There is so much information out in our society today on what to eat, what to avoid, do this diet, try that diet. Here is the reality; if diets worked you would only ever go on one of the. Nutrition does not need to be so difficult. It has become far too over-complicated. I personally like to simplify it and have my clients focus on learning about food, what works for them, what doesn’t, eat intuitively and what works for their lifestyle.

What food is best for you depends on several things. These include but are not limited to:

• Whether you like it or not
• Are you a shift worker?
• What stage are you in, in your life, as this will influence your hormone levels which will then influence your nutritional needs
• Are you an omnivore, or vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, lacto-vegan etc.
• Are you limited by cultural beliefs / restrictions?
• Do you have allergies? Intolerances?
• Any health issues?
• Are you training? How much? What style?

See how it can get really complicated? It just goes to show, what diet works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.

There are a few things however that work as general rules across the board. These are the things I teach my clients to adopt in their lives, which will help no matter what. If you follow these simple rules you will see an improvement in how you feel overall, and in your physique. Once these become habit, then you can focus on fine tuning further with a Nutrition Coach. In the meantime, however, focus on creating good habits by adopting the following:

• Plan what you are going to eat rather than winging it. Even if you food prep at the time of eating, having a plan of what you are going to have keeps you from unfavorable choices.
• Consume as many vegetables as you like with each meal. Incorporate as many colors as possible. Veggies help you feel satiated, they are full of vital nutrients, full of fiber to help keep you regular and boost your overall health.
• Consume a source of protein with every meal. Protein is required to repair and regenerate cells in your body. Without it your cells will suffer, as will your health.
• Consume good fats with every meal. This will include a combination of monounsaturated fats, such as, olive oil, avocado oil, nuts and seeds, and saturated fats such as grassfed meat sources, fish, coconut oil, and lard from grass fed animals. Avoid trans-fats and processed fats such as canola oil or vegetable oil as these increase risk of health issues and obesity.
• Drink plenty of water. As a guide a minimum of 2 litres per day. Inadequate hydration can lead to health issues, fat storage, cellulite, water retention, oedema, lymphatic drainage problems, digestive issues, premature aging, and much more
• Limit alcohol to 1-2 serves per week. Alcohol is a toxin that increases health issues such as liver issues, kidney issues, fat storage, and more.
• Don’t drink your calories. This is the biggest most common mistake that leads to fat storage as well as increasing risk of other health issues such as Diabetes Type 2.
• Include what I call ‘free food’ or ‘treat food’ aka processed food to 1-2 serves per week. Including them in your life helps keep you stick to your good habits, prevents you feeling deprived and helps you stay healthy physically, mentally and emotionally.
• Eat meals rather than snacks. Sitting down with a plate and eating keeps you from overeating throughout the day. When you snack, it is difficult to keep track of how much you are consuming and too easy to overeat. This also leads to boredom eating, binging and going back to bad habits. And let’s face it, who grabs a piece of chicken and perhaps some spinach as a snack? Most will go for the cookie, the piece(s) of chocolate, a piece of toast and other processed goodies.

If you follow these basic principles, you will definitely see a dramatic change to how you feel and your physique. Don’t let society over complicate things for you. Life is too busy and complicated as it is. Food is just fuel for your body. Focus more on your quality of life.

• Coach Terri