When it comes to life and nutrition, all or nothing doesn’t work for most people. But 80/20 does!
My husband and I started “eating clean” about four months ago. I know, you are probably rolling your eyes at this point. However, we’ve tried clean eating with a twist! We follow the 80/20 rule. What does that mean? The 80/20 rule is simple. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle. Eighty percent of the time we eat “clean,” good-for-you foods, such as lean meats, chicken, nuts, berries, eggs, leafy greens. Twenty percent of the time we have the freedom to indulge as we please!
Why does this work? We haven’t felt it’s realistic to follow an “all or nothing” approach to dieting. When you feel deprived, it only leads to a bad place. Food is not the enemy; food is to be enjoyed in moderation! The good thing about the 80/20 rule is you can decide when and how to use your twenty percent. We like to use it over the weekends, to go out for dinner Sunday night, or enjoy chulent and then dessert on Shabbos. The 80/20 rule gives you the leeway to enjoy in a controlled manner. A friendly warning: make sure your 20 percent does not become 30, 40, or 50 percent! Our minds like to trick us into having “just one more piece.” In life and nutrition, it’s all about finding balance, isn’t it?
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