Diet Rules to Break in 2015: Part 2

While the first four diet rules focused mainly on weight loss, the second part of this series includes a few general nutrition rules to break too.

Rule #5: Eating clean is the only way to achieve optimal health

Break it!

Dirty up your diet. There are numerous definitions of eating clean. For some people, it means everything organic and nothing processed. For others, it means no animal products. Your diet doesn't have to be perfectly "clean" to be extremely healthy or to lose weight. Making the majority of your diet lean protein, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and minimally processed grains like oats and brown rice, with an occasional treat or splurge, is a great balance to aim for.

Rule #6: Cut out everything white

Break it!

Keep a few white things. This includes potatoes, bananas, and cauliflower. Supposedly, if a food is white it lacks any nutritional value. While this is true of white flour baked goods and many processed foods, this isn't true of fruits and vegetables. Keep eating bananas and cauliflower and be mindful of the size of potato and what you put on top. Stick with a baked, roasted, or boiled potato the size of a computer mouse and top with low calorie options like salsa or fresh herbs.

Rule #7: Eating fat makes you fat

Break it!

Eat a little fat. Although fat is more calorie dense than protein and carbs, it's all about total calorie intake and the type of fat that matters most. Healthy fats are essential to the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and keep our bodies working properly. Overeating any nutrient can cause weight gain, including healthy foods. Cutting out high-saturated and trans-fat foods like butter, fried foods, and high-fat meat is a good idea, but keep small amounts of healthy fats like nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty fish, and healthy oils like olive, walnut, grapeseed, and flax.

Rule #8: Make your own rules!

This one you should follow. The bottom line is that there is no single correct way to lose weight or achieve the optimal diet. You must determine what best fits your goals, lifestyle, and taste buds. Everyone's bodies are unique and will thrive with a different set of healthy eating guidelines. Let go of rigid diet rules and be open to discovering what fuels your body to be energetic and satisfied.

Read the first four Diet Rules to Break in 2015 from part 1.