Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, raw, macrobiotic – it’s all enough to make your head spin. While I’m all about putting labels on food (i.e. labeling GMOs), I’m not so into labeling diets, or more accurately, “diets”.
If the “diet of the moment” has you wondering if you should conform, consider that how you choose to eat should be a personal decision, one you arrive at via consideration and experimentation. I know it can be tempting to want to wrap things up in a neat little bow and stick a tag on it, but life doesn’t always work that way and when it comes to nourishment, it’s definitely not so cut and dry.
For those who don’t know it already, take my own story as an example: I declared myself a vegetarian at the age of 13 and quit eating meat and seafood cold turkey after reading a graphic book about animal slaughter. That choice remained right for me until 12 years later. Having newly moved to New York City and started training for triathlons, I re-evaluated my vegetarian diet. At the time (probably for lack of knowing how to eat properly as a vegetarian), I decided my training required additional protein I wasn’t getting. Slowly, I added seafood back in. Though I re-evaluate all the time, that’s what’s still working for me. A few years ago, I decided I would remove all dairy because of some sinus issues. I’m not strict about avoiding it at all costs (except for milk), but I know when I do, I feel better. Oh, and I eat eggs.
So what is this “diet” I’ve just described? It’s not. It’s a way of eating I’ve devised for my own optimal health. I can’t see myself ever eating meat again, but if it’s something I decide is right for me down the road, I will. I have no shame in that.
My friend Sarah who treats her gastrointestinal issues without medication and controls her symptoms with food, the way she eats resembles a Paleo diet. But she’ll be the first to tell you that it’s not the label she gives it. It’s simply what works for her and her body.
My clients’ #1 complaint is that there’s so much nutrition information out there that it’s confusing. I totally agree with that! And that very reason is why I’m a health coach, so I can help people make sense of it all.
I’m reading two books this week: One that says to cut out all wheat and limit grains and eat LOTS of animal protein (i.e. meat, fish and eggs), vegetables and healthy fats and another that recommends limiting animal protein to 20% of your meal.
Which is right? Both and neither.
Nutrition is an in-exact science. Both of these books can exist because different people thrive on different foods. Neither one is right or better than the other. But by limiting yourself to a singular set of rules, you could be missing out on an opportunity to discover what’s best for you.
What are your thoughts on the multitude of “diets” out there? Have you tried one that did or didn’t work for you?
Thanks for reading and commenting! Xox