Healthy Eating Is Human: Joys, Difficulties, and Three Things You Can Do

If you ask a group of people what eating healthy means to them, you’re likely to hear different answers each time.

For some, healthy eating entails cutting back on fast food or eating more fruits and vegetables, yet for others, it may entail occasionally indulging in a piece of cake without feeling bad.

Those with specific medical concerns or food allergies, on the other hand, may interpret the concept of healthy eating in their own unique way.

In short, there is no single correct response to the question of what healthy eating entails.

Healthy eating is human, and we all have various goals and requirements that influence our dietary choices.

Furthermore, what healthy eating means to you may alter throughout your life as you grow and adapt to your ever-changing demands.

This post delves into the human side of healthy eating, as well as my personal go-to ideas for making it easier.

What does healthy eating mean to me?

In the last few years, my definition of healthy eating has shifted several times.

When I was in college, healthy eating meant adhering to dietary rules and doing everything by the book. However, it meant that my perspective on the food on my plate had shifted. I went from seeing meals I liked to seeing merely nutrition.

Suddenly, I was looking at complex carbs and plant-based proteins instead of conventional Costa Rican gallo pinto (rice and beans).

When I first started working as a nutritionist, the idea that a dietician should look a certain way or fit into a certain body type led me to believe that healthy eating required measuring my meals so I knew exactly what I was eating. I would eat whatever I wanted as long as the nutrients I required were met.

I gave my body what it needed to be healthy, but good nutrition goes beyond that. It’s also about how it makes you feel, and because food is such an important component of culture and social gatherings, we should enjoy eating.

Today, I take a different approach to eating properly. I’m much more flexible with my meals now, and I understand that balance is essential for feeling full and content with food.

Healthy eating today means that I make sure to have food from all food groups on my plate most of the time, without measuring or thinking about plant-based vs. animal-based protein or simple vs. complex carbs.

It also means that I can have a little bit of anything — including sweets, fast food, and desserts — without having to measure or account for it.

As you can see, striking the right balance for me did not happen fast. On the contrary, my definition of healthy eating has evolved as I’ve progressed through the stages of my life.

You can give healthy eating your own meaning as long as you try to fuel your body and listen to what it needs, because healthy eating is for everyone.

Looking at the big picture

Eating healthy, like many other things in life, does not always go as planned.

You may be trapped at work late at night or too exhausted to prepare a home-cooked dinner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t order take-away and enjoy it.

If being flexible with what you eat means staying healthy, you’ll need to learn to adjust to the conditions, which may occur more frequently than not.

When I’m choosing food on the spur of the moment, I strive to choose the best option available. I try to order the closest thing to a home-cooked meal or go for a sandwich, salad, or bowl whenever possible.

But, every now and then, I get a craving for pizza, so I eat it and like it!

At times like this, I remind myself to look at the big picture. That is, healthy eating is defined not by particular meals but by the decisions we make on a daily basis.

One of my close friends once told me, “One bad meal will not make you sick, just as one good meal will not make you healthy.”

It can be difficult at times.

Many individuals believe that eating healthily comes easy to a nutritionist. We are, however, human humans who enjoy dessert and crave delicacies just like everyone else.

One of the most difficult issues I’ve had was having to give up most carb-containing foods to treat reoccurring illnesses.

Carbohydrates can be found in a variety of foods, including grains, starchy vegetables, legumes, fruit, and dairy. They can also be found in processed foods and desserts.

Experts frequently divide them into two groups based on their fibre content (1Trusted Source):

Whole grains: contain naturally occurring fibre.
Refined carbohydrates are treated to eliminate fibre and contain added sugar.
In principle, I was supposed to avoid processed carbohydrates, which some claim is the best option.

In practise, though, I gave up all types of processed carbs, including whole wheat bread and pasta, as well as starchy vegetables, cereals and dairy.

As a result, the only carb-rich foods I could consume were fruits, oats, quinoa, and legumes – lentils, beans, chickpeas, and edamame.

Some people informed me that as a dietician, this shift would be easier for me. However, it took some time for me to acclimatise to my new eating habits, particularly when planning on-the-go snacks or dining out.

I discovered that organisation and inventiveness are essential in managing my nutritional requirements.