There is often much emotion attached to the word “diet.” Did you know the English word “diet” has its roots in the beautiful ancient Greek word díaita? The original and longstanding primary meaning of diet is “way of life.” How grand is that? It seems though that we have turned away from this beautiful way of thinking about our diet as a way of life through attaching thoughts of deprivation, suffering, restriction, and even martyrdom to this four-letter word. Does this perspective do us any good?
Let’s return for a moment to looking at our diet as our way of life.
In the film and subsequent book, Hungry for Change, nutritionist and superfoods expert David Wolfe suggests rather than focusing on eliminating foods from our diet, simply “add in the good foods.” This is brilliant! We know that what we focus on expands, so if we focus on the foods we’re cutting out, thoughts of lack consume us. So let’s try amplifying the positive change instead! I propose:
A Delightful Diet (way of life) for Optimal Nutrition
What if you added kale to your salad, blueberries for a mid-morning snack, or almonds kept handy in your tote? ADD IN food choices that are high quality, plant-based foods that you will end up craving. This will naturally push out the frequent urges for non-real, sugary, processed foods with minimal nutritional value.
Try to ADD IN one new food a week. When you include healthier foods in your choices, you will no longer want the foods with little nutrient value. The body will redirect its cravings to prompt you to choose the healthier foods first. There simply won’t be room for junk.
Some foods to ADD IN:
- Water with lemon or lime
- Almonds
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Apples
- Avocado
- Sunflower seeds (soaked & dried or dry roasted)
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Snow peas
- Hummus (made with freshly cooked chickpeas)
- Quinoa (soaked overnight and then thoroughly cooked)
- Coconut milk (fresh, not canned)
- Kale chips
When you begin to ADD IN, playfully and lovingly watch the nourishment unfold with ease. What healthy food would you like to bring into your way of life today?