advanced-level thinking about nutrition.
But the big lesson isn’t that you have to avoid cartoon characters selling
snacks; it’s that food shopping can be fun. Think of it as a challenge and an
adventure, not a time-sucking chore. Explore the store and see what you can
discover, whether it’s a different kind of nut or fruit or something untried at the
fish counter. Visit farmers’ markets or ethnic grocery stores. See what’s out there
and experiment with healthy ingredients that add flavour to your plate and joy to
your cooking. There’s a payoff, too: A Cornell University study found that
women who ate adventurously—meaning a wide variety of uncommon foods—
weighed less than those who ate more conventional diets.
DON’T FALL FOR “FLAVOURS” ON FOOD
LABELS
Are natural flavours really better than artificial flavours? The bottom line:
They’re really not that different. And those “natural flavours” can actually
contain synthetic chemicals. The main difference between a natural flavour
and an artificial one is the origin of the flavour chemicals. Natural flavours
must be derived from plant or animal material. Artificial flavours are
synthesized in the lab. The actual chemicals in these two kinds of flavours
may be exactly the same, and in many cases, they’re both engineered to
make you addicted to them. They may also dull your senses to the flavours
that are in real food. I avoid both “synthetic” and “natural” flavours when I
can by minimizing my consumption of processed foods.Strategy 5: Eat Write
If you’re contemplating a 180-degree diet change or seeing that the scale is
nowhere near where it needs to be, start by keeping a food journal. Writing down
everything you eat has been shown to be an effective tactic for several reasons.
One, it holds you accountable (even if it’s just you reviewing the day). Two, it
makes you think twice about popping a handful of gummy candies if you know
you’re going to log them later. Three, even a few extra bites here and there while