Dietary trends can be fascinating, confusing, and contradicting. They sometimes lack to tell the public where they originate from, the science behind it, and if it is actually sustainable for the average human being. Sometimes, there can be adverse effects in the long run which can be hard to reverse back even. Especially when people do not want to face the fact that simple lifestyle changes are the answer to your overall health. Who wants to invest in their health anyways? Everything should be a quick overnight fix anyways, right? As a Registered Dietitian this is a conversation I face daily.
Dietary trends do not make sense to me, but I understand that there is a psychological component people just thrive on. These dietary trends are viewed as a “quick fix”. Unfortunately, the media does not always educate us well. For example, the Ketogenic diet will help you lose weight. How? Eat fat. Unfortunately, the type of fat is not promoted, so now people think eating bacon is ok. Also, most people do not even know why this diet was even created in the first place. The Ketogenic diet was created as a medical nutrition therapy for those who have the diagnosis, Epilepsy. Research shows that a higher fat ratio to protein and carbohydrates helps lower the risk of seizures. Unfortunately, the terms seizures and epilepsy do not sell and most people do not want to learn the truth behind it. Everyone just wants the “quick fix”.
What is even funnier to me is that some of these trends, fads, whatever you want to call them, contradict each other. Lower your carbohydrate intake, but have a glass of oat milk. Oat milk is a glass of carbs. Every time I point this out to my family and friends they laugh. Oat milk is not only a cup of carbs, but it is also not necessarily a healthier alternative. It is just another dairy alternative, which may also foam better for your espresso martinis. I am not against oat milk, but it is important to understand that it is a glass of carbs that is not necessarily fortified with nutrients. Some brands are better than others, but in that case you need to compare the nutrition facts. Who does that?
At the end of the day, food is a mind over matter ordeal. That is your “quick fix”. Believe it or not that may even be faster than following some diet you saw an influencer post or what the magazine cover in the grocery store line is advertising. At the end of the day, you are what you eat and that is up to you on how you go about it. If you have any questions or concerns, fortunately I know I am able to answer all of your questions. Balance is key and we cannot let someone or something else influence us differently. Make yourself be the “quick fix” because you are the only one in control.
Here are some “quick fix” examples:
Buy a water bottle and fill it ONLY with water. Half the time you are hungry, you are thirsty.
Buy a lunchbox with a cooler. This will save you money in the long run.
Go to Trader Joe’s. They have individual trail mix snack packets in various flavors. Buy the ones with the least amount of salt and chocolate. Those can be sneaky and not super healthy.
Buy celery sticks with individual serving sizes of hummus or tuna. Celery is very low in calories. Hummus and tuna are great sources of protein and healthy fats.
