It’s that time of year again when thoughts turn to getting in shape and dieting. The minute I hear the word “diet,” I immediately think of deprivation, boring food, and no wine. This year, that just won’t do for me. After taking a few press trips which involved food and wine then returning home to discover I either didn’t gain weight and sometimes even lost a pound or two, I realized there is something to eating fresh, farm to table food and having wine with a meal. This year I am making changes to my cooking game so healthy eating doesn’t feel like a punishment. It is important to me due to a recent health scare that stressed the importance of nutrition for me.
This is a big change for me. I am focusing on healthy eating and wellness versus dieting. Instead of thinking I can’t eat that and feeling deprived, I am starting to think I can eat this because it is a good quality, healthy item. I am constantly reminding myself how good I feel when I eat better. I choose foods that I love so that I don’t feel deprived. This was key for me. Rather than following a rigid diet plan that often has meals I’m not really excited about, I plan my own meals. This allows me to look forward to a meal knowing it is food I like. For example, the decadent avocado is packed with nutrients such as vitamins C, E, K, and B6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. They also provide lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. An avocado has healthy, beneficial fats which help you feel full and 6–7 grams of fiber for each half. It is a nutritional powerhouse that tastes so good. So dip into that guacamole without any guilt.
