This website is about you finding the path of your fitness journey, not mine, but you will find many articles about my own fitness goals and processes as it is my wish that I can inspire and lead you towards better health by example.
In this article are the basic guidelines around which I make my food choices, these are not hard and fast rules, more a basis from which I can be confident that when I plan my meals, and when I go out for a meal I am not absent mindedly sabotaging my health and my goals.
My diet, for the most part, looks like this. You can see my actual diet in my weekly food diary here.
- High protien – Lean meats, eggs, natural yoghurt and a whey protein shake after my workouts
- High in nutrients – Essential fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants etc.
- High in whole foods – Vegetables, legumes, leafy greens, often raw.
- High in fibre – Legumes, vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and psyllium husk)
- High water intake
- Average fruit intake – 1 to 3 servings per day, fruits depend on what is in season
- Average processed carbs – breads, pastas and rice – When I do have them I try to ensure they are wholemeal with as much grain content as possible).
- Average Dairy – limited to the milk in my coffee (I love coffee), protein shakes, natural yoghurt and the occasional glass of milk
- Low processed foods – If it comes in a packet and the ingredients list takes up more than a couple of lines then I am wary
- Low preservatives and additives – If any of the ingredients have a number next to them I try and avoid it
- Low GI – Refined sugars, fruits and vegetables that will cause a spike in my blood sugar, and therefore my insulin levels
- Low in Saturated Fat – limited to that in meats and dairy
- Low in Salt
- Low in Alcohol
On top of this I try to eat fish as much as I can, particularly cold water fish such as Salmon and Ocean trout to increase my intake of Omega-3 essential fatty acids and protein but this is limited to when we go to the market or my uncle pulls some in off his boat to ensure they are fresh.
I hope the above insight into my own nutrition will help you to form your own guidelines and give you the ability to make good choices when you are planning your meals, going grocery shopping or eating out.
Finally, as I said above, these are guidelines, sometimes I feel like a meal where the guidelines do not apply at all, some periods (over christmas for example) I drank alcohol almost every day, the important thing is that I follow them most of the time, then any indulgences or diversions can happen absolutely guilt free and without any significant impact on my health or my goals.
Stay Healthy, Stay Balanced.
Kendall
