Nobody wants to be unhealthy, ill or fat. But the most common topic of conversation across circles would be on “Diets”. Diets are often overly complicated and make it unrealistic for most people to follow them because almost every season brings in a new fad. Seeing results from a diet is extremely easy but sticking with one and keeping all the results is a different story. But, if you can figure out and build your own Foodosophy: your Food philosophy. You can expect: a healthy metabolism, more energy, more muscle, less fat, increased testosterone and, more importantly, a different mentality when it comes to eating!
There is no one diet for everyone due to the way we are built biologically, but certain principles apply to most everyone. A properly prepared, nutrient dense diet based on whole foods is one of the best ways to obtain optimal health. Unfortunately, as a society, we have lost our way due to the lure of convenience and the addictive nature of empty calorie foods.
I am heavily influenced by the book “ The Philosophy of Eating” by George Davey and several others who have given a roadmap to building your family/individual 'Foodosophy'.
1. Make a plan. I won't eat something unless it's worth eating!
If you do not want to eat it (or your family to eat it), don’t bring it into the house. Have you gone through moments where you just have to eat something and start grazing (the word is consciously used) on high-calorie snack foods in the house? Declare to yourself that I wont eat something unless it’s worth eating. You can only consume so many calories per day without gaining weight, and your body can only handle so much sugar without going crazy.
So, search for healthy options like fresh fruit, organic nuts and others treats that are nutritious enough for daily use and appealing to all members of the family: almonds, frozen bananas, dry roasted chickpeas etc. Build an organic kitchen. Start afresh!
Photos by Grace Hitchcock for PopSugar / Via popsugar.com
2. Build a meal around colourful vegetables and fruits
Try to plan more meals around the vegetable, not the protein. Specially if you are a non-vegetarian family when you plan a meal - the meat or protein is the main event, and vegetables are an afterthought. By reversing that and building a meal around which vegetables you’d like to eat - or those you have around the house - the dynamic shifts. If you have a load of bell peppers on hand you can start thinking stir-fry. That leads to other stir-fry veggies - such as broccoli and green beans - and before I know it, there is a mound of colourful vegetables which I can combine with something else.
3. Learn- What's the nutrient density of your food?
Learn about the nutrient density of food and how to effectively incorporate it into the diet. If you can only eat so much per day, make sure that your body gets what it needs to stay healthy out of the foods its eating. If you are having rice, try to have brown rice or basmati as they have a low GI. If you are having roti, add a bit of bajra or kale-chane ka atta to add to its nutritional quotient. When having fruits and seeds, nuts, have those which give you maximum benefit like apples, apricots, oranges, berries. Try to meet your vitamin quotients in your daily intake.
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4. Moderate your portions
Moderation for addictions - When it comes to the special treats you love try to fix a time, place and portion for such indulgences in advance - whether it be ice cream, alcohol or French fries - and then grant yourself the permission to enjoy it, guiltlessly, under those circumstances. And I can honestly tell you that as you reduce your sugar intake, you will find it difficult but after sometime it would not even register.
Changing your philosophy on food allows you to see a plan rather than a series of random events when you are shuffling something into your mouth. It allows you to identify your bad habits and addictions so you can understand how it effects your wellbeing. Like do you eat while watching TV? This is called mindless eating. When we eat like this, we tend to overeat, because we are not paying attention to what we are eating, or how much. When you make an event of eating, when you go to the trouble of preparing something tasty and healthful then you become a more mindful eater.
So, do an analysis of where you are currently by observing your current food habits, the food groups constantly used and their nutritional value. Then, figure out your goals in terms of weight and health or other aspirations. Like for me, I want to be a runner and I need to be lean so that my feet can carry my weight. Then, figure out what are the food and lifestyle changes required to attain your goals. With all this in mind and the rules given, you can come up with a smashing Foodosophy!
