WHAT IS THE 80/20 RULE? If you pick up @bellamagazineuk this week you’ll see a double page spread that I help to write all about balance & the 80/20 rule. I’ve been working as a dietitian clinically in the area of weight management and weight loss surgery for over 13 years and making sure people enjoy their food, whilst achieving their health goals, is something that I am truly passionate about. Here then are 5 tips to get started if you want to instil a bit more ‘balance’ in to your diet & lifestyle! 1️⃣ KEEP A FOOD DIARY - If you want to make a change to what you eat have a go at writing down everything that you eat for a few days (including the weekend) or a week. Ask yourself what should you be eating or drinking more of and how can you work this in e.g. are you having your 5 a day (can you add some fruit to breakfast or salad to your lunch), are your carbs mainly whole-grains or are you having 2 x portions of fish a week, 1 of which is oily? 2️⃣ MODERATION NOT DEPRIVATION - Include the foods you love (soul foods!) in moderation (even if they are higher in calories/lower in nutrients than you’d like!). We want to avoid a binge-restrict cycle. 3️⃣ DON’T OVERTHINK THE 80/20 RULE - The 80/20 rule isn’t about calories and it isn’t really a ‘rule’ at all, it’s merely a guideline where as long as you are eating nutrient rich foods the majority of the time (i.e. 80%), it’s a-ok to include those little indulgences that feed our soul! It’s also ok to tweak the rule and go more than & less than 80%, depending on what you’re doing across the month. 4️⃣ ENJOY SOUL FOODS MINDFULLY - Remember the HALT acronym; if you’re feeling Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired try to have something nourishing and filling to eat or respond appropriately to your emotion/feeling. Now isn’t the time for soul food (note, it is ok to eat emotionally, but we want to avoid doing it all of the time!) 5️⃣ APPLY THE 80/20 RULE TO OTHER AREAS - Balance doesn’t just apply to food, it applies to sleep (the occasional late night won’t harm!), exercise (rest days are important!) and even alcohol (days off alcohol are important for your liver!). 🤔 Do you like the 80/20 rule? #whatdietitiansdo