Why You Should Eat the Donut

A registered dietitian telling you to eat a donut? Crazy, right? Well interestingly enough, it can be more beneficial to your overall health to just eat the donut you have been craving, and here is why:

Now, we have been conditioned to view donuts as junk food which is fair considering they are fried sugary balls of dough, but my argument is for moderation and balance. When we restrict ourselves so much so that we don’t allow indulgence and enjoyment of the foods we crave, we end up hurting our bodies more than helping them. These restrictions may cause unnecessary stress, negative thoughts and feelings surrounding food and eventually binge eating. There is importance in avoiding over indulgence as well so listening to your body, learning and understanding the balance between the two is key to a healthy life.

Fad diets and health trends have conditioned us to view certain foods in a negative light leading to over-restriction. On the flip side there is a new wave of influencers and celebrities preaching the opposite of over-indulgence and no rules. Sometimes when we provide our body with too much instant gratification, we are watering down the beauty and enjoyment in certain things, leaving our bodies always craving for more.

Finding balance between the two extremes can be made easier with the help of a registered dietitian (like myself), but does involve a lot of personal growth as well. Some ways to achieve this balance include tuning into your hunger and fullness cues, chewing your food more and overall slowing the eating process, as well as cooking your own meals to better control what ingredients go in and also to better appreciate the time and effort that goes into preparing a meal.

If you find yourself dreaming of donuts, salivating at the site of them and getting mad at others who eat them around you while you continue to restrict, it is time to just eat the donut. But make sure to take some extra time to focus on your health and achieving balance so you can eat the donut without the worry.