I realize I might be stepping into a minefield – sounding off about diet in our diet-obsessed culture where experts abound. But hey, what are minefields for anyway? When researching diet and health many years ago to do a teaching series, I found that the sheer mountain of dietary information out there is overwhelming. So many philosophies, often conflicting, can leave you thinking, “What’s the use? I’ll never learn it all.” So in the interests of making it simple and doable, here are my own three simple food rules…

1. Eat less. In our culture we tend to eat for all the wrong reasons. We eat to break the ice in social situations; we eat for entertainment; we eat because we’re bored; we eat when we’re stressed; we eat when we’re lonely, and so on.  Overeating is a habit that if not broken over our lives will invariably lead to health complications and shortgevity! The right reason to eat is because your body actually needs it. In order to be in top form our bodies need the right foods in the right amounts. Pay attention to your eating habits and form a new habit of stopping before popping and asking, “Why am I eating this?”

2. Eat fresh. In our day and age it is almost impossible to avoid processed foods altogether. But if you always choose the more fresh alternatives over the more processed, you will be succeeding at eating better. Why take vitamin C tablets, for instance, when you can just eat oranges? Our bodies are designed to process the necessary nutrients out of our food themselves and do a much better job than any food factory ever will. Just keep pushing the percentage of fresh food in your diet higher and higher.

3. Eat balanced. As a child I was taught about the four major food groups. And I don’t mean Chinese, Mexican, Fast, and Frozen! But thanks to the breakdown of the traditional family a lot of people have grown up with no idea of what constitutes a balanced diet. Salt and sugar aren’t bad – but too much salt and sugar are! Same with almost everything we eat. The key here is balance. What are the four major groups? OK for those who really don’t know: fruits/veggies, grains, dairy, meats. Check out the Canada Food Guide if you want to learn more.

Anybody can remember these simple guidelines and live by them daily. Why not start today? Eat less. Eat fresh. Eat balanced.

Also in this series: When The Fast Is Past, and Health 101.