The word “diet” is one that makes many people shudder. Just the thought of limiting comfort foods, eliminating the quick sweettooth fix or staying away from that double cheese pizza after a long day is enough to avoid starting at all.
Then there’s the question, “What diet is right for me?” With so many options— keto, Paleo, Weight Watchers and dozens more—settling on which one is best for you no doubt makes you want to stress-eat an entire cheeseburger with fries. Is a diet even the best approach to lifelong healthy eating habits?
Fortunately, Essentia Health dietitian Nikki Norland said it doesn’t need to be something to shy away from and, actually, there are some tried-and-true methods that don’t need to be a diet, but rather lifestyle changes to improve food choices.
“When it comes to weight loss, it doesn’t really matter which diet you choose, so long as you stick to it,” Norland said. “Yes, you still need to make intelligent food choices for overall health, like eating your fruits and vegetables.
“Picking a structured diet is less important than focusing on eating so that you feel nourished and satisfied. Eating in a way that eliminates or severely restricts entire food groups or macronutrients can be dangerous, but it is also boring and hard to maintain.”
