From Vegan to Paleo and Everything In-Between
I was at the bookstore the other day and walked into the “Health and Wellness” section, scanned all the books sitting perfectly on the shelves, turned around, and walked right back out! To be honest, I was kind of turned off. Hundreds of books lined the bookshelves all promoting something different and all promising THEIR way is THE way.
It tends to leave one feeling overwhelmed, confused, dizzy, conflicted, and stifled. Vegan, Pegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Keto, Plant-Based, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Grain-free, Pro-grain, 100 Mile Diet, Raw Food Diet, Cooked diet, Mediterranean, Okinawa, South Beach, High Fat, Low Fat, Diet vs Undiet, Fast Diet, Slow Down Diet, and on and on and on… It’s enough to make you crazy!
So which one is right? The truth is, none! There is NO perfect diet, no right diet, and no one-way-to-eat diet.
Each nutrition book on the market has value, and offers interesting teachings, insights, and tips. There is wisdom in all the different nutritional plans that are out there. But the only one that is “right” is the one that feels right for you at that moment.
We can’t stick to one way of eating for a lifetime. It defies nature. Just as foods change with each season, what we eat needs to change at different stages and phases of our lives. What we eat when it is cold is different from what we need to eat when it is hot. What we eat when we are in our early 20’s needs to be different during perimenopause, menopause, or andropause. What we eat when we are pregnant, training for a marathon, or bodybuilding will be different when those phases are over. What we need to eat to treat an illness or condition will be different when the body is healed.
The best diet or rather nutritional approach is the one that changes and evolves with you throughout your life. If there is a specific way you want to try to eat, go for it! Get on the Vegan or Paleo train or whatever calls you, and see how it FEELS. The key is to be open to changing it when it doesn’t feel right anymore.
The greatest thing you can do is to listen to your body wisdom and your inner nutritionist. If you are interested in following a specific way of eating, some helpful questions to ask yourself are:
What parts of this approach resonate with me and why?
What am I most inspired to try?
What parts would I like to ignore and leave out?
What am I hoping to feel by trying this new way of eating?
You will know if what you are eating is right for you if it provides you pleasure, energy, makes you feel satisfied, satiated, and free of cravings, helps you to feel mentally focused and emotionally balanced and if it improves any symptoms you may be experiencing.
No matter what you try, I do believe that the following are the most important nutritional ingredients to add to whatever way of eating you choose.
1. Believe that what you eat matters
2. Eat real food
3. Eat a diet full of color and that exudes energy and vitality
4. Listen to your body
5. Be grateful for and care about the food you eat
6. Eat with pleasure and joy
From Vegan to Paleo and everything in between, there is always room to explore, to experiment, to be curious, and to be open to change. Nutrition is not meant to be static, it will forever change and there are just as many ways of eating as there are people on this planet. So the key is to find your way, the way that makes you feel amazing and full of energy and vitality! And if you are not sure what that is, I am happy to help you explore it!
Yours in health & vitality,
Amy
Amy Bondar is a leading Nutrition expert and Certified Eating Psychology Coach who is passionate about helping her clients achieve maximum health and vitality through personalized nutrition and lifestyle coaching.
Amy Bondar’s comprehensive skill-set, two decades of experience and compassionate approach have allowed hundreds of people to achieve the vitality we all desire, and deserve.
The days of generic meal plans, fad diets, yo-yo dieting and simple advice about calories and carbs are long gone. When you work with Amy you will have strategies and learn nutrition principles that are nourishing, doable, sustainable, personalized and that yield results.
