If a diet or eating style
doesn't taste good, it won't work for very long.
Don't beat yourself up if you indulge in something forbidden
or sinfully rich occasionally. It's part of the human condition. Make up for it
by an extra walk or a healthier meal next time.
Extremes of any kind are liable to do more damage than not
(and the average USA diet heavy on greasy meat, highly refined grains, sugars and
additives is, indeed, an extreme). Always take the latest "discoveries"
and recommendations with a grain of salt.
We cannot cure all ills and live forever by changing our
diet. Accept that we all have to "go" sometime. A healthy diet is one we
enjoy, and one that lets us live as comfortably and happily as possible while we're here.
Know your own body and its needs. If your doctor or
nutritionist recommends a specific diet regimen, make sure you understand the reasons and
requirements. Ask questions, and if you don't get or can't understand the answers,
change doctors.
If you start or follow any radical diet, whether
macrobiotic, vegetarian, vegan, weight loss or some other, whether you are doing it
to try to cure a disorder or for philosophical reasons, don't do it on your own.
Consult experts; educate yourself (not from the source you buy vitamins or foods from),
and have periodic checkups with blood tests (not hair samples) to see if you are lacking
in any vital nutrient. If you depend only on whether you "feel better",
you could be heading for trouble down the road.
Do NOT put children on any radical diet
without close medical supervision. Most experts feel that the majority of children
require animal protein and some fats to grow and prosper. Is it possible to raise
completely healthy children on a vegetarian or vegan diet? Probably, but not by
yourself.
Supplements and vitamins are certainly a valuable addition
to the diet, but you cannot depend on them alone for good health. Good food and a varied diet offer many
advantages that supplements don't contain.
If you are going to deny yourself specific foods, understand
why you are doing it and the possible consequences.
Negatives (don't eat that!) are much less productive than
positives. Serve and eat lots of the right
foods, deliciously prepared, and the rest will usually fall into place.
