Diet by Labels

Most of us have tried to eat healthy at one time or another. But our daily lives keep getting in the way by demanding our time and attention. Trying to change the way we eat is hard, time consuming, and subject to fail. Perhaps it's because diet books are tough to understand, difficult to eat their way, and we miss the food we really like. After years of trying to understand what actual nutrients I needed to eat to stay as healthy as possible, I finally found a method that works for me. I refer to it as my KISS method. Keep It Simple and Sensible. Unlike some claims, I can't tell you how many pounds you can expect to lose in how many days. But then I don't have to use any of the disclaimers they put in small print such as - results are not typical or results will vary or the individual has been remunerated. But after trying different methods to track how many calories I eat and still stay as close as I can to meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations for nutrition, I found a way for me. I hope it will help you too. The Institute of Medicine stated in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, "The total number of calories consumed is the essential dietary factor relevant to body weight." And, ..".evidence shows the critical issue is not the relative proportion of macronutrients in the diet, but whether or not the eating pattern is reduced in calories and the individual is able to maintain a reduced calorie intake over time." Macronutrient is an interesting word. The Institute of Medicine is the agency that established the ranges for Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges, aka the AMDRs. So what are macronutrients? This is all I could understand about them. They are three groups of food that are listed in percentages - fat, carbohydrates, and protein. And the amount of those percentages will depend on your age group and calorie intake, usually 2000 calories. And that's why I used my KISS method instead of the percentages. The Nutrition Facts label on cans and packages is one way to track food calories. Menus at restaurants and their menus on the internet is another. Using just Calories In and Calories Out is a starting point on a road map to losing weight. But using spreadsheets I've put together for you to use as a guideline is another way to try to ensure you are also eating healthy according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. So find your starting address and work toward the destination you want to arrive at on your road map to feeling better and doing your body right. To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The first wealth is health."