The start of a new year often brings resolutions to eat better and be more active. In a recent Northern Health staff poll, 25% of respondents said “healthier eating habits” is their top goal for 2020. As a dietitian, I’m all for that! But, with the latest diet trends and celebrity weight loss stories hitting the media, it’s easy to get swept up in the promise of a quick fix.

I read that 90% of dieters will quit their new “healthy eating” regiments by February. If you’ve been on a diet, chances are you already know that it can be impossible to stick to. Dieting, with its strict food rules, and “good” and “bad” foods lists, can lead to feelings of deprivation, anxiety, and guilt. Also, many of the things people do for the sake of weight loss are harmful to their physical and mental health.