New Year, New Diet.
As the new year begins, so do the thoughts of change. We will be focusing on one in particular that many of us may have on our minds – the change of diet.
I’d like to provide you with some information on a few diets that have grown in popularity exponentially over the past year. Sometimes the hardest part of making a change is knowing if it will be right for you and if it will yield the desired results, hopefully after reading this article you feel better informed on if a change is right for you. I have also listed out the specific diet friendly snacks that you may find in your own snack pantry that can help support your change in diet.
Paleo
The paleo diet is designed based on the principle of reversing our diets to be more aligned with those of our ancestors during the hunting and gathering time. The idea behind this diet is that farming changed our diet at a rapid pace, not allowing for our bodies to adapt adequately – and introducing us to dairy, grains, and legumes which quickly became a major part of our diet.
What you are allowed to eat: Fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, lean meats, fish, oils from fruits and nuts
What to avoid: Grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugar, salt, potatoes, highly processed foods
Most difficult transition: Through online research, I found that the hardest obstacle to get past when becoming paleo is finding a way to source enough fiber, vitamins, protein, and calcium found in whole grains, dairy, and legumes from other sources.
Associated Pantry paleo friendly options: Forager Cashewgurt Lemon, Siren Protein Bites Dark Chocolate, Barnana Salt and Vinegar
Whole 30
The Whole 30 Program is designed to give you a new perspective on the way you eat and feel in 30 days. The goal is to remove all the potential inflammatory foods and beverages in your diet and eat “clean” meals throughout the program. Throughout the duration of the program people claim to see and feel many positive differences. The idea here is that you are allowing your body to “reset” and after the 30 days are over, you gradually reintroduce those foods that were avoided so you know which really are harmful to your body and which are digested well.
What you are allowed to eat: Vegetables, fruits, unprocessed meats, seafood, eggs, nuts and seeds, oils(some), ghee, and coffee.
What to avoid: Dairy, grains, alcohol, legumes, added sugar, carrageenan, MSG, Sulfites, and all processed foods.
Most difficult transition: : What I’ve found to be the most difficult rule to stick to for Whole 30 is making sure there are not any added sugars or not approved substances. Reading nutrition facts and labels will become habitual, many people actually seem to become better at making up their own recipes for alternatives to what they may be used to eating.
Associated Pantry Whole 30 approved snacks: LaraBar Cherry Pie, TeaCrush Turmeric Ginger Pear, Lono Life Bone Broth Chicken
Keto
The ketogenic diet is a low carb, high fat diet. The focus is to replace carbohydrate intake with fat, this in-turn will put the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. The body’s metabolism will then shift from using carbs towards using fat and ketones for energy.
What you are allowed to eat: Meat, fatty fish, eggs, butter and cream, cheese, nuts and seeds, healthy oils, avocados, low carb veggies, condiments.
What to avoid: Sugary foods, grains or starches, fruit, beans or legumes, root vegetables and tubers, low fat products, unhealthy fats, alcohol, sugar-free diet foods.
Most difficult transition: Cutting out carbohydrates. It appears many people find the carb to fat transition very hard physically and mentally. It may be best to gradually lower your carb intake and gradually raise your fat intake making sure your body is adjusting smoothly.
Associated Pantry Keto diet items: Wilcox hard boiled eggs, TCHO Dark Chocolate, Good Culture Cottage cheese.
Office-Focused Approaches to Diet
- Surround yourself with diet friendly snacks and enough of them, so you never feel inclined to “cheat”.
- Focus on eating for health and enjoyment instead of falling for distracted eating
- Find like-minded coworkers who may be following the same or similar diet plans
- Write down what motivates you to stay in line with this new diet plan
Overall, I hope this article provided you with the basic points on these recent diets that you may come across, and can help you to determine if a change is right for you! Please always keep in mind that every body is different and every diet can influence individuals differently, and of course, always contact your physician before making any major changes to your diet.
Happy Snacking!
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Article by Carly Corippo
Some of you may already know Carly Corippo as your account manager, but she also has a strong background in nutrition. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences from California State University Chico while working throughout the community in different nutrition and wellness focused internships. After college, Carly started working here at Associated and is your go-to gal for all wellness and nutrition related questions or tips!
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