The model says she doesn’t like the word “diet” because it’s too restrictive. Here, registered dietitians explain why indulging is a necessary part of healthy living.
On Friday, model Chrissy Teigen asked her Twitter followers what they wanted her to focus on in her next cookbook, and the conversation quickly turned into a dialogue on Teigen’s views on healthy eating. “I’ve always had an issue with the word ‘diet,’” she tweeted. “I like ‘eating light’ or ‘clean eating’…I dunno why!” Several of Teigen’s followers chimed in to help her articulate her feelings about the loaded word. “Diet makes it seem short-term and about deprivation, while the others are about long-term lifestyle choices” wrote @fintrainer. Teigen responded, “yes! and the hearty, heavy, decadent things are because we deserve to enjoy life and all [its] pleasures sometimes.” She also added, “I love the idea of delicious, fulfilling flavor-packed proteins and good carbs with color and zest and love.”
We’re 100 percent on board with the idea of focusing on nourishing your body, but also allowing yourself to indulge sometimes. So are experts. “I would say [Teigen] really nailed it,” Torey Armul, M.S., R.D., an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson, tells SELF. “Strict diets sometimes work, but only in the short-term. They’re nearly impossible to live with because enjoying foods, including your favorite foods, is an important part of life and an important part of having a healthy relationship with food.”
Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., manager of wellness nutrition services at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institution, agrees. “This is based more on anecdotal than scientific evidence, but I certainly see it in my clients: When you do deprive yourself of those things, a lot of times you fall off the wagon,” she tells SELF. “And after that, it’s very hard to get back on the wagon.”
Teigen also shared her definition of clean eating with her followers:
ok everyone relax, i’m not a nutritionist and by clean i mean “not velveeta” https://t.co/peLFnAbgf3
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) July 22, 2016
clean, to me, is something without 1000 ingredients. with words I can pronounce. I didn’t mean to be #PROBLEMATIC
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) July 22, 2016
i feel like even potato chips can be considered clean. olive oil and sea salt, baked? no? oh well https://t.co/hMjv5NXTbV
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) July 22, 2016
Some people were quick to criticize Teigen for saying you could have potato chips if you’re eating clean—but experts say there is no one definition of the term.
“There has never been a defined meaning of ‘clean eating’ by any of our government agencies,” Kirkpatrick says. “It’s open to interpretation. But yes, if you look at the concept of clean eating, it’s eating things as close to the farm as possible. Things that don’t have a lot of additives, preservatives, things of that nature.”
Kirkpatrick says the conversation should be less about whether any one specific food is or isn’t “clean” and more about how to best incorporate foods you love into a healthy diet. “Hey, if you love potato chips, then let’s talk about how you can make them at home,” she says. “Let’s talk about how you can bake them as opposed to frying them. Let’s talk about using beets.”
Similarly, there is no one set of rules for how often it’s “OK” to indulge—but experts do have some suggestions for anyone who wants to make healthy eating a lifestyle rather than a short-term change. “What I tell my patients is: When they’re eating something, about 90 percent of the time they should be eating foods that are actually fueling them,” Kirkpatrick says. “Think of food as fuel.”
Armul also recommends focusing on what you can eat to nourish yourself—rather than obsessing over foods you’d rather avoid for health purposes. “Aim to have a fruit or vegetable with every meal or snack,” she says. “Beyond that, look for lean sources of protein and healthy fat, and try to make that 80-90 percent of your diet. The other 10-20 percent of the time, find some foods you really enjoy that are special to you, and make room for them.”
There’s no reason to think indulging will torpedo your health goals, especially if you really tune in and focus on the deliciousness you’re experiencing. “It’s about eating mindfully, enjoying your food, and not feeling guilty when you do,” Kirkpatrick says.
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