods.
- Keep an eye on your portion sizes too. Allow yourself some treats from time to time. Moderation is key.
- Do your research. If you don’t know what whole foods are or what “processed” means – look it up and learn. Use trusted sources backed by science.
- Stay away from mainstream media like TV and health & fitness magazines who propagate trends and fads.
- If you want help with making changes to your diet, consult a qualified professional like a registered dietitian. Always check qualifications.
- Eat to be healthy.
- Love your body.
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