Keto or paleo?  Low carb or vegan?  It’s impossible to keep track of the most popular diets all promising radical lifestyle changes and health benefits.  Choosing the diet that’s right for you, though, is far easier than you might expect.

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  Forget the way you’ve defined “diet” in the past. The word “diet” has a negative connotation, but let’s stop thinking of it as a calorie-restricted, temporary endeavor, to drop a few pounds or look a particular way.  “Diet” is simply how you eat.  Thinking of the way you eat consistently, long-term, can change the way you feel about the word “diet”.  If you can’t sustain a pattern of healthy eating long-term, the crusade you’re on probably isn’t the right fit for you.


• How does your diet make you feel? If the way you’re eating makes your digestive system feel sluggish, leaves you feeling lethargic, or generally makes you miserable, it’s not working for you. Every body is different and every body needs different fuel depending on the demands you place on that body through the course of any given day.  If you’re training for a marathon, for example, a low-carb diet is probably not going to give you the fuel you need to get through the day.  If you’re eating fat laden foods for lunch and can’t get through your afternoon, you’re not fueling your body properly.  The right diet should leave you with more energy, regular digestion, and make you happy.


• Are you afraid to eat certain foods? If you’re eating the right foods for your body consistently, there’s room for small indulgences from time to time.  If you find that you fear birthday parties or holidays because you’re afraid of straying from your diet, your restrictive diet may not be right for you. If your diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and your body feels good, there’s no reason to be anxious or feel like you’ve failed because you allowed for a small indulgence. Food is a major part of our lifestyles, celebrations, and traditions.  Creating room for joy in your diet makes it easier to eat in a healthy way consistently and in a way that gets you to your goals.


• Do you allow room for creativity? Maybe your diet needs more vegetables but you can’t think of a single vegetable you want to eat consistently.  Maybe you want the health benefits of adding spinach or kale to your diet, but can’t figure out the best way.  Allowing for creativity in the kitchen can make you healthier and happier. Adding a handful of spinach or kale to your morning smoothie can give you the nutrient punch without eating another salad.  A serving of fruit may satisfy your sweet tooth after a meal or swapping plain Greek yogurt for sour cream can improve your diet.  Even spending an extra minute in the produce aisle may introduce you to a new favorite, healthy dish that boosts your attitude and your health!

How does your diet make you feel?  Do you practice healthy eating or have a particular diet that works for you?  Share your tips in the comments.