Forget Myths, Folklore and Magic Bullets: American Dietetic Association Says the Best Approach to a Healthful Lifestyle Is the “Total Diet”

Forget Myths, Folklore and Magic Bullets: American Dietetic Association Says the Best Approach to a Healthful Lifestyle Is the “Total Diet”

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 10, 2008

Media contacts:  Jennifer Starkey, Julia Dombrowski   
800/877-1600 ext. 4802, 4769
media@eatright.org

CHICAGO – Don’t eat after 8 p.m. Avoid carbohydrates. A piece of cake on your birthday will ruin your diet. Right?

Not exactly. “There are no bad foods, no good or bad times to eat and no magic bullet for maintaining a healthy weight,” says registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Ruth Frechman. “The fact is, it’s the total diet approach that matters in living a healthful lifestyle.”

March is National Nutrition Month®, the perfect time to take a fresh look at the big picture. “No single food or meal makes or breaks a healthful diet,” Frechman says. “Your overall pattern of eating is the most important focus. A wide variety of foods can fit within this pattern, if consumed in moderation, in appropriate portions and combined with regular physical activity.”

The theme for National Nutrition Month 2008 is Nutrition: It’s a Matter of Fact. The American Dietetic Association reminds consumers to focus on the total balance of foods you consume, rather than any one food or meal.

“No one food or type of food guarantees good health, just as no single food or type of food is necessarily detrimental to health,” Frechman says.

A registered dietitian can help you look at your total diet and learn the balance and moderation needed for success, and can dispel the myths and legends that get in the way of healthful eating.

“It doesn’t matter if you eat after 8 p.m. What’s more important is how many calories you ate the entire day, not when you ate them,” Frechman says. “Splurging on cake and ice cream during a party isn’t going to ruin a healthful eating plan. Pay attention to the portion of your treat and enjoy it in moderation, exercise a little longer the next day or plan ahead to save calories, like skipping your morning latte.”
 
Through National Nutrition Month, created in 1973, the American Dietetic Association promotes healthful eating by providing practical nutrition guidance and focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing sound physical activity habits. National Nutrition Month also reminds consumers that registered dietitians are their most valuable and credible source of timely, science-based information.

With more than 67,000 members the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.        

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