What does it mean to be a healthy eater?

All you have to do is watch TV commercials or go online to see dozens of recommendations about how you should eat.  Try this new product!  Try this diet!  It can be overwhelming.  Many products are created to make us want to buy them and not with your health in mind.  Everyone claims they have figured out the “the right way” to approach Food and Drink.  We keep hearing about new recommendations, and many of them do not agree with each other. 

But how do you know what way to eat will support your health the most?  People ask their health care teams about this all the time.  There is not a simple answer.  As with most aspects of health, a lot depends on you as an individual.  You have your own likes and dislikes.  You might have access to some foods and beverages but not others, depending on where you live and how much money you have.  You may eat a certain way based on your background or where you came from.  What you eat also depends on who does the cooking, and how much you eat out. 

The bottom line is, you are the one who has to decide what it means for you to eat healthy.  There is a lot we know from nutrition research about what works best, and your care team can offer you support deciding how that information applies to you.  You are the one who makes the final decisions though.  This handout is designed to help you with some of those decisions.

What questions should I ask about eating healthier?

When you are thinking about Food and Drink, it helps to start by asking one or two general questions about how nutrition fits into your life.  Remember, it might be easiest to make just one small change at a time.  Do what works best for you.

Here are some examples of questions for you to think about:

• Why should I eat healthier? 
• How does eating influence my overall health?  How does it help me reach my overall goals?
• What do I like about how I eat?  What is going well?
• What are some examples of ways I eat that I would like to change? 
• What is one simple change that I can make to improve my eating without having to put in a lot of additional time and effort?
• Who do I need to ask for help with my eating?  What support do I need?