Many times people come to me with this questions expecting to hear a somewhat high quality, complicated answer.  

Before I answer, I consider how much I know about the person asking the question…

• Are they coming from a place of potato chips and french fries?
• Are they coming from a place of “not” eating much food because food made them fat?
• Are they coming from a place of “I must eat all organic and expensive choices”?
• How many times have they tried to “lose weight” or “eat healthy”?

If I don’t know these answers already, I’ll ask a few.

Then this is what I say…

The best and most healthy eating choices are the ones that are the healthiest that you will stick with for life.

If you’re a processed food snacker, I recommend slowly removing the processed food and finding whole food choices to replace them with (over time).  This is more about creating a new habit for your taste buds than anything.

If you’re someone who hasn’t been eating all day in order to keep from getting fat, I will tell you that first you must fuel yourself through your awake and active hours.  Starting to add protein to your morning is a great first step and it also adds calories to your day instead of starving your body.  Then you can begin to make healthier, whole food choices.

If you’re someone who has tried all kinds of fad diets, I’ll share with you that it’s more important to know how many calories your body needs a day and then focus on eating foods that you will stick with for life, NOT for losing weight.  Then manage those calories eating foods that you like and that have a balance of all three macros.

It will not do you much good to eat chicken breast and broccoli for two months and then fall to sweets and junk food for another five.

In general, focus on whole foods meaning, vegetables as close to their natural state as possible.  Lean meats such as chicken breast, turkey and lean beef as well as tuna and salmon.  Healthy fats from almonds, walnuts, olives and avocados and carbohydrates from your vegetables and beans and legumes.  All in all, what your body will tolerate and you will continue to keep as a habit is what you should eat.  Keep your calories in your caloric intake range and exercise for health.

Eating healthy for 30 days, 60 days is great but eating healthy choices that you’ll stick with for months to years is even healthier for your body!

Most things are not inherently bad for the body.  But consistent over indulgence of things not so healthy is where the damage usually comes from.