How did “diet” become such a dirty word? I don’t even use the word when I talk to my clients, because of it’s acquired negative connotation. The actual definition of diet is, “the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group.” However, dieting is defined as, “the deliberate selection of food to control body weight or nutrient intake.” Over time, the definition of dieting has become what we think of when using the word diet.
When someone mentions the word diet most people immediately picture someone only eating carrots, juicing, taking diet pills, or doing something else ridiculous to lose weight. Those images are negative and not supportive of a healthy lifestyle. How can we take that word and change it into a positive one again?
Maybe we can start using the word diet positively in sentences like this to promote a healthy lifestyle:
- I am following a healthy diet to live longer for my family.
- I am eating a healthy breakfast as part of my diet to provide me with adequate energy first thing in the morning.
- Choosing healthy snacks is a beneficial part of my overall diet, because it keeps my energy up throughout the day and prevents me from overeating later.
- I try to fill half my plate with vegetables at lunch and dinner, so I can continue to follow a healthy diet plan.
- I watch carbohydrate portions as part of my diet to keep my blood sugars under control for my diabetes.
I understand that eating healthy takes work. It is something that needs to be practiced 365 days a year. Note that I used the word practiced. No one always eats the perfect amount of vegetables or remembers to drink at least eight (8 oz) glasses of water everyday. Healthy eating does take practice. BUT if more individuals looked at it in a positive way, it might seem less daunting and something that is exciting to strive for!
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