I often get asked if I eat 100% healthy all of the time. The answer is, I rarely eat that healthy, except when I’m doing a detox. I have discovered that it’s more realistic and achievable to plan my eating around the 80/20 rule. What’s that? I’m glad you asked.
When I look at a recipe or a meal that I’m about to eat, I do my best to make sure that at least 80% of it is healthy. In other words, I try to make sure that 80% of my food choices are healthy whole foods. But I don’t apply this rule like it’s a rocket science. Otherwise I would stress out having to carry a calculator with me wherever I go.
As for the other 20%, I go ahead and indulge with food that might not make it to the healthiest-food-in-the-world list. And of course, 20% does not allow for a 24/7 high sugar binge. But when attending a BBQ, or a potluck , I don’t complain about all of the unhealthy dishes. Instead, I eat what is placed in front of me. I can do that because I usually plan out the rest of my day to include healthy choices.
Having said that, the two ingredients I do my best to completely avoid are:
- artificial sweeteners and
- trans fats (hydrogenated foods).
It’s also a rare occasion when I eat fried foods. But every now and then, I allow myself some freedom. To help you understand the 80/20 rule and it’s benefits, read these brief articles:
The 80/20 Diet Rule by Livestrong
This Easy Formula is the Key to Weight-loss Success by Popsugar
I hope this article helps ease some of the stress for achieving healthy eating, as well as setting weight-loss goals.
Be sure to leave a comment below to let me know what you think!
