My kind of Day
There’s a day dedicated to not dieting, who would have thought?
Now, technically- everything you consume makes up your diet, but for the sake of continuing to rebel against diet culture, read on.
Dieting in the sense of the modern world is surely an ick. It can bring about feelings of anxiety and even unworthiness. However, there is too much yumminess and joy associated with that said yumminess to deprive ourselves in the short time we’re on earth.
Let’s try some alternatives to ‘dieting’ that’ll still allow you to meet and keep the healthful goals you may have for yourself.
Be mindful
Your body usually knows what you need when you need it, so pay attention to those cues to eat when you’re hungry and to stop eating when you’re full. We are all super busy, but even if it’s one meal for the day, try to enjoy without any distractions: no phone, no Netflix - ikr. I came across a TikTok the other day where the creator said 3 meals a day was a result of Colonialism and that really got me thinking. Now, if you are hungry at those specific morning, noon and night times, by all means eat. Simultaneously if you prefer to have your first meal mid morning and another one mid afternoon then you gotta do what works for you, boo! The most important thing is not to wait until you are absolutely starving to choose a meal.
2. Eat your water
Some people get absolutely no joy in staying hydrated the traditional way, but it doesn’t take way from the fact that hydration itself is vital. So why not get some foods in that help with your hydration levels? Add some watermelon juice to your morning or some cucumber slices to your afternoon.
3. If you don’t like salad, don’t eat salad
However, we do know the importance of leafy greens so we can sneak them into foods we do enjoy. Add them to your one pot meals, your sauces or even on your pizza as a topping to keep those vitamin and mineral levels adequate.
4. Herbs- the healing of the nation
Herbs and spices are probably two of the easiest things to add much benefit to foods. There is a wide variety that adds both flavour and nutritional value, which is literally the best of both worlds if I do say so myself.
Bonus:
Save room for foods you enjoy that may not be the most nutritionally dense. Denying yourself ‘something nice’ can just lead to binge eating it later on. So enjoy that guilty pleasure without the guilt and keep it pushing.
I am of the opinion that incorporating these tips can definitely account for some relaxation around health- related habits. Less pressure can mean more realistic enjoyment, ensuring you are in control of food & not the other way around and balance of course, which we all know is key and can look different for everyone and in every season.
