Busting Common Nutrition Myths
Thursday, March 27, 2025
National Nutrition Month is an opportunity to learn more about the impact of positive eating and physical activity habits for our overall health.
The popularity of fad diets and extreme exercise routines on social media has made nutrition advice easy to come by, but, unfortunately, hard to trust. To understand what’s actually important for good nutrition, we spoke to 开云全站app下载 board-certified dietitian Jeremy O’Neal, MS, RDN, CSOWM, LDN. He explained the truth behind three common nutrition myths, and shared a few healthy tips you can keep in mind instead.
Myth: Eating healthy is too expensive.
Truth:
This is the most common concern we hear from patients — and for good reason! But there are always ways to fit a balanced, nutritious diet into your budget.
My No. 1 suggestion for patients concerned about the cost of eating healthy is to include canned or frozen fruits and vegetables on your grocery list. Many think these options aren’t as healthy, but in reality, they have all the same nutrients (if not more), are often less expensive, and last much longer than what you’ll find in the fresh produce section. This is one of the best ways to prevent food waste in your home.
Exploring weekly deals, shopping generic, and pre-planning your shopping can also make a difference if you’re looking to save money on your healthy-eating journey.
Myth: You must follow a diet perfectly to see results.
Truth:
100% commitment to a diet just isn’t sustainable for most people. An 80/20 approach to dieting — which asks you to eat healthy 80% of the time and gives you leeway on the other 20% — is usually more effective and much more sustainable long term.
When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, longevity is more important than perfection. When we create diet and exercise plans with our patients, we try to ensure it involves foods and activities they see themselves enjoying for their whole lives and not just in the immediate future.
Myth: Skipping meals and snacks leads to weight loss.
Truth:
Your metabolism is like a car engine. It’s important to keep it running smoothly throughout the day, rather than stepping on the gas and slamming on the brakes by skipping meals.
That’s why healthy snacking — when done correctly with protein and produce — is one of the most effective ways to boost your metabolism and improve weight management. I recommend having a protein-dense breakfast 1-2 hours after waking, then eating meals every 4–6 hours with snacks about 1–2 hours after a meal. This technique not only supports weight management, but can also prevent nighttime junk food cravings!
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