Can You Eat “Health Foods” Without Falling into Diet Culture?

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You may have asked yourself this while reading my post on diet culture. My answer is absolutely. I believe, and nutrient analysis shows, that all foods play a role, have something to offer, and can fit into a person’s diet. Diet meaning the foods you physically consume, not meaning “eat this not that.”

Cauliflower crust, zucchini noodles, gluten-free pancakes, and no added sugar yogurt, etc. can all be a part of a healthy diet without being restrictive. As I said before, I don’t demonize any of these foods. I am a dietitian after all! I too love to get in vegetables wherever I can, eat plenty of fiber and whole grains, and eat less added sugar. I do believe food is powerful and the food you eat makes a big impact on your overall health, mood, and longevity. Food rocks! I myself love looking down the grocery store isles and trying out the newest twists on traditional favorites just for funsies. You better believe I love a good cauliflower crust or green juice. However, there is a key to including these foods and not becoming obsessive or “diet cultury” about it.

View "health foods" as additions to your menu, rather than substitutions.

The key here is to view these foods as additions to your menu rather than substitutions and refrain from labeling any food as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, acceptable or off-limits. So back to cauliflower crust- yes, it can be so delicious. However, cauliflower crust is not better than pizza dough. Cauliflower crust is not good and pizza dough is bad. Both pizza crusts are healthy. Both pizza crusts offer nutrients that the body needs, and they offer a different nutrient composition than the other. That, my friend, is the beauty of dietary variety. The more varied our diets are in the foods we eat, the more opportunity we have to take in different nutrients and support our overall health. Therefore, you should be able to eat both cauliflower crust and pizza dough and not feel crummy about it. (Unless of course you have a gluten intolerance – in that case, a gluten free crust is your best bet, but you know that already!) You should be able to chose which one you would like to have simply based on what you’re in the mood for- not based on carbs or calories. There’s no harm in preferring the taste or texture of one over the other. There’s no harm in straight up not liking one or the other, even if that means your tastes are different than what your friends like. Everyone is individual and has their own taste buds. If you are including a “health food,” answering these questions may be helpful in assessing if you are using the food as an addition or substitution:

  1. Am a choosing this option because I like the taste, flavor, texture and/or the way it pairs with this dish?

  2. Am I okay with eating the traditional form of this food as well?

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4 Steps to Challenge Diet Culture