We have been programmed to eat three meals per day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. That's what our parents did and their parents before them. We are told that we must eat to grow up big and strong, or that we need to eat to keep up our strength or to eat for energy.
As kids we were scarcely told that food is the nourishment for our body and mind. We weren't told that eating well can improve our mental health or reduce our risk of disease. We weren’t told that by adopting a healthy way of eating we will be better students, parents, employees, managers or business owners.
Let's take a step back to when eating was about survival. If you research any ancient tribe or civilisation you will learn that their health or lack thereof depended on their nutrition. You will also notice that their remedies for illness and disease came from nature. Fast forward to our modern society and this has been all but forgotten.
If we have a headache we take a pill. If we are sick we get medicated. If we behave badly there's a medication we can take. If we are thirsty there are mass produced solutions to 'cure' the problem.
When you get to thinking about it, you may come to the conclusion that we are all slightly batty.
A solution to thirst.... We have had it for years, it's called water!
It's now so cheap and easy to put no thought into food other than which taste we desire. The problem is that this lack of thought often goes hand in hand with lack of nutritional quality and value.
Currently more than 60% of Australians are overweight or obese and currently someone dies every 6 seconds somewhere in the world from type two diabetes. These statistics are horrific and what's most troubling about them is a significant number of these illnesses relate directly to poor food choices.
I urge you to take a look at your diet. To do this accurately track your eating for a full week – you must include the weekend. Record each meal, snack and drink you consume as you consume it. At the end of the week asses your choices.
Do you consume your required macro nutrients daily - protein, fats, carbohydrates. Do you consume your micro nutrients daily - vitamins and minerals. Is you food sourced largely from home prepared meals or pre-prepared or purchased meals. How often do you eat dessert? Do you get enough fibre? Do you consume too much dairy? How does your gut react to inflammatory foods such as wheat and dairy? Can you spot an inflammatory food choice?
You will be shocked at your findings even if you can't answer all of the above listed questions.
What I recommend is getting started with the information you have and make some small changes. Correct the things that you think need correcting in order to help you achieve a better nutrient balance.
Work on these improvements over a two week period. On the third week record another weeks’ worth of eating - each meal or snack and any drink as you consume them.
Compare to your original food diary. Note your improvements and note what areas you think you could improve further.
This exercise will help you in becoming more aware of your choices and hopefully aid you on correcting some bad habits.
If all else fails you will have great data - 2 food diaries - to take to a professional to seek further guidance.