Often, those us who suffer from obesity have an unrealistic idea of a healthy diet. In my case, I imagined a diet filled with lettuce, tomatoes, and fish. This strict regime was impossible for me to maintain.
Realistically, a healthy diet contains a variety of foods and colours. That is, we should aim for as many colours of the rainbow each day. Different coloured foods contain different vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
Below is a rough example of my diet on one day of the week.
· Breakfast: blackberries, lactose free yoghurt and pecan nuts which contain black, white and brown coloured foods.
· Lunch: chicken soup, cheese and rice crackers which contain white meat, red, green and white vegetables, yellow cheese and brown rice.
· Dinner: slow cooked beef with carrot, corn, broccoli, and beans which contain brown, orange, yellow and green foods.
I have found this to be best way to modify my diet. Instead of restricting the foods I ate, I emphasised colour to introduce a variety. Over time, my focus moved from the tantalising effect of sugar and fat to the colour of my food. I found that different parts of my tongue were stimulated. Instead of salivating at the thought of a sugary rush and rich, fatty foods, I began salivating at the thought of lots of colours.
The problem with our fast-food society is that we choose foods which give us a rush rather than containing flavour. The processed foods we eat use fat, sugar, and salt to enhance the flavours instead of relying on the natural taste of the food. This makes sense given that fast and processed foods are not necessarily fresh and require flavour enhancement. We have become addicted to these additives and no longer enjoy the natural flavour of the food itself.
Image: Deanna Minich - www.deannaminich.com
In love, Jenny
