Guilt Free Eating with Whole Foods

By: Katherine Snook, B.Sc, CPT, B.A., of Custom Nutrition Guelph

Food guilt is something a lot of people struggle with daily and it’s no wonder since the messages around us are constantly telling us to eat less red meat, that eggs are high in cholesterol, that all carbs are bad, that you must eat non-GMO and 100% organic, that saturated fat is bad and too much fruit is bad - it’s no wonder the population is confused and feeling guilty! Not only that, but many of us are trying to lose a few extra pounds, so even if healthy food is being consumed, there is still a lot of guilt experienced around the amount of calories one has probably eaten. 

What if I were to tell you there is a way to eat without any remorse and all the mental space that was once occupied with guilt could be freed up for more productive thoughts? Well there is and it’s all about focusing on nutrient dense whole foods, which by the way, can be delicious and totally satisfying. There is an awful stigma that says healthy food is bland and undesirable, but that just isn’t true if you are eating a balanced diet. ​

Instead of wondering whether a food is ‘bad’ and if you should feel guilty for eating it, think ‘Does this food nourish my body? Does it have vitamins and minerals?” If it does, then enjoy it thoroughly and feel good about treating your body like a temple. Far too often I hear people feeling guilty or concerned about eating butter, oil, bacon, a juicy steak, potatoes, nuts, shrimp, eggs, peanut butter, cheese, bread, cream, too much fruit, chocolate and even coffee! These foods have plenty of vitamins and minerals and regardless of their caloric content they help to support the chemical reactions in your body that make up your metabolism, the health of your skin and other endothelial cells that line your blood veins and digestive system, the hormones, proteins and neurotransmitters responsible for communication all over the body as well as brain, bone, muscle, organ, and tissue health.

Too often we are focused on calories, fat, carbs and protein and we aren’t eating food for its vitamin, mineral and phytochemical content. Eating whole foods, including healthy fats and protein, help to keep us feeling satiated, balance our energy and mood and keep carb cravings down, all of which aid in maintaining or achieving a healthy weight. So, not only does a diet full of whole foods alleviate food guilt, it also eliminates the need to count calories.

So, please, stop feeling guilty about eating the following:

• Eggs - Because our body’s total cholesterol is hardly influence by the cholesterol we eat anyway. Eggs are a complete protein source and have vitamin D, A, B-12, folate, iron, zinc and choline, making them a real super food.
• Butter, cheese, full fat milk, yogurt, sour cream, cream, beef, pork and nuts - The common thread here is that many still are confused about fat since it was wrongfully demonized in the 1970s. The fats that are found in these foods are long chain fatty acids (LCFA) and form the core structural fats in the body comprising 75 - 80% of fatty acids in most cells. LCFA, along with monounsaturated fats (MFA) are the body’s preferred fuel source. Well conducted and replicated research has shown that these fats reduce the risk of heart disease by increasing HDL-cholesterol, lowering triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. These fats also help to increase muscle mass and stabilize energy and mood.
• Whole grains - Bread has a bad rap, but there are plenty of naturally occuring vitamins and minerals in whole grains, not to mention gut healthy fibre that most don’t get enough of.
• Potatoes or any other vegetable cooked with or dressed with butter/healthy oils -  As long as you aren’t eating reconstituted fries from a drive-thru, potatoes in the form of wedges, baked with sour cream and bacon, mashed, or boiled are all full of the many vitamins and minerals that potatoes have to offer such as Vitamin C, B-6, iron, potassium and fibre. Potatoes also have ⅓ of the carbs and calories that pasta and bread have, so they shouldn’t be put in the same category as these more carb/starch dense foods. Dress other vegetables in a salad with plenty of olive oil, and bake or saute vegetables with butter, coconut oil, avocado oil or canola oil.
• Chocolate - As long as you are focusing on eating dark chocolate with little sugar, then chocolate has a lot of minerals to offer such as iron, magnesium, copper and manganese as well as flavanol, which has been shown to aid in cardiovascular health.  If you have a sweet tooth, try to squash it with dark chocolate dipped in natural peanut butter, and enjoy it guilt free!
• Fruits and Vegetables - Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you please, completely guilt free! They comprise the food group most neglected and yet have the most vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals packed into every morsel, not to mention gut healthy fibre, which many fail to consume enough of.

For some guilt free recipes or if you have any questions, check out www.customnutritionguelph.com

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