Patricia Chuey

Food and Nutrition Expert | Recipe Developer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Meet Patricia
  • Blog
    • Recipes
    • ChueyOnThis
    • Fresh Ideas
  • Mentoring
  • Speaking
  • Recipe Development
  • Food Industry
  • Media
  • Let’s Talk

10 Healthy Eating Truths

March 29, 2016 By Patricia Chuey

Spring Pear

Sorry (not sorry?) to have to say this but it ALWAYS swings back to a boring old well-balanced approach. Sometimes the more we muck with things – the more we perpetually try to fine-tune them – the messier they get.

Although eating when hungry, stopping when full and choosing wholesome food should, or at least could, be fairly simple, unfortunately adding in a bit of or too much ‘nutrition’ (or marketing) information often creates a less healthy scenario than having no information at all. Without a total picture context, evidence-based and practical viewpoint, eating advice can be questionable. Some of the misconceptions circulating about what to eat or not to eat remind me of that ‘telephone’ game where a group sits together in a circle. The first person whispers a comment into the next person’s ear and so on until the last person says the final garbled statement out loud. At that point, it sounds novel and fun. And, our brains are wired to like novelty. Perhaps that’s the reason so many wonky approaches from questionable sources float around out there? For example, take Michael Pollan’s excellent, seven famous word statement summing up healthy eating: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” It’s as if it came out of that ‘telephone’ game as “Be rude. Not too nice. Mostly rant.” or “Beetroots, get a flat gut, host of can’ts.” The many misinterpretations have led to a flood of information on what not to eat that has left many people feeling guilty if food choices are not 100% perfect at all times. I haven’t yet met the man, but I don’t think Pollan necessarily meant that. His comments are just one example of many great ideas from thought leaders out there that have possibly been misinterpreted or taken to an unbalanced extreme.

In an attempt to simplify and unscramble a number of messy nutrition messages I’ve heard over the past couple of years, here’s a reminder of 10 proven truths about healthy eating.

  1. Although ‘natural’ food stores have expanded their offerings significantly over the past two decades, you can still find everything you need to eat for good health, or very close to everything, in a regular grocery store. Possible exception: situations of multiple and/or very complex food allergies. If you’re looking for ultra-gourmet and 100% locally grown or sourced, this may not always be the case – although even mainstream grocery stores support many local suppliers these days. Shopping around also makes sense – at the grocery store, the Farmer’s Market, the seafood shop, the made-fresh-daily bakery…you can often even find some healthy food options at decent prices in drug stores these days. (Although we prefer a glass of water from the kitchen, it’s true that the water from the bathroom sink tap in your house comes from the same pipe system as the water in the kitchen.)
  2. If an ‘expert’ advises you to avoid all wheat, dairy and/or sugar (or anything else) but can’t or doesn’t tell you how or what to realistically eat instead or doesn’t refer you on to someone who can, they are not a true ‘expert’ on healthy eating. Referring others to that same person increases the number of people who feel lost and confused about what to eat.
  3. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be more expensive than unhealthy eating. Shopping and cooking skills play big roles here. Invest in boosting your I.K. (Intelligence in the Kitchen) to save money on food.
  4. The proven health benefits of eating ENOUGH of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables far outweigh risk from not choosing organic in every case. Growing what you can yourself is a healthy action if you have the garden space to do so – even one tomato plant or row of kale.
  5. Eating a wide variety of healthy food is associated with better nutrition and overall health than sticking to a very short list of ‘superfoods.’
  6. If you bake cookies or muffins at home using real food ingredients like whole wheat flour, oats, nuts, butter, eggs and even a moderate amount of sugar, in almost every case they’ll be more wholesome than commercially-made versions. Even for using, dare I say it, sugar.
  7. If you ‘fuel’ each day with a giant coffee or two, a couple ultra ‘clean’ energy bars, vitamin supplements and little else, you are FAR from well nourished, regardless of the source and price of the products being consumed. No supplements currently exist that replace 100% of the nourishment from whole foods.
  8. Most commercially available frozen pizzas – vegetarian, gluten-free or not – are still a low nutrient, low fibre, high sodium meal.
  9. Controlling or micro-managing one’s diet will only influence the amount and/or quality of food consumed. It won’t bring order or peace to other areas of life. Same goes for micro-managing or endless unproductive attempts to fine-tune every morsel of food eaten by kids.
  10. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to healthy eating, healthy skin care, exercise or other aspects of health. There are general guiding principles but ALL must be interpreted individually based on each person’s unique situation – age, life stage, health, values, genetics, economics and more. Anyone promoting (or selling) a ‘fits all’ approach is not looking at the total picture of factors that require consideration.

Everyone has a base eating history whether influenced by good or bad examples from their childhood, economic factors, likes or dislikes, values and intuition about what foods work best for them. Trusting and honoring this is VERY important. If interested in eating healthier, start at that base. Then expand your knowledge and repertoire of food ideas from very good quality information sources you trust. An evidence-based genuine interest in true nourishment and a customized approach without an expensive product or service to sell are usually  great clues of a reliable source. Assuming your family is feeling energetic and maintaining good health, don’t worry if where you shop, how you cook, which trends you follow or not, and which supplemental products you take or not are different than what others are doing. Charge on.

Watch for a future post in which I’ll share the secrets of climbing the steps to healthy eating success and freeing yourself of permanently focusing on it or needing an annual Spring cleanse. If you have a liver and kidneys, stay active and sweat, hydrate and eat quality food most of the time, you are likely pretty nicely ‘cleansed’ already.

Cheers!

 

Filed Under: ChueyOnThis Tagged With: balance, cook, evidence-based, frozen pizza, grocery store, healthy eating messages, healthy eating truths, home baking, I.K. intelligence in the kitchen, nutrition experts, one size doesn't fit all, organic, shop around, shop for food

Eating is not a Recognized Religion

February 26, 2016 By Patricia Chuey

Grapes

Although a gift to appreciate and not take for granted, our ability to eat wholesome food is not a ‘recognized religion’

At the core of our ability to live (and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) are a few basic requirements: air, water, food, safe shelter. Love and being connected to others are among those basic requirements too. Once these needs are met, should we choose, we can pursue a world of possibilities, self-actualization, that nourish our soul so meaningfully that they may become requirements to us too – music, art, careers, religion, travel, volunteering,  parenting, solving world problems, sports, reading, pet ownership…heck, even vitamin supplements and every other subject on the planet.

Like other mammals, most adults on earth have the task of hunting for (sourcing), gathering and providing food for themselves and their family. The range of what is consumed varies greatly based on many non-food factors not the least of which are geographical location and available funds. Although food plays a significant role in many religions, in and of itself it is not a religion. I’m for keeping it that way.

Many people are quite quickly turned off by the idea of religious beliefs being pushed upon them. I’m never excited when the ‘church salespeople’ ring our doorbell. I politely decline and try to end the transaction before it starts. I have beliefs I’m confident in. I also don’t love when someone comes to the door, or  inbox, selling anything I didn’t ask for. Yet, somehow, the basic need to eat and the freedom to choose what we want based on our likes, dislikes, values, health needs, budget, culture, traditions, location, season and circumstances has become seemingly everyone’s busine$$. A vocation that some have become evangelical about with a new religion of sorts.

While it’s not considered kind or politically correct in any way to push values regarding personal choices, race or religion on others, although snake-oil independent consultants have always existed, we’re in a particularly troubling time where ‘cleansed’, protein powder, supplement-fueled disciples seem to be on a mission to convert us all to, or at least attempt to intimidate us with, their ultra clean (and sometimes even mean) food religion.

There’s a big difference between being a passionate source of interesting, helpful, credible information and being a rude, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer salesperson. There’s also a difference in opting to look for nourishing food ideas you may wish to try with your family versus feeling judged harshly for not being vegan, organic or raw enough, for example. Where I come from, part of being a healthy person is to be kind to yourself, the earth and others. If clean, raw and/or vegan eating is super healthy, and I don’t disagree with being any of those should a person choose, why are some of the comments coming from those circles so extreme, judgmental and mean? I understand they are very passionate about their chosen energizing eating style and want to spread the word. But, mean-spirited comments, about food and eating, becoming commonplace deeply concerns me. Too frequently I come across tweets and posts making statements like “if you really loved your children, your family would be vegan” or “calling oneself vegetarian and still eating eggs and fish is a cop-out”. If a person opts out of eating eggs and fish, isn’t that their own very personal choice? If others opt to eat those foods, they shouldn’t be made to feel terrible or guilty. If they have no problems with gluten and choose to eat it, should they have to hide in the closet to enjoy a sandwich or bowl of cereal? Some would say no one makes you feel anything. How you react and feel is up to you. I must emphasize that I am all for eating a wholesome, plant-based diet. And, there are gifted thought leaders out there getting folks excited to adopt this eating style. Still,  there exist a few too many mean, unproductive, unfounded and/or inaccurate comments about what we choose to eat. That won’t move people in a positive healthy direction.

In his book Cooked, Michael Pollan suggests that perhaps the more specialized we’ve become in society, the more we’ve lost confidence in our own ability in the areas we don’t specialize in, such as cooking. Increasingly, we feel we need to look to others to guide us, even in the most very basic tasks like food selection and eating.  As we seek the way from the ‘experts’, resulting in the number of  their loyal subjects increasing, some become the new high priests and priestesses of clean eating – increasingly forceful in their advice. The more shocking or controversial the statements they make, evidence-based or more often not, the faster a certain sector of their congregation grows while others want nothing to do with what they see as ‘healthy eating’ nonsense.

I’m for each adult, who is able to, taking ownership of feeding themselves and their family and feeling great about it. I’m also for growing and cooking as much food as you can for yourself. Something I’ve been saying for years, I agree with Pollan that rates of obesity and chronic diseases rising at the same time that entire TV networks and endless healthy cooking resources exist is a truly strange paradox. If you never learned to cook, it is worth developing even basic skills. It’s never too late to start. And it is not a competitive sport. If you know how to cook, hone it, celebrate it and most importantly, use it. Respectfully share your recipes and healthy living ideas to inspire others. Feel proud of your high I.K. (Intelligence in the Kitchen). But please leave food religion, unhealthy and hurtful judging, the kind that even causes some to get sick physically or emotionally with orthorexia, out of it.

Amen.

 

 

Filed Under: ChueyOnThis Tagged With: basic needs, cook, cooking, eating is personal, food religion, healthy good food is a gift, I.K. intelligence in the kitchen, judging food choices

Patricia Chuey

It has been my life’s work to create peace of mind around food and health. What an absolute joy to connect with so many who have shared, done the work and now reap the benefits of an energized, healthy life!

Recipes


Delicious, nourishing creations to add to your collection. Easy enough for any day. Impressive enough for entertaining!

[More Recipes...]

Chuey On This


There's always something in the food news to chew on. Patricia shares perspective.

[Chuey On This...]

Fresh Ideas


Fun, inspiring food tips and tricks from the kitchen.

[More Ideas...]

Happy Customers

Karen Meurer

Patricia exudes her own joy de vivre and is always ready to roll. She is graceful and professional while sharing her knowledge and expertise with our viewers. She is someone you can relate to and look forward to seeing. Patricia “invites you in” and you want to stay. She is the perfect expert/co-host.

Tori Wesszer

“Patricia was the very first mentor I ever had, and I’ve looked up to her ever since the day I walked into her office.  An extremely accomplished business woman and dietitian, Patricia’s passion for helping people succeed is truly unprecedented.  I’ve had the great fortune of learning from Patricia over the years, and can put… Read more “Tori Wesszer”

Rhonda Klatik

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Patricia for the past 9 years conducting Health and Wealth seminars. Patricia is one of the most captivating and enjoyable speakers I know. Her subtle humour and extensive knowledge of nutrition and well-being amazes her audiences. I recommend attending her highly sought after seminars. You’ll learn the key… Read more “Rhonda Klatik”

Emma Lee

Patricia Chuey was a freelance writer for Urbanbaby & Toddler magazine for 9 years. Her articles were not only accurate and timely but also engaging and well written. In readership surveys, her articles received some of the highest marks from our discerning readers.

Jack Hourigan

Patricia brings vast nutritional knowledge, quick wit and professionalism to every show. She is a pleasure to work with, is a talented dietitian and has a calming presence on and off camera…everyone should have a Patricia Chuey in their lives…we’d all be a little happier and healthier!

Intrawest Staff

This was the BEST lunch and learn I have ever been to. Informative, not lecturing like this topic can sometimes be. Patricia was a very effective presenter and I found it incredibly beneficial to me. She was fantastic; informative, funny and interesting!

Karen Stark

Working with Patricia was a wonderful experience, her knowledge, experience and passion for food was very apparent. She worked on several tofu recipes for us and for our tofu cookbook that helped it become a great seller on store shelves

Marnie Seifert

You make me look sooo good. The staff are buzzing around talking to each other and saying how great you are. Thank you once again for making our staff appreciation day function so successful.

Jeff Bohnen

Patricia came back to Intrawest for a return engagement as a guest of our Health & Safety Committee, and was just as great the second time around! Not only is she funny and engaging, but she also has an amazing ability to be a teacher, not a preacher. Her easy-to-remember, common sense approach to nutrition… Read more “Jeff Bohnen”

Ann Collette

I have had the pleasure of working with Patricia Chuey in her capacity as a dietitian, recipe developer, writer and consultant for more than 15 years. Patricia has truly distinguished herself, not only for her comprehensive knowledge of nutrition and contemporary nutrition-related issues but also her empirical knowledge of health in general – attributes that… Read more “Ann Collette”

Deanie Foley Gillespie

Patricia developed 96 original recipes for BC Tree Fruits. In addition to providing recipe development and nutritional analysis, she also determines if recipes are suitable for low fat, heart healthy and diabetic diets. Patricia always met the challenge of creating recipes that target our numerous fruit commodities as she brings vast industry knowledge to the… Read more “Deanie Foley Gillespie”

[Read more...]

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Meet Patricia

Eating well is just one spoke in the wheel of health. An active life...

[Read More...]

Search This Site

Random Blog Goodness

For Kids and Adults: Happy Eating is Healthy Eating

Soooo done with "nutritionism" and the … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2022 · Log in