What does it Mean to Have a Good Diet?

While plastic surgery and liposuction are more popular now than ever, all the plastic surgery in the world won’t make up for the long term effects of a poor diet.

Many people have looked for a shortcut to a great body, and while cosmetic surgeons do some amazing things, unhealthy habits can undo an awful lot of progress made via scalpel.

A healthy diet made up of a variety of foods provides real protection from illnesses and supplies our bodies with healthy energy to take on life’s tasks.

So, what does it mean to have a “good diet”? While there will probably always be debate over the exact proper proportions of proteins and carbohydrates, there are a few fundamental truths that will help anyone evaluate their diet and make the changes that are necessary for improved health and any desired weight loss.  To simplify somewhat, let’s look at a healthy diet meal by meal and assess where we know good nutrition to be found.

Breakfast

Many people have an odd sort of pride at declaring that they do not eat breakfast. But skipping breakfast is not healthy. While many breakfast skippers complain that they don’t have the time for breakfast, there are enough easy choices that nobody has to give up on breakfast altogether.

In many western cultures, breakfast is a little more carbohydrate heavy and sweeter than other meals of the day. Bread, cereal, or pastries are often involved. But carbohydrates serve to give bodies their energy for the day, and starting the day without this energy is a bad strategy. While you shouldn’t overload on the carbs and declare two or three donuts to be a healthy breakfast, carbs are not the bad guys, and when consumed with sources of protein, such as an egg or cheese, and fruits and vegetables, breakfast can be not only delicious, but amazingly easy to put together. How about a piece of fruit, a glass of milk, and a chunk of cheese? It’s practically an instant breakfast.

Lunch

While it’s fine for breakfast to be relatively rich in carbohydrates and light on protein, lunch should be the other way around: more protein, fewer carbohydrates. Adding a side of veggies or some fruit will not only be healthy, but will also help stave off that afternoon slump that hits so many of us.

Dinner

While many people are used to dinner being the largest meal of the day, it really shouldn’t be. Dinner should provide some protein, some carbs, and some fruit and vegetables. While there will certainly be times when a large dinner is called for, say for a birthday or with out of town guests, the general guiding principle is that dinner should be the lightest meal of the day.

Snacks

Between-meal snacking can easily get out of hand and prevent you from eating healthy foods during meals. The best snacks are fruits and nuts. Sure, the occasional treat of a scoop of ice cream or a piece of your favorite dark chocolate is fine. Too much self deprivation will only lead to resentment and bingeing later. But snacks should be taken in moderation. You definitely don’t want to feel as full after a snack as you do after a meal.