Don't Underestimate the Basics of Nutrition: Why Foundational Healthy Eating Still Works

MA Nutrition Consulting
6 days ago
3 min read

Assorted whole foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins representing balanced nutrition and healthy eating.

The advice ‘eat all foods in moderation’ might not be the popular opinion these days; it’s probably not as exciting as me telling you to cut out carbs for success but it’s actually proven to be more successful in the long-run than any fad diet based on restriction.

There’s an overwhelming amount of nutrition information on the internet and with social media, these days it’s so easy to get sucked into some new and exciting fad diet promising you positive results. Although usually well-intentioned, a lot of these diets are not backed by science, are lacking any long-term results, and many times can end up doing more harm than good.

Take It Back to the Basics: Focus on Food First.

Before you can start getting into any nitty-gritty details of enhancing your diet with supplements or extra products, which may have their time and place, it’s so important that first and foremost you’re meeting your basic nutrition needs. This means focusing on food first. You know the phrase ‘you can’t outrun a bad diet’? … Well, you can’t really supplement or juice away a bad diet either.

The value placed on adequately fueling the body is so underrated in our society. Taking the focus off of restriction and on to nourishing the body is an essential first step to healthy eating.

When it comes to food, we need to start by looking at what we can include rather than what we can eliminate. When you’re missing out on key nutrients, it makes it super hard for your body to do its job and for you to feel your best.

For example:

Without enough fat in the diet, you can miss out on absorbing key vitamins such as vitamin D.
Proteins not only help build your muscles but also, once broken down and absorbed, are the building blocks for essentially every cell in your body.
Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy — theres’s a good chance you aren’t going to feel energized and well when your body is missing its main source of energy

So How Do You Know If You’re Eating Enough of the Right Foods?

Simply put, eating a variety of foods from all food groups is key to healthy eating. Eating this way puts you on track to getting in a good mix of nutrients and ensures you’re likely not over or under eating any one nutrient. Also, when your body takes in vitamins and minerals from foods it’s less likely to reach unsafe levels compared to supplement forms.

My approach is always to focus on the big picture when it comes to nutrition. A few days or weeks of eating more than usual take-out or convenience food isn’t going to make or break your health, the same way that making poor diet choices consistently isn’t going to be fixed by taking a multivitamin. This band-aid approach just simply does not work.

Enjoy What You Eat!

As important as it is to eat a variety of foods, it’s equally as important to eat a variety of foods that you actually enjoy. Adding stress from overthinking or eating foods you dislike for anticipated health purposes is counteractive. So although I encourage you to be open-minded, to try new foods and cooking methods, you won’t get very far if you’re not actually enjoying your meals.

So if you’re someone who tends to focus on all the foods you need stop eating in order to be healthy, my advice to you is to switch your thought process and start thinking about all the foods you can include.

Build a Healthier Relationship with Food Through Intuitive Eating

At the heart of balanced nutrition is learning to trust your body again — to listen to your hunger, honor fullness, and find joy in eating without guilt. This is what intuitive eating is all about. It’s not about perfection or restriction, but about creating a kinder, more peaceful relationship with food.

Working with a registered dietitian can help you feel supported and confident on this journey.

Together, we can help you:

Let go of dieting rules and food guilt
Feel nourished and energized through balanced meals
Reconnect with your body’s natural signals and needs

Our approach is rooted in compassion, understanding, and evidence-based care. We meet you where you are — no judgment, no quick fixes, just real support to help you feel your best.

To learn more about our nutrition and intuitive eating services, and to connect with one our our compassionate registered dietitian, you can book a free 15-minute discovery call.