Mowing the lawn with the house on fire

If you're like many people trying to figure out the "right" way to eat, you probably ask questions like:

• "I had two cups of carrots and calculated that as 18 grams of carbs. Is that OK? What if I had three cups?"

• "Is a diet cola with a chocolate bar a 'diet meal'? The chocolate has peanuts, which add fiber... does that cancel out the sugar?"

• "Can I skip my veggie servings if I drink three greens supplements a day?"

• "What’s your take on chickpeas? Are they good or bad? What about black beans?"

Curiosity about food is a good thing. But questions like these often reflect a focus on details that don’t truly matter in the big picture of healthy eating. Think of it this way: stressing over these specifics is like obsessing about your lawn while your house is on fire.

With so much information about nutrition and endless products promising miracles, it’s easy to get lost in tiny details and sidetracked by information that doesn’t actually drive results.

Let’s refocus on what really matters.

Focus on the Basics That Drive Real Change

Here’s a list of foundational practices that will give you the biggest payoff for your energy and attention:

1. Eat slowly and to about 80% full, consistently.

2. Learn and follow your body’s hunger and fullness cues, consistently.

3. Choose high-quality foods, consistently .

4. Move your body regularly in ways that feel good.

5. Align your habits with your goals, consistently.

   
   

In other words, ask yourself:

• Are you eating slowly and mindfully? Are you choosing foods that you know support your health as often as possible?

• Are you truly eating to about 80% fullness? Or just kinda sorta, sometimes?

• Are you choosing real foods over highly processed options? (Hint: "diet foods" usually don’t make the cut!)

• Are you sticking to your workout routine and putting in genuine effort?

• Are you getting enough quality sleep and recovery time? Do you have a good wind-down routine to manage stress?

• How consistent are you with your nutrition choices? (A few days of food journaling can reveal a lot.)

• Are your expectations realistic? Are you aiming for long-term, sustainable health changes, or getting sidetracked by quick-fix goals?

  
  

Master Healthy Eating Basics—That's When the Magic Happens

The truth is, obsessing over minor details like supplement dosages or exact carb counts won’t give you lasting results. It’s the basics that build a strong foundation for health. Once these basics become ingrained habits, the "magic" of sustainable, long-term change starts to happen naturally.

Focus on what truly matters and start taking action today. Leave behind the endless wondering and worrying—transform your curiosity into meaningful actions that will move you closer to your goals.