Good Nutrition – Council on Size and Weight Discrimination

Good Nutrition Without Restrictive Dieting

Dieting for weight loss simply doesn’t work. For some people, it actually results in weight gain over time. Studies have shown that people are more likely to binge after a period of restricted eating. But many of us, including those who have been dieters in the past, may wish to improve our nutrition and eat healthier foods. For people with possible physical and emotional damage from years of dieting, it is more productive to give yourself permission to eat than to impose restrictive rules. So most of these guidelines suggest what you should eat rather than what you should not eat.

Eat a variety of foods. It’s important, and more pleasurable, to vary your diet. There are so many delicious foods in the world. Don’t restrict yourself to just a few.
Eat vegetables. Human bodies are designed to get a lot of their nutritional requirements from vegetables.
Eat fruit. Fruit is delicious, satisfying, and good for you. It also helps satisfy the sweet tooth.
Eat fish. Of all the animal sources of protein, fish has the best balance of nutrients. It also has fish oil, which is very good for health. If you hate to cook, eat canned salmon, tuna, and sardines.
Eat natural forms of sugar. Refined sugar is just empty calories. Our bodies need more nutritional foods like fruit. It can be difficult to cut down on sugar since it easily becomes a habit, and since it is the symbol of what is denied to us on diets. Use the money you would have spent on sweets to treat yourself to the finest and most delicious fruits.
Drink plenty of liquids, especially when it’s hot. Water is essential for good health.
Fill your plate with good nutritious food, and remember, it’s also important to eat for pleasure! Insist on deliciousness!

BIBLIOGRAPHIES
Healthy Weight
Food & Exercise
Non-Diet Approaches
Feminism & Weight
Eating Disorders
Body Image
Men’s Weight

RESOURCES
Eating & Exercise