Embracing Stress-Free Eating with Kylie Sakaida
Your approach to eating should be stress-free, says registered dietitian and cookbook author Kylie Sakaida. To practice stress-free eating, your goal should be ‘to make meal planning and cooking easy,’ Sakaida explains. It also involves lowering stress around ‘whether or not we’re making the right food choices.’ Stress-free eating can be as simple as increasing fiber and water intake or utilizing canned and frozen foods to save time in the kitchen. Additionally, Sakaida reminds us that ‘perfection isn’t the goal’ when it comes to our diets.
‘Understand that one meal won’t make or break your progress, and we don’t have to stress about eating perfectly all the time,’ Sakaida advises. (As always, consult a medical professional regarding your specific diet.) Sakaida’s recently released cookbook ‘So Easy So Good’ offers recipes aimed at balanced eating. Here’s a look at how she structures her own meals.
What a Dietitian Eats: Meal Structure
‘My diet definitely varies. I try to include a mix of both animal and plant-based proteins. I aim for a balanced plate as much as I can,’ says Sakaida. Her definition of a balanced plate consists of half produce, a quarter protein, and a quarter starch. However, she acknowledges that ‘this isn’t always the case for all of my meals.’ Convenience is key for her, particularly at breakfast and lunch.
Sakaida’s typical meals include:
- Breakfast: Savory oatmeal or a pre-made smoothie
- Lunch: Mason-jar noodles, salads, or wraps
- Snacks: Popcorn, roasted chickpeas, carrots with cottage cheese dip, or apples with peanut butter
- Dinner: Tofu, chicken, beef, or fish alongside white or brown rice and vegetables
Meal planning is crucial for Sakaida to maintain simplicity in her eating decisions. ‘I tell people to gather recipes and write down all the ingredients as if you’re going shopping,’ she notes. Sakaida encourages ingredient substitution, explaining, ‘If you’re doing a recipe that has both spinach and kale, and another recipe just uses kale, you can definitely just buy the kale.’ This flexibility can help save money and reduce waste.
Conclusion
Stress-free eating doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple tips and a flexible approach, you can enjoy nourishing meals without the pressure of perfection. Interested in transforming your career? Check out CNBC’s online course How to Change Careers and Be Happier at Work for more insights on professional fulfillment!
Comments are closed