If you open most magazines about weight loss you're almost guaranteed to find an article about the foods you should never eat, or the latest superfoods you need to add to your diet. While I agree there are many foods that shouldn't be eaten frequently (and you all know I love that old mantra of everything in moderation), I disagree with the need to add superfoods to your diet.
I have a very tight budget so often can't afford the latest superfood and although there are some that I absolutely love and buy often, I don't think it's an absolute necessity.
There are many superfoods which do provide your body with a fab amount of nutrients...but there is no miracle food out there that's going to burn fat like we all secretly hope superfoods will. ;)
When friends and family ask me to list the foods they should never eat I refuse to do it. Most of us know we shouldn't regularly eat refined sugars, processed foods, etc, but I'm not going to tell anyone to remove all of those foods from their diet permanently because that would make me a huge hypocrite...and it would make them want them more. It's human nature...as soon as someone tells us we can't have something, we suddenly want it desperately, whether we wanted it to begin with, or not!
Those of you who follow my blog will know I'm a huge fan of everything in moderation. Therefore, I still allow myself occasional sugary foods.
You may think that's strange with me being a health and fitness blogger, but I'm honest with you all and it works for me. I eat clean foods 80-90% of the time, but I hate the thought of a life without chocolate so still have some occasionally. The only thing I completely cut out is gluten (as the name of my blog, Fit and Gluten-Free, suggests) and that's because of the horrible digestive issues it causes for me, not because any study has told me it will help me to lose body fat or anything like that.
So what about the latest superfoods?
Let me start this part by explaining that I'm not a scientist or a doctor. I am currently taking a nutritional therapist course but this answer hasn't been formed by that course - it's just my personal opinion as someone who is managing to work towards achieving their health and fitness goals without the budget to buy every superfood. I do love some superfoods, but that doesn't mean I buy them all the time.
Superfoods are great...or should I say super (sorry)? Anyway, they're super because they typically contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, but if you can't afford them or if you really don't like what has been placed as the current number one superfood, don't worry. You don't have to go out and buy a truck load of kale because it's the latest 'in' food, or add chia seeds to everything. You can achieve your goals by just making generally healthier choices.
You don't need to have kale for breakfast, lunch and dinner and you don't have to climb a mountain in a distant land to get milk from the three headed pink glittery goat who eats only unicorn poop.
Just eat clean, workout regularly and you'll get there.
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