How many times a day do we ask ourselves what we should eat? Too many, I’d guess. Here’s my best answer:
Keep it simple. Do not, not matter how tempting, complicate this thing we call food.
I continue to believe that Michael Pollan has said it best: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” There you go. Seven words. Utterly simple.
For those still struggling, let’s break it down.
Eat food: food that has not been processed to the point where we’ll get little or no nutritional value from it.
Not too much:
For meals – stop eating before you feel ready to burst. Better yet, stop eating when you might still be a little hungry. See if after a few minutes, your feeling of hunger has passed. Do not feel compelled to clean your plate. Mom will understand.
For snacks – ask yourself a question before diving into that mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack: Am I hungry, bored, thirsty, or tired? Not sure? Get up. Have a glass of water. Change your scenery. Have a 5-minute conversation with a colleague. Go for a 10-minute walk. Still feeling hungry? Have a healthy snack: real food. Apple, celery, you get the picture.
Mostly plants: Build your meals and snacks around plants. Eat the rainbow. See how your body reacts. Plants provide us with fiber and a host of other benefits that we won’t get from animal products. Love your plants.
That’s it.
Utterly simple.
Totally healthy.
Give it a try, and let me know how these seven words serve you.