Okanagan nutrition experts say ignore the hype – keep it simple

Many Okanagan residents make New Years resolutions to eat healthier, but public health dietician, Linda Boyle, says making small tweaks to your diet is often more effective than going for a complete overhaul.

“You’re going to have a greater impact on your health if you sustain small changes over a lifetime rather than changing for two weeks and then going back to your old ways,” says Boyle.

Boyle suggests making specific goals like adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal or snack.
She also cautions against following trends that cut out certain food types completely.
“A lot of people are really on a big kick to eliminate all carbs in their diets, when really they should be focusing on whole grains.”

Dieticians also say the average North American eats far too much sugar, up to eight kilograms a month.  Boyle says it adds up quickly, especially when people consume more processed foods.
“You’d be surprised how much sugar is actually in a lot of products if you read the label.”

When it comes to portion size, dieticians say not to try and guess. Use measuring cups and scales to get an accurate understanding of
what recommended portion sizes of any given food looks like.

Boyle says the bottom line is committing to small changes can make a big difference in your weight, health and fitness in the year ahead.