Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc.

It's your health. Take a Stand.

Follow us on Facebook Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn Follow Andrea on Twitter Watch our YouTube Channel Follow Andrea on Pinterest Follow Health Stand on Instagram Follow us on Google+ RSS Feed

Call: 403 301 4106

Or: 1 800 268 9487

  • Home
  • Our Story
    • About
    • Meet the Team!
      • Andrea Holwegner
      • Richelle Tabelon
      • Jana Spindler
      • Kate Chury
      • Lindsay Rieger
    • Media Appearances
    • Media Kit
    • Awards & Acknowledgments
    • Career Opportunities
    • Request More Information
  • Nutrition Counseling
    • Nutrition Counselling Overview
    • Programs
      • Program 1: Learning
      • Program 2: Guided Change Program
      • Program 3: Comprehensive Support Program
    • Personal Nutrition Scorecard
    • Meet Your Nutritionists
      • Andrea Holwegner
      • Richelle Tabelon
      • Jana Spindler
      • Kate Chury
      • Lindsay Rieger
    • Book an appointment
    • Pursuit of Healthiness Online Distance Education Nutrition Course
    • Success Stories
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Company Policies
    • Request More Information
  • Corporate Wellness & Speaking
    • Workplace Wellness
    • Workplace Wellness Scorecard
    • Professional Speaking
      • Speaking Overview
      • Thinking of hiring Andrea for your event?
      • Meeting Planner Resources
      • Keynote, Workshop & Retreat Topics
      • Rave Reviews
    • Pursuit of Healthiness Online Distance Education Nutrition Course
    • Monthly Nutrition Club
    • Onsite or Virtual Nutrition Counselling
    • Nutrition & Wellness Video License
    • Customized Help
    • EnerTHRIVE! Corporate Wellness Newsletter
    • Rave Reviews
    • Client List
    • Request More Information
  • Food & Grocery Industry
    • Food, Grocery and Restaurant Industry Expert
    • Meet the Team!
      • Andrea Holwegner
      • Richelle Tabelon
      • Jana Spindler
      • Kate Chury
      • Lindsay Rieger
    • Food Industry References
    • Request More Information
  • Free Resources
    • Free Resources
    • Our Blog
    • Healthy Recipes & Menus
    • Health & Wellness Topics
    • Health Stand Nutrition TV / Radio / Print
    • Sound Bites Newsletter
    • EnerTHRIVE! Corporate Wellness Newsletter
    • Request More Information
  • Store
    • Store
    • Pursuit of Healthiness Online Distance Education Nutrition Course
    • Meal Planning Power Package
    • Juiced Up Journal
    • Request More Information
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

December 31, 2010

Find a balance in your eating habits

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

By Andrea Holwegner, For The Calgary Herald December 23, 2010

One of the things they didn’t tell me when I became a registered dietitian was that for the rest of my life there would be people observing my nutrition habits.

The festive holiday season is certainly no exception, but at times it can feel like I am being followed by food paparazzi who are waiting to jump all over me when I eat something unexpected.

Earlier this month, I attended a holiday dinner function where someone beside me declined having wine and dessert since she claimed they had too many calories. I could feel her judgment when I chose to have both. A fellow at my table was surprised to see that I chose to eat a white dinner roll since he thought dietitians would only eat whole grain breads. He was aghast when I put butter on my bun instead of eating it dry.

As I ate my dinner that night, I contemplated why eating had become so complicated — I felt a sense of shame that somehow the field of nutritional science, which I am typically proud to be part of, had let people down.

I believe there is a way to really have it all — good health, a balanced weight, and take pleasure in eating ALL foods.

Figuring out food and how to balance your nutrition is a challenge, considering there is conflicting information wherever you turn. Sometimes with so many options, I think we complicate things more than we need to do. I vote for simplifying eating by starting with the following four concepts.

Find harmony between health and enjoyment

While healthy eating is absolutely important, so is enjoying your food and being flexible in your relationship with it. I meet many people who make all their choices based on taste with little consideration to health. While this is not the answer and can lead to health issues, a diet based on nutritional perfection isn’t ideal either.

Give yourself permission to enjoy all foods, and remember, there are no bad foods. We all want what we can’t have — trying to remove your favourite foods will only lead to overdoing them and feelings of failure for not sticking to your perfect eating regime.

Listen for trends, but break the rules

Pay attention to new nutrition research that is profiled in the media and get a sense for overall eating strategies that are good for your long-term health — but keep them in perspective.

Just because overall it’s a good idea to eat less fat, get more whole grains or watch your sodium intake doesn’t mean that every food choice you make must follow this recommendation. It is fine to break the rules and deviate from the healthy eating standard.

See the big picture

Don’t forget to see the big picture and look at your diet as a whole instead of analyzing every food choice. There are no bad food choices, just bad overall diets.

I often get asked at this time of year about how to make Christmas dinner healthier. But why worry about this one meal out of the whole year?

I personally look forward to enjoying my mom’s famous holiday baking and our traditional holiday meal.

Wouldn’t it be easier to eat healthy on the days before and after important events such as this?

It really doesn’t matter what you do between Christmas and New Year’s, it is what you do between New Year’s and Christmas that counts.

Be the life of the party!

I want you to be the life of the party and enjoy whatever goodies are provided at holiday events. Don’t be the person at a holiday party who just orders the salad and skips dessert while everyone else is enjoying the best of the season.

I personally live by the concept that when you are on your own, eat your best and when you are with others, have more flexibility. It is far easier to make the healthiest choices when you are packing your lunch for work or preparing a typical, mid-week family meal for supper. It makes no sense to me to eat poorly on your own and then try to use constraint when you have little control over the menu while eating out or enjoying food at a friend’s house.

During the holiday season and as the new year approaches, remember to be flexible and find balance between guilt-free eating and healthy nutrition habits. This really is the recipe for success.

Andrea Holwegner is president of Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. Visit www.healthstandnutrition.com and www.chocoholicdietitian.com or phone 403-262-3466 for more information on personalized nutrition counselling, seminars and to subscribe to our blog or free monthly ezine

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Find+balance+your+eating+habits/4018039/story.html#ixzz19iaEpjew

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Email to someone
email

Filed Under: Healthy Eating, Healthy Habits, Psychology & Behavior Change, Newspaper Columns & Magazine Articles

About Andrea Holwegner

President, Registered Dietitian, Counselling Practice Director & Professional Speaker

Andrea the "Chocoholic Nutritionist" is founder and president of Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. since 2000. She is a professional speaker, media expert for the Dietitians of Canada and consultant to the food and restaurant industry for companies...Read more

Follow us on Facebook Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn Follow Andrea on Twitter Watch our YouTube Channel Follow Andrea on Pinterest Follow Health Stand on Instagram Listen to our Podcasts on iTunes

Comments

  1. Amy Gough says

    January 7, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Andrea, I love this piece thank you for addressing it. I can definitely relate and I too thoroughly enjoyed my mothers Christmas goodies!

    Reply
    • Andrea Holwegner says

      January 9, 2011 at 5:21 pm

      Good to hear you enjoyed a balanced holiday season Amy. Have a great January!

  2. Alexandra says

    January 6, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Those are really good suggestions, Andrea. Especially about sticking to healthy eating on your own and indulging a bit when with others (typically special occasions and social settings which are less frequent).

    Reply
    • Andrea Holwegner says

      January 9, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Hi Alexandra – glad you agree! It doesn’t make sense to avoid treats when you are with others and eat them all when you are on your own. cheers!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

  • Solutions for 5 After School Snack Challenges
  • Podcast SeriesTop Health, Fitness & Nutrition Apps for 2016
  • Sources of sodium and how to use other spicesSources of sodium and how to use other spices
  • cooking for one ideas3 Healthy Eating Tips if You Are Cooking for ONE
  • Global Morning TV – Staying Healthy Over the HolidaysGlobal Morning TV – Staying Healthy Over the Holidays
newseltter signup

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Success Stories

Richelle, happy to report that I bought new pants that were 4 pants sizes smaller. Wanted to thank you for the things that you taught me, I have implemented many things on a daily basis and continue to do them.

~ Jane Weston

+ read more success stories

 

Meal Planning
Power Package

By Andrea Holwegner, BSc, RD

Don’t miss out on getting copies of our most popular nutrition resources!

Plan ahead and make nutritious choices that will help you manage a healthy weight, keep energetic and improve your health.

» Learn more

Article Categories

Dietitians of Canada member blog Member of the Nutrition Blog Network

Top 100 Nutrition Blogs

About

  • Company Overview
  • Our Team
  • Media Appearances
  • Media Kit
  • Awards & Acknowledgments
  • Careers
  • Contact

Services

  • Personal Nutrition Counselling
  •   Personal Success Stories
  • Workplace Wellness & Speaking
  •   Rave Speaking Reviews
  • Food & Grocery Industry Consulting
  •   Food Industry References
  • Client List

Resources

  • Blog
  • Sound Bites Newsletter
  • Health & Wellness Topics
  • Healthy Recipes & Menus
  • TV / Radio / Print Appearances
  • Podcast: Pursuit of Healthiness
  • Store

Connect With Us

  • Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc.
    1325b – 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB
    Canada T2G 0T2
  • PHONE: 403 301 4106   OR:   1 800 268 9487
    FAX: 403 398 1561
  • EMAIL: info@healthstandnutrition.com
  • Follow us on Facebook Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn Follow Andrea on Twitter Watch our YouTube Channel Follow Andrea on Pinterest Follow Health Stand on Instagram Follow us on Google+ RSS Feed

© 2019 Health Stand Nutrition Consulting Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Web Design