For over 3 decades people have been asking me what is the best diet for me, or what is the healthiest way to eat? Is it Paleolithic, Mediterranean, 10 day detox, Sugar Buster, Wheat Belly, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Dr. Ornish, Dr. Oz, HCG, Protein Sparing Modified Fast, lab band, Gastric Bypass, low carb, low fat, gluten free, dairy free…..and the list goes on forever. There is so much information based on the best marketing and it is all so confusing.
For the majority of us, these wonderful diet books and plans will last about 3 weeks, then they get old or too uncomfortable to sustain once life sets in. Of course it is better to eat organic produce, grass fed livestock and dairy, to avoid plastics, cook your own meals, drink a gallon of water a day, etc. But many times the all or nothing philosophy backfires. It becomes too overwhelming and complicated to fit into our already overwhelming world. So why not make it simple and ease into better eating?
Most of us living in America have so many opportunities to make bad choices a in a day.. And we do… so anyplace is a good place to start. Change the worst habit and start there. If is it soda all day long, chuck it and drink water. If that is too hard drink one a day or every other day. If skipping breakfast is the problem (and make no mistake it is a problem) eat breakfast. Have a couple eggs, a slice of toast and a piece of fruit. Never eat vegetables? Start eating salads. If sugar is a problem, get it out of the house and start there. Go out for a sugar fix and make it a treat not a norm. If too much bread is the culprit, switch to non-bread choices, lettuce rollups, baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, and beans for your starches. Veer away from the cracker fix or the yummy bakery bread. If drinking alcohol every day is the habit. Only have a drink or two on the weekends. Once one hurdle is conquered, go the next one. It is constantly changing. All of a sudden healthy eating will become a habit.
After years of working on my own diet and helping thousands figure what is the best food path for them I would answer the question, “What is the best diet for me?” with the answer ‘Your Diet is the best diet for you”! You know yourself and your habits better than anyone. It may sound crazy but think about it. I will give you an example. The best diet for me right now this week is to moderate the number of pieces of Sees Candy (from the 2000 pound box my favorite uncle sent me for my birthday). I did not have this food challenge last week. If I must share, last time this year it was wine with dinner. Now it is not. A gluten free beer or two on the weekends. I have found the best diet for me is the moderation diet.