Nutrition & Diabetic Diet
NUTRITION:
Good nutrition differs from diet, for it refers to the quality of the food itself. Nutrition is food that our bodies need to consume daily for our bodies to function optimally. This includes complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and fibre.
We need these foods in a balanced quantity and ideally, from the cleanest sources possible.
As a general guide, balanced nutrition for the day should comprise of:
- 30% protein
- 40% complex carbohydrates
- 30% essential healthy fats (ideally omega-3 fatty acids)
- 2-4 litres of water
Proper nutrition should also consist of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. A few ideal food choices include dark leafy greens, whole grains, sweet potatoes, raw nuts, seeds, salmon, berries, oats, and avocado. When it comes to good nutrition, these examples give consumers the best bang for their buck.
Balanced nutrition is critical at all stages of life.
DIET:
When most people think of the word diet, it implies restrictions. Being on a diet means reducing or eliminating certain things from your daily life.
The best way to define diet is that it is the food that a person habitually eats. Looking at diet as a noun and not as a verb is a good way to redefine what diet is. Whether a person makes good or bad choices, these things make up their diet. The overall goal is to get people to choose the healthiest options that will improve their wellbeing.
Examples of specific diets that exist today:
- vegetarian
- vegan
- ketogenic
- gluten-free
- paleo
- Mediterranean
Each one includes certain foods that are consumed regularly.
NUTRITION & DIET
Consumers need to know how diet differs from nutrition. Informing them of what an ideal diet looks like will help steer them to a healthier lifestyle.
Once a person has changed their diet, they can begin to look at improving their overall nutrition.
Diet and nutrition need to work together for people to improve their health and their lives. The ideal foodservice provider will have choices that can enhance both diet and nutrition for the everyday consumer.
