In a world where everyone is striving for perfection, why not strive to be the healthiest, happiest version of yourself instead? After all, perfection doesn’t really exist, does it? North Coast dietician Bailey Kemper shares her thoughts on how to avoid chasing ‘perfection’.
While pursuing a goal can be empowering, focussing and motivational, it can also be damaging to your physical and mental health. Especially when your expectations are unrealistic.
These days, perfection is often seen as an image of success and beauty, depicted by weight, body shape, size and popularity – in the absence of psychological and nutritional effect and implications.
“We live in a society where instant gratification is evident in all aspects of our world,” says Bailey. “But instant gratification in my field as a dietitian is seen in the form of fad diets – also known as the unsustainable ‘quick fix’.”
Fad diets, Bailey says, are one of the many reasons patients enter her doors. “This is owing to their unsustainable and restrictive nature. Unfortunately, short-term successes from these diets often lead to long-term pain, frustration, exhaustion and something we like to call the yo-yo effect.”
When following a restrictive diet, we often deprive ourselves of certain nutrients, energy sources, vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Then, of course, there is the emotional, psychological and physical effect that fad diets have on people.
“It is simply just not worth it. Our bodies are designed to function through utilisation of good quality food options within each food group, which exist for a reason. Imagine trying to achieve a goal without a support system. Sustainability and success may be temporary, before it begins to fade. The food we eat forms part of our support system, and the overall clinical, physiological and psychological health is a result of that support.”
As a registered dietitian, Bailey implores her patients (and everyone she meets) to take the necessary steps to remove the fear of food and transition to a state where one can have a healthy relationship with food, relative to one’s health condition.
“Food may just be a physical object for many, but its meaning is deeper. Food brings people together and the interface which exists between food and people needs to be a healthy, sustainable, disease-specific (in certain cases) and nourishing one.”
We asked Bailey to share a few of her top nutrition tips to help you avoid chasing a ‘skinny summer-ready self’ to a physically and mentally healthier version of you instead.
Bailey’s top tips to avoid fad diets
(Note: these guidelines are not disease-specific but rather for the general population)
1. Eat a minimum of five portions of colourful fruit and vegetables combined per day owing to their wide range of phytochemicals and anti-inflammatory benefits.
2. Incorporate more plant-based protein in the form of legumes in your meals owing to their low fat, high fibre and cholesterol lowering properties.
3. Aim to consume fatty fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel, herring or sardines at least two to three times a week because of their anti-inflammatory properties and potential benefits for mental health.
4. Achieve your daily water goal of 250ml per 10kg body weight and exercise at least three to four times a week, doing something you enjoy.
5. Implement the 80:20 rule which is what I live by. Eighty percent of the time make the healthier choice to nourish your body … and the other 20% of the time, incorporate a treat to ensure balance is maintained.
ABOUT BAILEY
A registered dietitian and self-proclaimed ‘big foodie’, Bailey views food and the occasion of eating as an opportunity to nourish your body. “My practice is all about creating a new, healthy and sustainable journey for my patients through application of an individualised, socially and culturally sensitive approach.” Bailey assists patients with a variety of conditions, including: weight loss, PCOS, diabetes and chronic diseases of lifestyle, emotional eating and eating disorders, renal nutrition, gut health disorders, mental health and nutrition as well as pregnancy and nutrition.
Details: Bailey Kemper, BeachMed Medical, Durban North, 33 Beachway,
IG: @baileykemper_dietitian, FB: @BaileyKemperRD, [email protected], 072 992 2371
