Nutrition is NOT Black and White

Nutrition is NOT black and white.

Since becoming a dietitian, one of the most common misconceptions I run into with my clients, friends, and family is the thought that nutrition is black and white. That 1+1 = 2. That eating x food will get y results. For everyone and anyone. 

The media, food industry, and world wide web all make this seem to be true. Before studying nutrition, I was in the same boat. How do you know what to believe? How do you know what is true and what is just the flavor of the day today? I turn on the news and hear that chicken is bad for me today and tomorrow I hear that I should eat lean meat? 

In addition, as humans, we are constantly trying to create or find one thing that will instantly fix our multi-dimensional problem. Or maybe we don’t have a problem, and we are just trying to do better for our body or meet a certain goal. No matter what our motivations are for applying nutrition information to our lifestyle, we are trying to make it black and white in a world filled with color.

What do I mean by this? This picture has grey in it. Even though we call this filter “black and white”, the picture would not be what it is with different SHADES of black and white, or different shades of grey. Just like nutrition, there are so many angles and things to consider, so may different shades.  What if we add color to this picture? How different would it be then? Adding color to this picture can be compared to individualized nutrition. We each have a different idea of what might make this picture look “good”, just as we all have a different opinion of what it means to feel “good” in our own body. 

As a Registered Dietitian, I make recommendations that are evidenced based. What does this mean? When I say “research shows” or “research proves” I am saying that there has been research conducted and completed (usually many studies, not just one) that shows there is a correlation between x and y. We aren’t saying that x causes y, but that there is a relationship between the two things being studied. This might be based on a large population of people, but it might not be. No matter what, there are always people who don’t “fit” into this population, there are always outliers. 

So what is my point and what does this mean for you? Nutrition can be overwhelming and there isn’t always a right or wrong answer. One food is not going to fix that one problem or be the missing link for you to achieve your goal.

Achieving your goal (s), such as living a life that is filled with more joy and more energy is multifactorial and is why I focus on nutrition, movement, and mindfulness with my clients. Depending on your individual goals, life obstacles, and personal history, we figure out what is going to work for YOU. Just as we are all created differently, food affects us differently. What might “work” for you, might not “work” for me- in whatever problem you are trying to solve, or goal you are trying to achieve.

So what can you do? Working with a Registered Dietitian is one of the best things you can do towards working towards your individual goals. Also, finding a dietitian that meets your needs, just like you would when looking for a therapist, trainer, physical therapist or doctor, is so important.  

You are not black and white, and neither is nutrition.