A balanced diet can seem like such an abstract concept – what does balance really mean and look like when it comes to food?
While balance looks different for each of us at every meal, there’s an important insight to understand about finding and maintaining balance, and that’s what I’m sharing in this video.
The Spectrum of Eating Habits
Imagine a spectrum.
At one end of the spectrum, we have the all-in mentality of rigid diets, plans, and nutrition rules that feel restrictive and demand self-regulation. This is the place where you eat „superclean“ and avoid all „bad“ foods.
At the other end of the spectrum is neglecting your nutritional needs.
Sometimes this looks like eating whatever you want whenever you want. This usually happens when someone believes that the best way to achieve balance is to never say no to foods they’ve previously labeled as „taboo“ or „bad.“
It can also look like not paying attention to balanced nutrient intake or not being sure what your body needs to be nourished without following the guidance of a specific diet.
If you simply give up diets but don’t also learn to focus on your nutritional needs in more supportive and sustainable ways, you may eventually not feel well, stray further from your well-nourished weight, or compromise your physical health. And all of these things can lead you to feel the desire to go on a diet, which catapults you back to the other end of the spectrum.
You need to nourish your body well so that you simply feel good and take care of your health and wellbeing.
Remember, nutrition is the catalyst for all areas of our health and allows us to enjoy and experience life. You deserve to find a way to nourish yourself that supports you without having to regulate or restrict yourself.
What Balanced Nutrition Looks Like
What we’re striving for is a happy medium – balance.
What some people think when they hear „the good middle ground“ is that they spend some time at one end of the spectrum and some time at the other end, oscillating between the two.
An example of what that might sound like would be saying you were „good“ all week and now can eat whatever you want all weekend.
Or it could be the opposite, saying you were „bad“ all week and that you need to make up for what you ate next week by eating super clean.
But that’s not really balanced. That’s oscillating between two extreme states.
Not only does that not contribute to your well-being, but it also doesn’t give you the important feeling of ease, peace, and enjoyment when it comes to eating.
Instead of swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other, balance really looks like hovering right in the middle of the spectrum with a little give and take each day.
Here, you’re making very conscious decisions that allow you to nourish yourself well without having to restrict or regulate yourself and also give you the flexibility to enjoy foods you like without ignoring your nutritional needs.
Balance takes many forms and can look different for every person, every day, at every meal!
That might look like enjoying a slice of pizza with a side salad.
It might look like choosing to have dessert one evening because you really want it, having your favorite dessert on hand, and giving your body the nutrients it needs.
It could look like choosing to prepare a more nutrient-rich version of your favorite comfort food so you can incorporate more whole foods into your day while making it a truly enjoyable meal.
The purpose of finding balance in your food choices is to become aware of what you want and need and make a conscious decision to help you stay in the happy middle ground – no matter what that might look like.
This balance allows you to consider your desires and needs, build confidence in your ability to make the best choice for yourself, and experience much more ease and peace around eating, making it no longer a source of stress or something that occupies your mental energy.
Finding and Maintaining Balance
To find this balance and stay in this happy middle ground instead of oscillating from one end of the spectrum to the other, you need to develop new, more supportive practices and mindsets that allow you to float long-term in this middle, balanced state. term.
If you’re curious about what these practices are, sign up for our free workshop. In it, I’ll explain the three crucial pillars you should focus on to get back in balance with the way you eat. You’ll know what these pillars are and why they’re so important if you want to achieve balance in your eating habits that gives you the flexibility you need to feel good about eating for a lifetime.
