Forget about finding the perfect guy or the perfect job- what a dream it would be to find the perfect diet! I’m just kidding…kinda! With so many different diets being discussed, it’s almost overwhelming to decide what principles to adopt. Does eating a meat-heavy diet that bursts with protein help you lean out or will the antibiotics & hormones in the meat affect the hormones in the body responsible for fat loss? Will going gluten-free improve digestion or is it okay to eat in moderation?
Even though I work with a number of clients daily to improve their diets & overall nutrition, I still don’t have a solid answer of what the ‘perfect diet’ looks like…at least not one that is generic. What works for me might not work for you. Heck what works for me today may not have suited me a few years ago. Despite the differences between contrasting approaches (e.g. vegan versus paleo), one thing is for sure: the perfect diet is one that makes YOU feel good. Rather than try to fit into a mold or copy what your BFF does because that she claims that she follows the best diet ever, it would be more effective to ask yourself a series of questions pertaining to your current diet:
- Does it leave you feeling energized?
- Are your cravings under control?
- Do you sleep well?
- Is your menstrual cycle regular (if you’re a women of course)?
- Are you able to maintain your weight at a healthy level?
- Is adhering to your diet stress-free & anxiety-free?
- Are you able to socialize without feeling guilty or like you’ve ‘fallen off track’?
- Does it keep your immunity high?
- Is your diet sustainable?
- Are you excited about the foods you eat?
- Are you progressing in your workouts?
- Do you feel mentally & physically satisfied?
If you answered ‘yes’ to a majority of the questions above, chances are you already eating the perfect diet. If you found yourself saying ‘no’ more times than ‘yes’, it’s probably time you change up your diet and start experimenting with different principles. Finding the ‘perfect diet’ is not a destination- it’s a continuous journey that constantly evolves. You just need to ensure you are keeping on top of it so that the food you eat enables you to be the best possible version of yourself.
What does your idea of the ‘perfect diet’ look like?
First things first- I am obsessed that your pizza joint gives you sachets of chilli flakes…
I have a post next week on my version of a perfect diet which ironically, is probably seen as harrowing to others. Definitely answered yes to most of it 😉
Haha you know how Indians are- no food isn’t complete without mucho chilli!
Hey K – this is something that stuck in my head form a Recent talk I went to on Ayurveda – there’s literally no one size fits all, it’s such a personal thing. Like apple cider vinegar is having a moment, but for some people it really doesn’t agree with them so whenever nutritionists/celeb trainers etc give advice like you must have 5 meals a day, or paleo is the best way to eat it raw food is amazing for your body – it’s very irresponsible because it isn’t for everyone.
You’re so right about it being irresponsible. I’m all for hearing about what works/doesn’t work for certain celebrities but I think they constantly need to stress how personal diet is- rather than promote X approach as being “the best”!
100% agree with you here! Some people thrive off a paleo or a vegan diet – I doubt I would do well on either. Some people feel best on a high carb diet, others on a high fat. It’s so individual that it’s impossible to determine a universal best diet for everyone! All you can really do is experiment and go off how you feel to determine what works best for you.
Exactly- there are some weeks where I naturally gravitate more towards vegan meals whereas other days, all I want is meat…and a lot of it!!
Oh girl, I definitely know the frustration that comes with trying to assign the “perfect” diet to someone. I think the only way to find it is to pretty much forget everything you hear and start experimenting to find out what works and what doesn’t. It takes time and patience, but it’s more than worth it in the end… until you have to do it again because your body decides it’s time for a change 😆 Ahh well… keeps life interesting. Or something.
Hahah or something is right ;)! As frustrating as it can be, I think it’s kinda cool to be so in tune with what works for your body…even if that means paying the price of experimentation!
this is so true!! everyone thinks dietitian have an answer to ‘perfect diet’, i will be directing everyone here from now on. also, people forget that changes happen overnight and they can fix everything in one go 🙁
Exactly- it took years to get to where you are now so it’s going to take a decent amount of time to stray from it!
Love, love, love this post, especially all the questions you asked. They were perfect questions to determine whether your diet is right for you. I like the way you think.
Ditto my friend 🙂
I couldn’t agree more – “the perfect diet is one that makes YOU feel good” – and it so varies for each of us! Awesome post Khushboo – that part about the perfect diet helping have cravings under control is a great point – and one that took me a long while to figure out….live and learn right? 🙂
Thanks Shashi! It’s definitely a learning process but so worth it!
Good one, K! I totally agree with you that what works for one person, does not work for the other. I’m definitely interested in doing some experimenting with my own diet. Love your list of questions!! 🙂
Thanks Ashley! A little experimentation can only be a good thing :)!
Totally agree with you here – there is no one size fits all for our diets! To me the perfect diet is nut free (except almonds), meatless at least half of the time, full of fruits and veggies, and includes an indulgent meal & dessert once a week or so!
Love that you added an indulgent meal & dessert into your perfect diet–> my kinda girl 🙂
Thank goodness I can answer ‘yes’ to all of those questions! What’s quite funny is that last week when I was dieting to make weight, I could have answered ‘no’ to almost all of those questions. I never get sick and late last week I could feel myself coming down with a cold – it’s thankfully gone away now that I’m eating normally again! Life is a much better place when you follow your own version of the perfect diet 🙂
Haha mate- anyone who claims that eating 50g of carbs is part of their “perfect diet” is lying ;)!
Ah, the perfect diet. The very concept of this and countless books existing out there with [self-declared or actual] health experts touting the latest food fads that will magically help you be your healthiest ever are enraging me to no end. Add all of the bloggers out there proclaiming their way of eating to be “the best” and … yes. Like you, I don’t buy into the idea any one diet is perfect for everyone. I used to eat vegan, now I’m vegetarian: do I think this would work best for everybody? No. Definitely not. I will admit it made me sad to notice that so many people are thriving on a fully vegan diet but it leaves me unsatisfied and – at least in my surroundings – feeling left out. To make a long story short: The satisfaction part you mentioned is a huge HUGE component of a happy [because I’d like to eliminate ‘perfect’ here] diet for me.
I’m so glad that you decided to change things up to ensure you were satisfied. What non-vegan foods did you start incorporating?
Love this post, especially the questions you included. I get so frustrated when I see/hear about the new way of eating that will solve everyone’s problems! Too bad it doesn’t work that way!! Like most things in life, there is no one size fits all approach.
I agree- while it might help, there is no guarantee that X plan is going to reap the same results on each one of us!
Being excited about the food you eat is HUGE for me. If it’s boring or doesn’t taste good, it’s just not worth it to me.
I agree- life is too short to eat bland food!
The perfect “diet” is one that works for YOU! There is no one-size fits all, so if you have do a whole bunch of trial and error until you figure out what works for YOU!!!!!!! A high protein, high fat diet works for me, but a good friend of mine is a complete vegan and a high carb diet works for her the best!
That’s awesome that you’ve figured out what work for you, Gigi! And who knows- maybe one day you’ll be thriving off a vegan diet…crazy how much our bodies evolve!
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