Report cards: for most of us they're long gone and unmissed. But could the simple act of assigning our food choices a grade daily set us up for best body success?
We took to our Facebook page last week to test the theory in real time; the response we received was overwhelming. When asked what you had for dinner and what grade rating you deserved hundreds of you shared honest, interesting and sometimes hilarious insights.
It was inspiring to watch so many of you share your dedication to smart food choices. We joined in as everyone applauded the "A's" and "B's" and swapped recipe ideas or smart cooking substitutions. The "F's" confessed their indulgences while citing their next meal as an opportunity to start again strong.
As our loyal MyPlate trackers and avid readers know, there are endless ways to use food to achieve your goals. Your diet might be geared toward getting you in peak shape for a run or challenge; you might be ready to shape up post-baby; you could be extra conscious of how nutrition plays into your overall health and longevity.
No matter what your "best you" ambitions are, smart, sustainable food choices made consistently over time have proven their power to transform. And a great way to create consistency and check your course is by assessing yourself daily.
You may most enjoy tracking your meals on MyPlate and measuring your progress by staying under that calorie goal. Or perhaps you're more concerned with your daily servings of veggies or water consumption. Whatever you're measuring, we encourage you to actually measure! Give yourself a grade, or find a friend or coworker with similar goals and grade each other. This could become a personal habit you make for yourself or something you share with your whole family. This simple act is one way to get serious about your diet -- but it can also be fun!
Every meal or day won't be an "A." And maybe dessert is part of your perfect "A" day of eating. It's all about what works for your lifestyle given where you are now and where you want to be. One of my favorite quotes from my diet guru Dr. Gundry is, "Do what you can, when you can, with what you've got."
As always, we're here to provide the tools and resources for you to create those best grade days, months and years.
What grade will you reward yourself with today?
-- Sarah Metzger (@SarahKMetz)
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