I'm not talking about your typical 'diet', but there are many people who follow professional advice that involves restrictions for the health of their body. Whether it be a cardiac diet, renal diet, diabetic diet, texture modified diet, etc., etc. it can be difficult to follow the rules.
As one of our assignments this year, we each chose a therapeutic diet to follow for a week - just 7 days! It was quite hard, to not be able to eat what I wanted, when I wanted. I live my life making educated decisions about food, but not THAT restrictive. I can go to the grocery store and still make lots of choices. For some people those choices are limited because their organs are not working normally.
We often think 'diet' = weight loss, when in fact a diet is just a meal pattern. I eat a healthy diet where variety and moderation play a role.
I just wanted to applaud the people who follow restrictive health related diets very closely. I have met so many patients that are such good students and so aware of everything they eat. I know that takes a lot of effort, and I know people often go to those extreme measures when it is sort of a last resort - due to a diagnosis, etc. I just want to say "great job!" We can all learn from the dedication of those people and how much time/thought/effort goes into the food choices they make. Obviously it's hard to be perfect with it, but still, they do a lot.
Why can't we all pay a little more attention to such choices and take the preventative approach rather than the treatment approach?
Steph Wheler
www.nutrishus.com
