Do you think that there is such a thing as “good” and “bad” foods?
I wouldn’t say there are good or bad foods as such, but there are foods that offer less nutritional value than others and aren’t as optimal for our health and longevity. Labelling foods as good and bad is not exactly a good idea because it perpetuates a negative mindset and creates imbalanced eating habits.
Here’s what to need to know.
The “Good” Foods
Foods that are considered “good” for us are usually whole foods, which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre. These foods have positive health outcomes and are known as “right” or “clean.” They include lean proteins, fruits, health-supportive fats, non-starchy carbohydrates, and fibre-rich starchy carbohydrates.
The “Bad” Foods
Foods that are considered “bad” for us contain a fair amount of fat, sugar, and not many nutrients. These foods are generally more calorie dense and don’t keep us satiated (full) for long, making it easy to overeat.
Moreover, these “bad” foods have little nutritional value and adverse health outcomes. They are referred to as “off-limits” or “wrong” and include foods like ice cream, pizza, chips, candy, or other similar foods.
But the question is it okay to assign morality to food?
It’s nutrition vs emotions now
Everyone from health practitioners to social media influencers and even our friends has labelled the foods as “good” and “bad” for so long that now we all believe that it’s a fact when it’s clearly not.
By assigning morality to food, your emotions are getting mixed with your food choices. This idea is flawed because it makes us believe that eating the “good” foods means you made the “right” decisions, and therefore, you feel joy and pride when you eat these foods.
On the other hand, eating “bad” foods makes you a person who makes “poor” decisions, and therefore, you feel frustrated and guilty after consuming these foods.
But the reality is that when you restrict and regulate your food choices, you increase your concentration and attention on that particular item, making it much more enticing.
If you still need help eating the right foods that can be helpful for you to maintain a healthy weight, visit our personal training facility in Pymble.
Eat everything! (in moderation)
Within our diet, we want a majority of our foods to come from whole foods, but it is okay to enjoy everything in moderation. Moreover, practise mindful eating by limiting distractions like TV and mobile phones. Stay in tune with how you’re feeling and savour the taste.
We shouldn’t be restricting ourselves to specific foods or food groups simply because they are perceived as “bad.” We want to be eating a variety of foods to get all of our nutrients.
Now, I’m not saying that you should be eating doughnuts, cake, lollies, etc., every day; I am saying that it is okay to SOMETIMES have these foods and that if you do have them, you haven’t done anything wrong and don’t need to punish yourself for it.
Remember, the most effective diet is a sustainable diet.
If you or anyone you know is in need of help with their training in Pymble, feel free to contact us. Our experienced and passionate coaches team is here to help our community move & feel better from our premier personal training facility in Pymble, NSW, Australia. We also offer personal training in Lindfield.
