nutrition- what is the best diet (not to lose weight- just to be healthy)?

[amanda]

I am not trying to lose weight, since I am slightly underweight. I've just recently decided to start cooking healthy, nutritious foods for my family- I used to just cook whatever looked good, but want to start making a conscious effort to be healthy.

There seems to be so much disagreement about what a healthy diet looks like-- Some people think that animal fats are good, some think they're bad..some think that processed foods are bad...some think vegetarian/vegan diets are good...

I am completely new to nutritious eating and totally confused.

The reason I've started to care is that I have a baby and want to raise her on healthy foods..

 

[Dude]

Anything that is not fried, or contain junk food.

Eat fruits and veggies everyday.
Drink only milk and water.
Done.

 

[Taylasilk]

Diet has become a bit of a dirty word, but a diet is necessary to begin; it gives you training wheels while you're learning to eat on your own. But the goal is not to rely on a diet because you won't be able to sustain it. Some people also lose the weight they had set out to lose and then revert back to their old way of eating. Going on a diet implies that we can get off it. And you can't.. A diet only gives us two options: on or off, whereas you can't get "off" a better way of eating. Successful, permanent weight loss means swapping the bad habits for good.

Remember, the objective is to think of a diet as a tool to get you started while you are learning about the best foods to eat. Then you can modify the diet to make it a way of eating that you can stick to for life.

Food and drink are our fuel - to give us energy for activity, to assist bodily functions and feed our brains. Many of us struggle with our weight because we eat for so many reasons other than to fuel up. We need to change our emotional connection to food.

Be honest with yourself and jot down some of the things that you think food is for. I have jotted a few things down to get you started, simply circle the relevant ones and add to the list.

To make me happy.
So I have something to do when I go out.
Something to talk over.
Something to have wine with.
To have with movies or while watching TV.
To help when I'm upset.
Something to keep me awake when I'm driving.
Now you have learned, or reminded yourself, that food is fuel and nothing else, you need to look at your food choices.

Tips to help you eat smart
Fall out of love with food. Learn to enjoy food instead of having a love affair with food! Food is for filling up the fuel tank not for satisfying feelings and emotions.

Eat slowly. Slow down when eating as it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full. Try putting your cutlery down after you take each bite, eating with your opposite hand to slow you down or eating with chopsticks or small cutlery like teaspoons or dessert forks.
Eat small meals often. Eating small meals often keeps your metabolism burning and helps prevent you from gorging when you do get around to eating because you're so hungry.
Organise everything. If you prepare snacks for the day you won't be tempted to get junk food.
Drink water. You cannot underestimate the value of drinking a lot of water. Studies have shown that 80 per cent of the time when we are feeling hungry we are actually thirsty. Drink water before and during your meals to help fill you up.
Brush your teeth after eating. Don't rinse the toothpaste out properly so it makes food after brushing taste bad.
Stop picking. Try chewing gum or snacking on celery when preparing meals and children's school lunches. This stops you from picking.
Always question yourself. Are you going to the fridge because you are hungry or bored? Are you eating when you're actually thirsty? Are you opening your wallet to get money for junk food?
Change your food focus. Stop making food the focus of events and start to focus more on the fun things that you have special occasions for, such as making a special day for the birthday person or spending time with family at a family function.