Our distance from how food is grown and cooked has come at a cost. When we see the word “diet” we usually think of rigid rules that force us to give up our favorite foods, usually for weight loss. However, traditional diets–the “old ways” of eating–aren’t diets in that sense. Traditional diets are a delicious and sustainable way of enjoying healthy food for the rest of our lives. By embracing traditional diets, we can rediscover the joy in eating, without succumbing to deprivation or guilt.
While headlines debate the merits of one diet versus another, nutrition research is edging towards a food-based approach to healthy eating, with many recommendations rooted in tradition. Experts agree that many of the building blocks of traditional diets are key ingredients for optimal health. Scientific Consensus Statements provide guidance on overall nutrition.
Today, people are more disconnected with how food is grown and cooked than ever before. While many modern advances have saved lives and saved time, our distance from the kitchen has come at a cost. Rather than relying on highly processed foods that are stripped of their nutrients, flavor, and even calories, traditional diets celebrate the abundance of earth’s offerings, highlighting seasonal and regional produce, cultural heritage, and the pleasures of the table.
At first glance, a Mediterranean Diet might seem vastly different than traditional Asian or African cooking. In reality, these rich cuisines are more alike than they are different, focusing on plant-forward eating patterns, home cooking, and the pleasures of the table. It is the current Western diet, with excess salt and sugar, that is out of place.
At Oldways, we’re convinced that good dietary guidance has three important elements: pyramids, plates and real food.
Pyramids are a useful tool for depicting total diet at a glance because they show the relative proportion of each food group. By showing the combination of foods over time, pyramids demonstrate a long-term path to better health.
Plates, which depict just one snapshot in time, can also be helpful visuals, in showing the proportion of different food groups at one meal. We created “Plates of Expression” to complement our Heritage Diet Pyramids.
We eat with our eyes first. Enticing images of real food help people visualize what their meals can look like and remind us that healthy and delicious go together.
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