1. MYTH: You need to eat three square meals a day
“With my schedule, it’s hard for me to sit down and eat. I’ll often have slightly bigger snacks instead of sit-down meals. What’s important is that your snacks be balanced: a complex carb with fiber to balance your blood sugars, and protein.
Listen to your body and rate your hunger on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being starving and 10 being very full. If you’re a 2 or 3, you’re hungry. If you’re a 7 or 8, you might be eating out of boredom or stress.”
2. MYTH: You should limit all fat in your diet as much as possible
“We need fat for so many benefits in our body. It should really be incorporated throughout your day. Monounsaturated fats are good for heart health and help you absorb nutrients. I love toast with avocado, smoothies with yogurt, apple and peanut butter, and nuts and seeds.”
3. MYTH: You should avoid “bad” foods and eat only “good” foods
It’s important not to categorize foods as good or bad. All foods fit in some way. Some foods might not be everyday foods because they don’t provide a lot of nourishment, but they still fit. Focus more on the balance of your lifestyle and choosing foods that bring you joy.”
4. MYTH: Eating healthy means eating to lose weight
“When it comes to weight management, lifestyle choices that are more approachable are more sustainable. Drastic changes like pulling out food groups will make us add them back in excess and feel guilty, which is not a healthy relationship with our bodies. Rather than cutting out all sugary snacks, try to have an apple and nut butter a few times a week instead.”
5. MYTH: Eating healthy means focusing only on what you eat
“We focus so much on food in our lifestyle. Exercise plays a huge part as well, but so do stress levels and sleep. Stress can offset what you’re eating. Not sleeping can affect your metabolism. The balance of your lifestyle is just as important as the whole.”