What you think you know could be wrong
By
Some of the biggest myths are designed to set us back in our
nutrition journey, making us dependent on unhealthy diet plans, self-help and
recipe books, or particular brands of food. And once you’ve bought into a
healthy eating myth, it can be hard to stop and get back on track.
But you can give yourself the best start possible by making
yourself aware of the worst myths about healthy eating. Improving your
nutrition shouldn’t be a mystery — so here are six of the most common myths
about healthy eating.
Myth:
You have to give up all your favorite foods
Not true! While you may need to cut back on certain foods, you
don’t have to eliminate them from your diet. There’s no need to give up chocolate,
pizza, or burgers altogether. Just make sure to moderate your intake and make
healthier choices most of the time.
Myth
2: Eating healthy is expensive
Eating healthy food doesn’t have to cost a lot. In fact, you can
save money by cooking at home and packing your own meals. In many parts of the
world, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, which make up the foundation of many
healthy meals, are actually much cheaper than other types of food.
Myth 3: Healthy food is boring
This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are endless
possibilities when it comes to healthy recipes, particularly once you know
enough about the basics of healthy eating to start creating your own. With a
little creativity, you can make healthy meals that are both delicious and
nutritious.
Myth
4: You need to eat perfectly to be healthy
Nobody’s perfect. And that’s okay. Just do your best to make
healthier choices most of the time, and don’t beat yourself up if you indulge
every now and then. Ultimately, cutting guilty pleasures out of your diet
altogether is likely to prove unsustainable and lead to binging, undoing all of
your efforts.
Myth
5: Healthy eating is hard work
Yes, making changes to your diet takes some effort. But once you
get used to it, healthy eating can become second nature. You may even find that
many of the healthy foods you previously did not enjoy become favorites!
Myth
6: There is one “perfect” diet
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healthy eating and no
singular perfect diet that works for everyone. In fact, what works for one
person may not work for another. Our bodies and nutrition needs are different,
which means that our diets will be different, too. The key is to find an
approach that fits your lifestyle and individual needs.
Keep these myths in mind the next time you’re considering making
improvements to your diet. And remember, healthy eating is all about making
smart choices and being mindful of what you put into your body. You might not
discover what works for you overnight, so keep at it!