You are a dietitian and you eat what? – Samantha Pavish

So where do our favourite foods fit? It is my belief that if you follow a diet with the healthy base foods majority of the time then there is room for dessert. While I do eat chocolate, I do not feel the need to eat a large block every day. It provides me with momentary pleasure and satisfaction, but at the end of the day, it is not a food that will contribute to the overall function of my body. This also goes for other “extra” foods that taste great but do not serve a real purpose to our health and wellbeing.

Therefore, for me, moderation means eating a chocolate bar once or twice a week and enjoying it when I do. I can go out for dinner knowing that I can order whatever I want because, for majority of my week, I have eaten well. If my friends or family wish to order pizza one night, I do not have to sit alone in the corner with a salad, as long as I am confident that I have and will continue to fill my body with the essential nutrients, fuel and building blocks to keep it happy. The moment we tell ourselves that we cannot have certain foods or food groups in our diet is when we develop an unhealthy preoccupation with these foods.

It is what you do consistently that matters. We are what we repeatedly do. Healthy eating therefore, is not an act, but a habit – adapted from the words of Aristotle.

Unlike our celebrity friends would have us believe, there is no perfect diet that will fit for everyone. These people will have us believe that cutting certain foods out of our diet will solve all of our diet and health issues. However, we will also hear dietitians and nutritionists telling us that we can eat whatever we want but as long as we eat these foods in “moderation.” The word moderation, however, is highly subjective and exactly how much is a “moderate” amount will differ between individuals. This is where the message gets confusing.

Eating in moderation entitles us to enjoy any food to a point that is not extreme or excessive. Our bodies are highly tuned machines and require the correct nutrients in order to function to our optimal capacity. Including a variety of fruits and vegetables provide a range vitamins and minerals, each needed to perform a specific function. Some will protect cells from damage, some produce energy and others regulate cell and tissue growth. Fibre and carbohydrates fuel the machine to keep it running efficiently. Meanwhile, animal products (including dairy and eggs) or their substitutes (nuts, legumes, beans), provide the building blocks of the machine. These foods should make up the base of our diet and should be the priority when it comes to fuelling our body.

So where do our favourite foods fit? It is my belief that if you follow a diet with the healthy base foods majority of the time then there is room for dessert. While I do eat chocolate, I do not feel the need to eat a large block every day. It provides me with momentary pleasure and satisfaction, but at the end of the day, it is not a food that will contribute to the overall function of my body. This also goes for other “extra” foods that taste great but do not serve a real purpose to our health and wellbeing.

Therefore, for me, moderation means eating a chocolate bar once or twice a week and enjoying it when I do. I can go out for dinner knowing that I can order whatever I want because, for majority of my week, I have eaten well. If my friends or family wish to order pizza one night, I do not have to sit alone in the corner with a salad, as long as I am confident that I have and will continue to fill my body with the essential nutrients, fuel and building blocks to keep it happy. The moment we tell ourselves that we cannot have certain foods or food groups in our diet is when we develop an unhealthy preoccupation with these foods.

It is what you do consistently that matters. We are what we repeatedly do. Healthy eating therefore, is not an act, but a habit – adapted from the words of Aristotle.