I get variations of this type of question all the time: "What is like to be a dietitian? Do you just eat vegetables all day long?" I enjoy hearing the stereotypes. There are stereotypes of all professions and mine is no different. The truth is that I am doing life just like you. Healthy lifestyles in action are not perfection by any means. At its core they have good intentions and are always willing to balance. I have an active consulting practice, my husband works long hours out of the home and we have 2 small children that need constant TLC. Flexibility must occur or else this ship will not run!

I do read a lot on food, exercise and disease prevention in addition to seeing clients on a regular basis with the effects of good or not-so-good lifestyle patterns. So I am reminded of this healthy lifestyle thing all the time, which helps me stay on track with my own efforts. But I am not legalistic. When I first became interested in nutrition before I went to school for this profession, I was that way. Back then it was the fat-free craze. Remember that back in the '90's? I thought that if I ate anything with fat, it would surely go to my thighs. It's no different to the no-carb craze that has been lingering in recent years. Our society loves to scare us with very bad advice that really messes up our psyche' when attempting good, consistent behaviors. Once I was educated, I became very angry at the media because they told the wrong story of what healthy eating patterns really look like. It still happens to this day. They still tout "good" and "bad" foods and they take turns picking out foods that will surely kill you and everyone you know. This frustration with the media has fueled my involvement in being a media spokesperson in my profession. I spend a lot of time in interviews explaining the concept of moderation and monitoring food patterns vs. individual foods. It's a concept that many people have trouble understanding. But if you can 'digest' this concept fully and trust it in action, you are closer to getting the key to a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to food, exercise and anything else that promotes healthy behaviors that directly effect your health this is a tried and true concept.

I love French fries!!!! Here's a good example. I can pass up cake and ice cream any day of the week, but I love French fries; also along the same lines, I love a good buttery baked potato, hash browns or any other type of potato similar to these foods. Even when I was a young girl, my mother still laughs at how we'd go out to dinner, I would order some type of potato - usually a baked potato with lots of butter and salt. It's in my blood!! And today, these things are something that I enjoy about once a week without any guilt whatsoever. And with the French fries, I usually eat it with a nice, juicy hamburger! So, if you see me out there eating this don't be surprised. But if you were to watch me eat over a week's time, you'll also see that I do adore all types of produce, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy. My healthy favorite foods include guacamole, grape tomatoes, hummus, almonds, almond butter with fruit and spinach salad. My patterns sway back and forth from what you would consider a model pattern to some days that are not as balanced. But I am always cognicent of it since its what I do for others. I enjoy minimally processed foods, but I also don't freak out when I eat something from a box. I do not drink my calories - other than an occasional alcoholic beverage - and I rarely eat sweets (remember? I am salt!). This is what works for me. What works for you? Your patterns by no means need to be like mine, but think BALANCE. Stop feeling guilty about the foods you love and have always loved, but instead find a way to enjoy them along with other great, nutrient-rich foods.

I linked a great resource website called Nutrition.gov on my blog because it is a storehouse of awesome advice provided by our government. That site links to many other reputable sites. Check it out!