Would you like to eat a balanced diet for the rest of your life? Here are 5 tips for sticking to your diet
3rd May 2022
Eating can become stressful and exhausting if you're always looking for new diets to try.
These strategies can help you change your eating habits for good so that you become a
lifelong balanced eater.
When one eats balanced meals, they feel confident in their nutrition choices. By eating in a mindful, intentional way, they
feel never out of control around food or guilty about their food choices.
Furthermore, they'll never have to go through another diet, detox, or cleanse again. In the New Year, Monday, or next
week, they never have to restart.
Isn't that awesome?
Here are five strategies to make your balanced eating stick this time around, based on why the diets you've tried in the
past have failed.
CHANGING DIET, DETOXING, AND CLEANING DOESN’T WORK
Each time we try, we hope a different outcome will come about. Yet eventually, we all slip back into the old habits and
wonder where we went wrong.
The bottom line is that diets, detoxes, and cleanses don't work. Truthfully speaking, they don't work because of the way
they work. You will be encouraged to return, sign up, or join again if you "fall off track" again in the future. There is no
point to them other than to teach you how to eat balanced meals.
What causes them not to work? Why do you feel so comfortable for such a short time, but never reap the long-term
benefits?
A long-term behavioural change requires fundamental components that are lacking in these programs. Would you mind
telling me what these fundamental components are? We'll get to that.
STICKING TO A BALANCED DIET: 5 STRATEGIES
Holding each other accountable and providing support
In order to change behaviour long-term, there must be an element of accountability. External and internal accountability
are the basic types of accountability.
When no one is watching, internal accountability allows you to keep yourself on track. Keeping others and resources
accountable and responsible is external accountability.
Sustainable eating is all about accountability, and accountability and sustainability are inseparable. They don't go
together!
To develop a new lifestyle as a balanced eater, you have to develop systems that encourage you to remain accountable
to yourself as well as to others.
Guidance for Professionals
Your next step should be to find a reliable, trustworthy information source.
It's not always accurate to take the information you find online today. You can make a huge difference when you work with
a licensed, registered dietitian.
Education, certification, and training in the science of food and the effects of food on the human body are all part of their
training. This is a vital component missing in so many diets and trends on the market today. Make sure you don't fall for
the same trap again.
You can gain a balanced eating strategy, education, and tools from a Registered Dietitian.
The Habit Formation Process: A Slow and Steady Change of Behaviour
Change in behaviour and habits takes time. We have seen this time and time again through research.
We have recently received a study that indicates 66 days is the average time frame.
Have you ever been on a diet or challenge that lasted at least 66 days? As well as understanding the formation of a single
new habit, this study examined the formation of multiple new habits. So how do we implement multiple habits at the same
time? Quite possibly, we'll need additional time.
Slow and steady wins the race, no matter how cliche it may sound.
The Individualised Approach
Every person eats differently, thinks differently, and lives differently.
Then why should everyone reach different goals by doing the same thing? Doesn't that seem crazy?
The need for individualised recommendations cannot be overstated. In the event of an unexpected event, you need
someone to support you who can provide education and guidance tailored to your specific needs.
As well as developing goals that are unique to your situation, you need to create SMART goals. The knowledge that you
need to learn may be broad, but you need to set realistic, actionable, and individualised goals for yourself in order to
become a balanced eater for life.
Information on nutrition based on scientific evidence
As a final note, science has to be involved. The realm of health and wellness is dominated by bias. Often, diets are
developed based on the experiences and biases of just one person or a small group of people.
The solution would work for everyone if it worked for us, right? Sometimes it does not. The information and research that
has been peer-reviewed and based on evidence are relevant here. A recommendation backed by science is trustworthy
and worth your time.
Next time you try to eat balanced, make sure it is backed by science!
BECOME A LIFELONG BALANCED EATER
In order for your nutrition and lifestyle habits to stack up, a combination of these strategies will be necessary.
When we designed the Mindful Nutrition Method, we kept this in mind.
With live group coaching, training, course materials, and a private community, The Mindful Nutrition MethodTM offers a
transformative online experience. In our classes, we teach our students how to create balanced eating habits for life that
help them overcome food and diet obsessions, maintain a healthy weight, cultivate a positive relationship with food and
their bodies, and, ultimately, discover joy in nourishment.
