Secrets to staying slim
IT WILL not surprise you to hear that most dietitians are slim. Whenever a large group of them converge, there are few, if any, battling weight issues.
So how do dietitians eat differently to the average person and what can we learn from them when it comes to keeping slim and healthy as we get older?
THEY EAT EVERYTHING, IN SMALL AMOUNTS
While salads and vegetables are naturally popular, contrary to popular belief, dietitians are not necessarily restrictive eaters. Rather dietitians tend to be food lovers, which means that the dessert and sweet treats do get consumed – albeit in controlled portions. As opposed to having a “good” and “bad” approach to food, dietitians know and love all types of food. But the main difference is they appreciate there is a time to eat these foods and a time not to, and the key is portion control and how frequently you indulge.
THE SALAD GOES FIRST
As you would expect, dietitians are big fans of all types of fresh food, but in particular fresh fruits, salads and vegetables hold a dear place in their hearts. We know that consuming seven to 10 serves of fresh fruit and vegetables each day is linked to a range of long-term health benefits, including lower body weights and reduced risk of developing a number of diseases including some types of cancer. Unlike the average person, dietitians look for every opportunity to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, which means we naturally consume less high-kilojoule food overall.
THEY AVOID PROCESSED FOODS
Old-school nutrition is all about fresh and natural foods and, while food processing has advanced in recent years to give us a wide range of “healthy” yet still processed snacks and meals to support busy lifestyles, the average dietitian is old school. While they may recommend convenient food products for their busy clients who want to use such items, dietitians do not tend to buy or eat them. Why buy a soup packed with salt when you can easily make one with less salt? Why snack on a bar when you can just as easily enjoy fruit and nuts? Overall this means that fewer kilojoules are consumed.