Redefining The Word “Diet”

Top: (original sold out) Shein Similar, Similar | Jeans: Nordstrom | Sandals: Target | Earrings: Kendra Scott | Watch: Overstock

What do you think when you hear the word “diet”? I’m going to make a few guesses:

Eating less

Eating healthy

Salads

Cutting carbs

Eating clean (…hate this phrase, btw)

Depriving yourself of your favorite foods

Ugh, those all sound awful, right?  The word “diet” has such a negative connotation, so we think.  Out of curiosity I looked up the definition on Merriam-Webster.com and here is what I found:

“Diet: 1. Food and drink regularly provided or consumed. 2. Something provided or experienced repeatedly.”

Yes, yes, and yes.  This is exactly how we need to start looking at the word “diet”. Your diet is simply what you eat every day. In case this is your first time visiting Cait and Co (welcome! So happy to have you!) you need to know that I tend to get on my soap box about nutrition.  I got my degree in nutrition and have been working in the field for about three years now.  No, I am not a Registered Dietitian, but I am passionate as heck when it comes to food and how you can utilize it to take care of yourself.

Other Food and Nutrition posts: A Fail-Proof Healthy Lunch and My Weekly Grocery List

While I wouldn’t trade my education for the world, I do wish the dietetic curriculum included more psychology.  There is so much about food and eating that is mental. I have recently started a book about intuitive eating and it speaks a lot about how we view food and how our past experiences can impact those views.  I believe the media and pop culture has given “diet” the definition we all think of first: eating less or eating healthy. Let’s take it back to Merriam’s definition. Your diet is simply the way you eat day to day.

“What’s in your diet?” instead of “What diet are you on?”

What’s in my diet?  Lot’s of things. My diet consists of lots of veggies, not as much fruit (I just forget it’s in my fridge and it goes bad), whole grains like brown rice, lean meat such as chicken and fish, coffee, wine, pizza, sushi when I can get my hands on it, and little more wine.

If you’re wanting to achieve a healthier lifestyle, don’t go on a diet, change your diet.