What is your daily routine and diet? The word “diet” simply means what we consume on a regular, daily, basis. Ones “diet” should never be a short-term deal. If the diet you are following is not something that you can continue for life, or you feel guilty about the food you're consuming on a regular basis, then it’s not a good one. PERIOD. This is why I am so against “dieting” because eventually everyone goes back to their old habits. And guess what happens then, the weight comes back on, and your health goes back down. You may even be someone that does not struggle with weight but if you aren't consuming healthy fruits and vegetables on a regular daily basis you will not feel healthy and this behaviour will catch up with you as you age.

So ask yourself these simple questions.

#1 Am I happy with my diet?

#2 Am I happy with my weight?

#3 Am I happy with my health?

#4 Do I get 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day?

If you’ve answered "no" to any of the above questions then email me (amy@livewellgr.com). I can and want to help you get there!

All we need to focus on is one simple change at a time. I believe the key is to focus on one simple change until it becomes a habit. For example, drinking more water, or taking the stairs, or increasing your daily consumption of fruits and vegetabes, can be the spark that gets your health back on track. I am so passionate about wellness. Let me help you be your best self and learn to LIVE WELL and BE WELL. God gave us our bodies and it is our job to take the best care of them!

One of the newest diet trends right now is the Pegan diet; a combination that incorporates two of the more well known diets: paleo and vegan. The pegan diet focuses primarily on fruits and vegetables, specifically encouraging that 75 percent of your diet comes from plant based foods, and the other 25 percent from animal protein and high-quality fats. Animal sources should come from organic, grass-fed and antibiotic-free animals like chicken, beef, fish and eggs, and high-quality fats from olive, coconut and avocado oils, as well as avocados and nuts. The diet also incorporates healthy grains from gluten-free, whole grains, like quinoa for example. Soy, dairy and sugar are three big no-no's while following this diet plan.

From a dietitian stand point I love that 75% of this diet is based on fruits and vegetables. I definitely think that this brings vitamins, minerals and nutrients that our bodies need in their purest and most absorbable form. I also agree with the healthy fats that are encouraged, this is what we should always gravitate towards regardless of following a pegan diet or not. One huge problem I have though is the discrimination against dairy. For individuals who can't tolerate dairy, and I know there are a lot of you, then yes of course stay away. But, if you tolerate dairy well, then I encourage three servings of low fat dairy daily from milk, cheese, or yogurt. Some studies have shown that this helps with weight maintenance. Another problem I have is the limited amount of protein. If people are trying to lose weight then they optimally need at least 35% of their total calories to come from lean, healthy protein. We don't want the body to break down muscle to get its protein needs, we want to encourage lean muscle building and that means adequate protein intake. The pegan diet also excludes legumes/beans, besides lentils, which I definitely don't agree with. These are good natural sources of protein and should not be discarded from any healthy diet plan.

So, if you want to try to follow a pegan diet go for it, but if you tolerate dairy don't leave it out, and keep consuming legumes. Otherwise how can any dietitian argue with a diet that encourages 75% of intake from plant based foods...I love that!

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