Sure it Fits Your Macros...But Should it?

All this talk about foods fitting your macros… did we forget about the importance of MICROnutrients?

Coach Brooke here to remind you that your mom was right… you do still need to eat your veggies!

So suddenly, you joined the culture where no food is inherently BAD or GOOD… and YES YOU CAN finally have dessert with your meals. A world where pie and cake FIT and you have food freedom again! YAY! But what does that mean for the “rules” your parents and grandparents spent YEARS trying to ingrain into your brain??

As a Registered Dietitian, I am here to play devil’s advocate and tell you that while YES you CAN make a food fit… doesn’t necessarily mean you SHOULD.

Let’s think about our goals: We are on this journey to become the healthiest version of ourselves right? Lead a healthier life? Possibly pass on some healthy habits to the next generation?

Well, then we need to consider the nutrient components of our daily food choices! Every food choice we make contains something called “micronutrients”. These are the vitamins and minerals that make up the foods that we eat.

While this topic was literally TWO full semesters in graduate school and I could talk ALL DAY about it…. I will do my best to make this concise.

Your daily intake should contain at least 1 ½ cups of fruits and 2 ½ cups of vegetables each day in order to maintain a healthy balance of micronutrients! These can come from a variety of sources including fresh, frozen, canned and dried fruits and veggies! (If you are buying canned or frozen, look for options without added sugars or salt)

Each fruit and vegetable choice you make contains a different balance of vitamins and minerals so make sure you EAT THE RAINBOW and vary the food choices you make!