Do you believe you “should be” following a general method of eating like Keto, Paleo, Vegan, or Carnivore? 

Or do you believe in a more specific diet like Zone, South Beach, Whole30, Atkins or HCG?

Perhaps you have specific behaviors you believe you should adopt like “don’t eat grains,” “avoid processed food,” “eliminate sugar,” “eat less, move more,” or “eat low carb.” Maybe you expand your philosophy to include eating methods like intermittent fasting, having 1 “cheat” meal per week, or not eating after 7pm.  

Listen, I don’t judge. I have a niece whose philosophy is, “if it used to have a spinal cord, I will not eat it…” And as a good Aunt, all I do is Google a little more at Thanksgiving to be sure I know what that list contains. Hmmm…fish have bones but do they even have spinal cords?

Maybe your “right way to eat” is a mish-mash of ideas derived from fitness magazine articles, Weight Watchers meetings, conversations with fellow gym members, Dr. Oz shows, or health and diet books.  

Whatever the case, it is likely you have unknowingly created your own food philosophy – a personal theory about how to eat in order to obtain your optimal level of health or weight loss goal. 

You may or may not even be fully aware that you have one. It may be a philosophy you regard as a goal you will always strive for – but either way, it exists. You may even seem like the authority on it when someone asks you a question, because on certain topics regarding food, you are bound to have some strong opinions.

So my follow up questions are likely obvious. 

• Where do you get it- this philosophy of yours? 
• Is it based in science? 
• Is it based on your experience? 
• Is it based on foods you like to eat or believe you can’t live without? 

And perhaps the most important question: is it truly the best plan for you? 

I would argue that everyone would benefit from having a philosophy that has real science to back it up. Why? Because if you are following a road map, you may want to know where you’ll end up.

Assess what you believe now. Don’t judge yourself. Just take an honest look at what you believe, why you believe it, and how that belief came to be. Maybe you’ve never thought it through before. Write it down on paper. 

Challenge it. If you believe in keto for weight loss because so many people you know have lost weight this way, is this enough? When looking it up on Google or reading an article or book, did you also find the real science to find out how it could also harm you?

Decide what’s important to you. Do you want to be thin at any cost – even if it means you put yourself at risk for disease? Or do you want to be thin, fit AND healthy? Once you clarify this, you will be open to modifying your current philosophy.

Work out a new philosophy. This may be just a place to start that’s better than where you came from.  

For example, If you never eat vegetables and are eating fast food multiple times per week out of convenience but your philosophy has been, “I just need to eat well and exercise” then quantify it. What does “eat well” mean? Could we agree that more vegetables would be helpful? Could you start with a target of 2 veggies and 2 fruits per day? Could you walk for 5-10 minutes a day instead of trying to hit the gym hard on day 1? 

Your first new philosophy could simply be: “Eating vegetables and fruits will enhance my health – I aim to hit 2 of each every day as a jumping off point.”

If you’ve always believed in Keto only to find out it can be cancer causing and give you a propensity long term of cardiac distress, what will you replace it with? (Hint: look up WFPB eating or watch Forks Over Knives).

Allow yourself to evolve. I will tell you that my philosophy at the time of writing this blog is simple. I believe that a whole food, plant-based diet is one that will provide the most nutrition to support longevity, protection against disease, and weight management. I don’t believe in fad diets. I also believe that while EVERYONE can benefit from adopting a WFPB meal plan, there is a continuum on the path to change. I didn’t come to this belief overnight and wouldn’t expect my clients, or even my family, to either. I don’t even comply 100% yet.  

Where is the common ground?  

• Vegetables and fruits = good.
• Processed foods = bad.  
• Animal foods raise propensity for cancer. 
• Carbs are not the enemy unless they are in the shape of a muffin.
• Dairy is inflammatory.
• Hydration is paramount and you may be dehydrated
• Exercise carries immense health benefits
• Etcetera.

My philosophy doesn’t have to be your philosophy, but I encourage you to learn. Keep learning. Ask questions.

Your philosophy may be taking you down a path to poorer health, hormonal imbalance, and disease but you didn’t even realize it. It may be time to take a closer look - because before today, you may not have even known you had a FOOD PHILOSOPHY.