You’ve heard the saying “All food in moderation,” but maybe you’ve been one of those fortunate individuals in the lunch line who has been told by a coworker,
“Oh, I’m avoiding that on my diet. I hear it’s unhealthy.” Or,
“You’re eating that!?! I thought you were trying to watch your weight.”

Well, let me remind you that all foods DO fit in moderation.

Case in point: for Lent several years ago, I gave up chocolate candy (huge feat for me, by the way; and before I continue I will allow you to be shocked because Yes, a dietitian does eat chocolate!!! Oh my!). For the next six weeks, I craved chocolate candy and found ways to fill that chocolate void by substituting other foods. Unfortunately, instead of substituting the chocolate candy for something healthy, I chose another sweet to fill the void. And that just didn’t work! I craved the forbidden food even more! And, when I was finally allowed to eat chocolate candy, I ate way too much of it that first day!

So, it’s OK to have a little bit of that previously forbidden food (unless you have a food allergy or religious reason for avoiding a certain food). Just don’t start eating it in place of all those other healthy foods that you have been eating. Sometimes, it’s better to eat a small amount of that “previously forbidden food” in moderation than to avoid it “while you’re on a diet”. Because when you “go off that diet”, you might binge on the food–which wouldn’t be good either!