Happy Food Day everyone! (Yup, it’s a real thing, October 24th is National Food Day!)

Food day is about growing our own food, eating healthy food and having a deeper respect for the food we put into our bodies. Food not only gives us energy but helps us do our best. Being hungry does not help our brains think in the best way. (defnition credit: http://www.examiner.com/article/food-day-is-here)

And because I love food so much (why do you think I became a Dietitian?!?), here is my list of Food Rules!
Share some of your food rules below for a chance to win a FREE Graze snack box!.

1. Eat real food! What counts as “real food”? Food that hasn’t been touched by processing plants or food manufacturers. Produce, fresh dairy, nuts and seeds, meats and cheeses, 100% whole grain such as quinoa, wild rice, 100% whole grain breads, etc. REAL food. Not the fake stuff. Not the low fat stuff. Not the bars and shakes and meal replacements. REAL FOOD. Try it. Tastes pretty great!
2. Food is NOT the enemy. I repeat. Food is NOT the enemy. All food is meant to enjoy in moderation. I eat pizza, cupcakes, fries on occasion too. But treasure those treats. Savor them. Want a piece of chocolate? Have one and enjoy it! Not need to have 10 pieces a day. And no need to beat yourself up about it. Allow those treats in your diet. You will be much happier and find yourself feeling guilty less!
3. SKIP THE FAD DIETS!!!! Here is a secret. Most diets will work for you. High protein, low carb? Meal replacement shakes? Low fat? Most diets will work for people as long as you can stay on them. But then what happens???? You go back to your old ways and regain or stop losing. Instead of looking for the next “in” diet, focus on making LIFE LONG changes to your diet. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
4. Take the time to think about, plan, prep your food. To eat mindfully and healthfully, you need to plan ahead. There just is no way around it. It costs less, not to mention is a MILLION times more healthy for you to shop and cook your own foods than to constantly be eating out or grabbing food on the go. Every week, get to the store and stock up on your go to items. See what kind of week you have ahead of you. Prep some easy quick meals on the busy nights and plan for some dinners for when you have a bit more time to cook.
   (Best quick dinner tip: Throw some chicken breasts in the crock pot with some fresh salsa to cook during the day. Shred when you get home and top on a salad or throw in a whole grain or corn tortilla!)

Coming soon my Devine Nutrition On the Run meal planner for busy people! Launching this January to help you plan those quick easy meals for dinner!

To celebrate, eat  a great meal, enjoy every bite and savor it today!

~Kelly
http://kellydevinenutrition.com/