We are constantly bombarded by information on nutrition and lifestyle and frankly much of it is ‘nutrib******s’ with little or no evidence base. Here are a few simple thoughts that I hope might help you navigate that mass of information.
- Nutrition is extremely individual
- Healthy eating does not have to be complicated
- Socio-economic factors have a massive influence on health outcomes
- The words we use to talk about nutrition and health matter – avoid stigmatising language
- It’s important to think about the bigger picture of health – not just nutrition
- Sleep has a huge impact on health and nutrition-related outcomes
- Food is so much more than the sum of it’s parts, eating for pleasure is key
- Self-compassion is vital for improving relationship with food
- No food needs to be avoided unless it is poisonous or you are allergic to it
- Most answers about nutrition start with “It depends on…”
- There is much more to sustainable eating than plant-based diets
- It is rarely helpful to comment on what others are eating
- Context matters in all areas of nutrition
- A plant-based diet doesn’t need to be a plant-only diet
- The complexity of nutrition is often under-estimated
- The appeal to nature fallacy is very common with nutritional beliefs
- Low-carb diets continually resurface under many different disguises!
- Food beliefs are often deep-rooted, tribal and linked with sense of self
- No nutrition messages should be black and white
- Sometimes all you should do is laugh at the latest ridiculous fad diet
- Focusing on health is much more important than just weight
- A flexible approach to healthy eating is vital
- Nutritional science contains many fascinating shades of grey
- Food should complement our life, rather than dominate it
- Variety is an important part of a satisfying and nutritious diet