Eat For You Dietitian

I saw a recent post on instagram this week about why as Dietitian’s we will not provide specific meal plans. I get asked this almost daily in my outpatient clinics for various different reasons. The short answer as to why I won’t, every person eats differently and I can’t decide that for you. As healthcare practitioners, Registered Dietitians should aim to empower and educate you to make informed decisions about your nutritional intake. I do not aim for my patients to be seeking guidance from me for the long-term as overall I aim to discharge them following positive clinical outcomes. 

Prior to completing my postgraduate degree in Dietetics, I completed my Bachelors degree in Nutrition. Even after this higher education, I was confused. This was not due to my academic learning, but because the wellness space on social media had exploded and the focus of eating for a smaller body was the focus. Counting calories, macronutrients, earning your food through exercise, low carb, high protein, low fat. The amount of energy that manipulating how we eat takes up in our minds is exhausting and it is difficult to become free of it. Once you do, you will wonder why did I think that eating 1200 calories was the answer to everything. Why did I not eat that meal or pudding with my friends, which is a thought I have had many times as I think back to the meals I missed thinking this would be the answer to a smaller waist. Shock- It wasn’t. I now know that life is too short to void memories because I’m counting calories. Of course, we know eating a varied, nourishing diet makes us feel well. 

Can you recall that lovely glow after a takeaway? No, you feel really full and sluggish. For me this also leads to uncomfortable functional gut issues which I manage on a daily basis through various food first approaches which are all applicable here:

1. Hydrate! In the UK we are fortunate enough to turn on our taps and have clean water to drink. Carry a reusable water bottle with you, fill it up a few times a day. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning- your body needs it. If you need a bit of flavour in your water that’s ok but you want the majority of your drink to be water. 
2. Choose some vegetables to be as part of your meals. Eating the rainbow, having as much colour on your plate. If you insist you don’t like vegetables, I can guarantee there will be something you do like, start with that. Tinned, frozen and fresh all count. Frozen vegetables are a staple I always have available for a quick addition as and when needed. 
3. Avoid eating late at night. Snacking into the late hours of the evening is never ideal unless you are being extra active towards these hours. Usually it’s mindless eating and it will end up making you feel uncomfortable and ruin your sleep. 
4. Vary your protein sources in your meals- Choose chicken, turkey, fish, beans and pulses, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, soya options such as tofu, eggs, red meat less often. As we age our muscle mass will gradually deplete and we need to ensure we are getting sufficient from food first, you don’t have to choose a protein powder first. Think about what you’re eating already. 

I think I’m going to be doing a few more of these ‘How to ..’ posts for a while. Let me know if there are any topics you would like me to focus on.