MY Voice Volume 7 Issue 4 Who We Become

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THE TRUTH BEHIND

DUHA ALNADVI, 22

Y

ou know what’s a crazy thought? There is no perfect one-for-all diet out there. That’s because the “perfect” diet is personal to you, your health, your needs, and your preferences.

I’ll let you in on a nutrition non-secret: all nutrition recommendations are geared towards populations, not individuals. Most health professionals give generic nutrition education that is best suited for everyone versus catering it specifically towards you. It’s not a fault of their own, rather it’s just how the system is set up. For instance, the Canadian Food Guide is recommended as a guideline for healthy eating. Its basic components are eating primarily plant-based, focusing on more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and lean meats. It is followed by the general mantra of eating a variety of foods, in moderation. It is kept generic so that it can apply to the entirety of the Canadian population.

The benefits to this? It’s not restrictive, so you can take that framework and then customize these guidelines to fit your lifestyle. So, keep to the general food groups but tailor the actual foods. For instance, you might notice you don’t like brown rice so

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instead you can choose to eat another whole grain, like quinoa. Or you might notice that black beans make your stomach hurt, so instead you can focus more on other protein sources, like chickpeas or lentils. If you are allergic to olive oil, then try sesame oil. In cases like this, experimenting to see what new foods you might enjoy can be really helpful and fun!

Even traditional ‘unhealthy’ foods like fast food, junk food or processed foods fit into this idea. You can learn which unhealthy foods you enjoy eating and which you do not. Keep in mind, it’s all about eating in moderation. In fact, let your body tell you how it's feeling.

If your mouth starts to tingle because of the overt-sweetness or you feel parched from the excess salt, those are signs from your body telling you its limits. Listen for your personal cues and see how your body reacts to certain foods you eat.

Make the process an experiment towards the goal of finding what foods work for you. Keep in mind that a diet is not supposed to be a restrictive term, but rather a method to describe a way of eating. Make your diet your way of eating. Focus on what you like to eat, what makes you feel good, what satisfies you and what makes you happy. That’s the perfect way of eating.

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