There are no “bad” foods
The saying goes, “there are no bad foods; only bad diets”. In other words, there is not a particular food that is bad for you, but if you tend to accumulate several foods a day that are high in fat and/or sodium, low in nutritional value and fiber–then you have a bad diet.
People ask me about ‘bad’ foods all the time: “Can I ever eat bacon?”; “Aren’t Twinkies just awful for you?”; “Is it okay if I eat ice cream?”. And the answer is always, “anything is fine in moderation”. If you wonder what possible benefit Twinkies or hot dogs or ice cream can have in your diet, consider that they provide calories, some vitamins and minerals, and fat. These components are essential in our diet. It’s just that most people get too many calories and too much fat. Their daily diet is not good because it’s not balanced. Someone who burns a lot of energy, such as a marathon runner or weight lifter, can benefit from candy bars because they provide a large amount of calories in a small portion. For someone trying to lose weight, this would not be a good food to include in the diet right now.
Having a hot dog once every few months is not a terrible thing. Likewise, enjoying ice cream for a treat on occasion has its place. But if your diet is full of sugary cereals and pizza, cupcakes and bologna, fast foods and pies, then it’s your diet that is bad. You are the one who decides how often you are going to include foods that are high in fat, sugar, and calories. There are no foods that you can never eat again, but all of them should be eaten in moderation!
Written by Laurie Beebe
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About The Author: Laurie Beebe has been a registered dietitian for 25 years and is certified in adult weight management. Laurie currently serves as a Related posts:
One Comment
I totally agree with you. Nourish your body with fruits and vegetables.
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