DOTHAN, Ala. – 2021 is just a few days away and many are thinking of how they want to make changes moving into the new year. One of the most common being starting a healthy diet.
“There’s no better time to focus on our health when you know we’re in the middle of a pandemic,” Jessie White, registered dietitian, said.
Low-carb, low-fat, cutting out dairy, these are all different diets but react to everyone’s bodies differently.
White owns a private practice, Nourished Nutrition Consulting, in Dothan. She shares tips on how to decide what’s right for you to live a healthy lifestyle.
“Unless there is specific medical conditions at play, I don’t like to eliminate an entire macronutrient groups because we are missing out on a lot of nutrition that our bodies need,” White said.
When it comes to a healthy diet there is more to consider than just the number on a scale.
“I don’t like to look at that,” White said. “I mean of course the number on the scale is a big indicator of our health, but what about eating our vegetables, what about being active, what about drinking water, what about how often are we having sugary beverages, processed meats, there is so many other indicators of our health that we can look at.”
If you are looking to change to a healthy diet for weight loss, as far as a timeline goes, it depends on your starting body weight.
White said someone who has a higher body mass index is going to lose weight faster than a lower body mass index.
“On average we say about a half of a pound, two pounds a week is on the safer, healthier side,” White said.
White suggests for people to be mindful of the food in their kitchen when setting goals.
“‘Do we have a lot of snack foods in the house?’ There’s foods that are highly palatable, the ones that are loaded with sugar, loaded with salt, loaded with fat, stuff that could sit on your shelf for two years and not change, nobody needs that in their body,” White said.
Resolutions that can stay year-round and not just until February 1st.
“There’s a percentage, it’s a 90/10 rule, so if you are pretty much 90 percent on you’re A-game there is room for play,” White said.
It is important to remember that it is okay to treat yourself and your body. White recommends making the treat yourself.
“Try to get in the kitchen and make it yourself,” White said. “Put that love into it, that relationship with your food, know where your food is coming from, even though it’s considered a treat you know have some fun with it when you’re at it.”
