Have you ever heard the phrase, "Everything in
moderation, including moderation"? With Thanksgiving just behind us and all of
the festivities of December just ahead, this phrase takes on special meaning.
After all, this is the time of year when moderation usually goes out the window,
in terms of eating and many other areas of our lives. But I believe the idea of
moderation, even with moderation itself, can help us make smart choices when
faced with endless plates of cookies and holiday fare.
I believe this because the truth of the matter is, when
it comes to nutrition, moderation is the best way to "have your cake and eat it
too." If you eat a healthy diet 90% of the time, indulging in
"less-than-nutritious" foods the other 10% simply is not an issue. Nobody has a
perfect diet and you do not need one for good health. In other words, you can
let go of moderation on occasion - that's the part about "everything in
moderation, including moderation" - and still enjoy the benefits of eating
healthfully.
You may wonder why the idea of moderation would
be important for an individual facing a diagnosis of cancer. It can be important
because when faced with cancer, many people reach for certainty and security in
a variety of ways. This can include eating the "perfect" diet. Well-meaning
family and friends may provide you with information on the "best way" to eat to
"fight cancer". Unfortunately, these "best way" to eat plans often do not allow
for moderation.
These approaches can be difficult. They may create
anxiety for someone who is unable to follow such a stringent eating plan. Often,
when undergoing active cancer treatment, a person needs to eat whatever works
best at that time, and it may not be a kale salad! When facing nausea, lack of
appetite, and other challenges of cancer treatment, moderation and flexibility
are key components of good cancer care.
Eating as healthfully as possible at every opportunity
is a great idea, but keep in mind that what you eat over the next few months is
important because it needs to provide the calories and protein to get you
through treatment. It is when planning what to eat beyond this short time frame
that you should think about the "best way" to eat and how this affects your
longer-term health.
And this is where we come back to moderation:
Focus on variety. Focus on vegetables, fruit, whole
grains, and legumes. Focus on color and texture. Focus on having three-fourths
of every plate being covered with non-processed, raw and lightly cooked, whole
plant foods. And focus on enjoying that piece of cake, or whatever treat is
important to you... in moderation, of course.
Nutritionist Suzanne
Posted
Nov 27 2006, 11:40 PM
by
SuzanneDixon