What is the "healthiest diet" to you? and why?

jaimesparkman
jaimesparkman Posts: 17 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
not talking about weight loss or anything, just truly the "healthiest" way to eat. Be as descriptive as you like.

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Replies

  • snerggly
    snerggly Posts: 112 Member
    No processed food what so ever, plant-based, no dairy or any animal products. No added oil. It has not only helped me lose weight to an extent but has helped control some health issues that were very bad 6 months ago before I made this change. I don't crave sweets as much as I used too either or any really high fat food that was causing me stomach problems.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Based on how I feel and my blood test results, the healthiest diet I've ever tried (I haven't tried them all, so I can't say it is the healthiest for me) seems to be one that is highish in carbohydrates, moderate fat, and plenty of fiber and vegetables.
  • Cylphin60
    Cylphin60 Posts: 863 Member
    Personally - red meat/fish or poultry almost every day of the week
    Cheese
    lbs and lbs of broccoli/cauliflower/corn/Brussel sprouts/bell peppers/onions etc
    lots of eggs

    When I keep the above to correct and/or reasonable portions, it leaves me room for pizza/occasional bowl of cereal/chocolate..

    I get most of my protein/fat from the above, and use a shake to supplement, and the veggies take care of most of the rest. I don't really track my carbs - they just seem to fall in close to my macros with the above as well.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    I would just say that there is no such thing as a "healthiest diet", and then quote Ellyn Satter (again):

    What is Normal Eating?

    Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it -not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful. Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. And it can be undereating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.

    In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food and your feelings.

    For more about eating competence (and for research backing up this advice), see Ellyn Satter's Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook, Kelcy Press, 2008. Also see www.EllynSatterInstitute.org/store to purchase books and to review other resources.

    ©2016 by Ellyn Satter published at www.EllynSatterInstitute.org.

    - See more at: http://ellynsatterinstitute.org/hte/whatisnormaleating.php#sthash.pJdd5s1u.dpuf

    I've never heard of her before, but I really like this.

    I like this too...
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    janejellyroll wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    I would just say that there is no such thing as a "healthiest diet", and then quote Ellyn Satter (again):

    What is Normal Eating?

    Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it -not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful. Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. And it can be undereating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.

    In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food and your feelings.

    For more about eating competence (and for research backing up this advice), see Ellyn Satter's Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook, Kelcy Press, 2008. Also see www.EllynSatterInstitute.org/store to purchase books and to review other resources.

    ©2016 by Ellyn Satter published at www.EllynSatterInstitute.org.

    - See more at: http://ellynsatterinstitute.org/hte/whatisnormaleating.php#sthash.pJdd5s1u.dpuf

    I've never heard of her before, but I really like this.

    I like this too...

    Me, three.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    The healthiest way of eating for me is one that allows me to meet my weight and health goals, and is also one that I can sustain for the next 40+ years.

    Almost 4 years into maintenance now and I've got things ironed out pretty well-I eat all the foods that I like, from veggies and whole grains, to things like fast food several times a week. I haven't cut out anything I enjoy, I've just learned how to fit them into my calorie goals. I also keep things pretty simple and only focus on my calorie intake.

    This is the healthiest method for me and I'm in excellent health, have a bmi of around 21 and am a statistical anomaly because I've kept almost 50lbs off for several years now :)

  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    What's the definition of healthy? Do we go by blood test/markers?
  • Cylphin60
    Cylphin60 Posts: 863 Member
    zyxst wrote: »
    What's the definition of healthy? Do we go by blood test/markers?
    I took it "healthiest to me" - different folks may have different requirements etc...good point though.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    All whole foods and ingredients. Local foods that are in season. Tons of organic veggies and occasional fruits. Wild, free range, grass-fed, etc. meats and raw dairy.

    Currently 75-80% of my diet is this way. I'd like it to be 90% with just the occasional indulgence.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited December 2016
    For me?

    Whole, unrefined, minimally processed foods that are lower in carbs, and very low in sugars and grains, is the diet that I believe is healthiest for me. Also gluten-free since I a a celiac. If I did not have insulin resistance, then I would change it by adding more carbs in the form of veggies.

    Why? I don't think some of the ingredients that are added to food for preservation, colour and flavour are food, never mind things we should eat. Meat, veggies, eggs, dairy and some fruit seems like healthy choices. Grains and sugars don't seem to offer much to me for health. At all.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I like the Satter too.

    Hmm, for ME, healthy eating is:

    Eating in a way that I find satisfying and that is nourishing and feels good.

    Because I have a tendency to eat when not hungry and snack in a non-mindful way, I have found it healthier (again, for ME) to focus on regular meals, most of which are home cooked from whole food ingredients primarily and are balanced -- I have protein, lots of vegetables, and some healthy fats and starches at most meals although when I am eating them I don't think of them that way, but focus on them as foods.

    I eat with enjoyment, not to stifle feelings, and like to share meals and conversation with others when possible, sometimes sharing food as part of a celebration (Christmas, for example!).

    I know that I shouldn't overeat and eat an appropriate amount for me, but I don't stress about it if I eat a little extra on a day -- getting upset or feeling shame about food is not healthy, IMO. I generally have ideas about how I should eat (like I said, enough protein, vegetables at all meals, local and seasonal when possible -- although winter is a thing and I take advantage of the conveniences of modern life, like broccoli in January and clementines!), but if I don't follow these ideas perfectly or have a day where getting in something is what's on my mind or I just really want to eat in a way that's not normally consistent with my plan, well, again, that's life and part of being healthy is excepting that and just going back to normal the next day.
  • Cylphin60
    Cylphin60 Posts: 863 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    The healthiest diet for me involves:
    1. Eating nutritious foods, especially vegetables because nutrients are important
    2. Eating a good variety of foods because no single food has all the nutrients
    3. Eating foods that I like because self care is healthy
    4. Not stressing about the foods I eat, or things like fat, sugar, processing...etc because extra stress is not healthy and singling out foods is unnecessary
    5. Not restricting food in a way the affects my social life negatively because being social is healthy
    7. Not eating too many calories too often because being obese is not healthy
    8. Keeping an eye on certain things that may be beneficial/harmful without getting obsessive, like consuming probiotic rich products and leafy vegetables when possible but not going out of my way, and not overindulging in alcohol or meats cooked at high temperatures or processed too often, but not outright banning them from my life.
    9. Not eating spoiled, contaminated or poisonous food for obvious reasons.
    10. Not driving myself insane with food rules trying to have the "healthiest diet possible" or have it control my life overshadowing other important aspects. That kind of anxiety and obsession is not healthy and food serves many purposes in addition to keeping us alive.

    I did #'s 4 and 10 for a while. Made me crazy. No more of that.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Omnivorous, locally sourced, non-industrial.

    I don't achieve it.
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    I suffer from ulcerative colitis so the diet that keeps me well would probably not be considered healthy! Basically low residue.
  • HelenWater
    HelenWater Posts: 232 Member
    edited December 2016
    The Mediterranean diet seems pretty good. There are plenty of studies to show that it is healthy, and it seems like an easy way to eat.

    Personally I try to follow the total wellbeing diet. It's a way of eating that is based on studies and developed by scientists.

    So whole foods, plenty of veggies, pulses, fruits, lean meats, fish, and reducing added sugar to a minimum.
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    Healthiest is so relative. I felt best eating a mostly plant based diet that was close to the mediterranean diet with lots of fat and lean protein. Slowly working my way back in that direction.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    The healthiest diet for me involves:
    1. Eating nutritious foods, especially vegetables because nutrients are important
    2. Eating a good variety of foods because no single food has all the nutrients
    3. Eating foods that I like because self care is healthy
    4. Not stressing about the foods I eat, or things like fat, sugar, processing...etc because extra stress is not healthy and singling out foods is unnecessary
    5. Not restricting food in a way the affects my social life negatively because being social is healthy
    7. Not eating too many calories too often because being obese is not healthy
    8. Keeping an eye on certain things that may be beneficial/harmful without getting obsessive, like consuming probiotic rich products and leafy vegetables when possible but not going out of my way, and not overindulging in alcohol or meats cooked at high temperatures or processed too often, but not outright banning them from my life.
    9. Not eating spoiled, contaminated or poisonous food for obvious reasons.
    10. Not driving myself insane with food rules trying to have the "healthiest diet possible" or have it control my life overshadowing other important aspects. That kind of anxiety and obsession is not healthy and food serves many purposes in addition to keeping us alive.

    One of the best "food rule" lists I've seen.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    Moderation!

    I think the guy who said "Eat food, mostly plants, not too much" had it right.

    Also, I do think different people do better on different diets.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    For me personally- appropriate calories, protein foods, several servings of vegetables and fruits except what I am allergic to, not super high sodium, not super low fat, moderate carb, low caffeine, avoiding artificial sweeteners, low alcohol.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    I suffer from ulcerative colitis so the diet that keeps me well would probably not be considered healthy! Basically low residue.

    I'm low residue too for Crohn's so yup the diet where a salad is the unhealthy choice! Low residue is so hard as everyone gives you the evil eye. It's basically very few super well cooked vegetables (no raw), very few fruits (bananas basically only safe one for me) no seeds, nuts, legumes, whole grains, spices, garlic, red meat, lactose and overly fatty foods. I call it the white diet lol
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    The healthiest diet for me involves:
    1. Eating nutritious foods, especially vegetables because nutrients are important
    2. Eating a good variety of foods because no single food has all the nutrients
    3. Eating foods that I like because self care is healthy
    4. Not stressing about the foods I eat, or things like fat, sugar, processing...etc because extra stress is not healthy and singling out foods is unnecessary
    5. Not restricting food in a way the affects my social life negatively because being social is healthy
    7. Not eating too many calories too often because being obese is not healthy
    8. Keeping an eye on certain things that may be beneficial/harmful without getting obsessive, like consuming probiotic rich products and leafy vegetables when possible but not going out of my way, and not overindulging in alcohol or meats cooked at high temperatures or processed too often, but not outright banning them from my life.
    9. Not eating spoiled, contaminated or poisonous food for obvious reasons.
    10. Not driving myself insane with food rules trying to have the "healthiest diet possible" or have it control my life overshadowing other important aspects. That kind of anxiety and obsession is not healthy and food serves many purposes in addition to keeping us alive.

    Pretty much all of this. I aim for lots of vegetables, a big variety of "whole" foods, moderate fats and adequate protein, and I try to eat only a limited amount of highly processed packaged food, dairy, and meat. I don't worry about having a cookie or some whiskey or a latte once in a while and I don't drive myself crazy reading ingredient lists on packaged food, but the majority of my day-to-day eating tends to be fresh vegetable-centred and in amounts appropriate to my TDEE.

    I'm not perfect and sometimes I eat an entire bag of kettle corn then steal some of my husband's chicken Alfredo and wash it down with half a bottle of Pinot Noir and then finish it off with a handful of chocolate chips straight out of the bag, but once in a while that's something you do for your mental health if not for your physical, haha.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited December 2016
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Primarily whole foods with to include a lot of plant based foods (not just vegetables) as well as lean sources of protein (I eat a lot of fish and chicken), and healthy fats...because, whole foods are pretty healthy.

    Yup/ Whole food, plant based diet (vegetables, whole grains, legumes/pulses/lentils, fruits), lean sources of protein (I do a lot of fish, including sardines, some chicken, lean cuts of beef, healthy fats, nuts seeds...and some cheeses.
    I limit heavily refined carbs and the related hyper-palatable convenience foods.

    In formal diet terms my eating pattern most closely resembles the *original* south beach diet, the latest DASH diet for weight loss, and a mediterranean style of eating.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    Whole, minimally processed foods in just about any combination are healthful. Ultra processed foods are harmful in just about any combination and should be minimized.
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