All About Food: Nutrition 101 from a Clinical Dietician!

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Nutrition is one of the most important aspects in living a healthy life. However, because of the fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyle of students and employees, this tends to get overlooked. In this article, the group interviewed Mr. Gilbert R. Gonzales Jr., RND.

He is a Clinical Dietician and a Certified ServSafe Food Handler.

Today, we will be discussing food, balanced diet, and meal planning.

The group first asked what he would consider the best and worst kinds of foods.

For the best kinds, he identified them as good food. Basically, these are food with complete nutrients. It was specified that these have to supply a person with good requirements, not just caloric requirements. These must also be nutrient-dense and include the minerals that your body needs.

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For the worst kinds, he identified them as junk food. If good food is nutrient-dense, then junk food is calorie-dense. These foods include mostly sodium. An example given by Mr. Gonzales is a donut, which has 800 kilocalories. This is equivalent to consuming two meals. 

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Since junk food is the most accessible and most affordable food, the group asked Mr. Gonzales on the alternatives for this kind of food. He suggested that people should go for natural foods. Although it is pricier compared to the junk food we know, he emphasized that it is important to invest and condition yourself to eat healthy foods. You should add healthier options in the kinds of food you eat and ultimately, increase the minerals and nutrients in every meal you take.

The group then asked about meal planning.

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Mr. Gonzales stated the different benefits of meal planning, but the most notable one is about losing or gaining weight. If you want to lose or gain weight, you have to count your calorie intake. It is not as simple as decreasing or increasing the amount of food you consume. It requires discipline and knowledge to get to where you want to be in terms of physique and weight. Also, you cannot just plan your meals based on other people’s meal plans, because each person has his or her own needs in terms of caloric intake. It is not something that is universal. Because of this, it is highly suggested that you consult a registered nutritionist or a dietician for your meal plans, since they are the only ones allowed to give out meal plans. 

For planning meals and having a balanced diet, Mr. Gonzales uses the MoVaBa principle, which is:

Moderation - Food intake should be just enough, not too much, and portioned

Variety - The food you eat should vary

Balanced - Meal should ideally include carbohydrates, protein, fruits, and vegetables

Lastly, the group asked what is the one best piece of nutritional advice he can give.

Dr. Gonzales said that we should invest in our health, diet, and ourselves.

We can do this by eating the healthy food that will lessen the chances of having chronic illnesses like cancer, heart attack, or diabetes, and start to influence the younger generations by training them to choose the right food to eat.

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As said by Mr. Gonzales, it is never too late to practice a proper diet, because changing it for the better will improve your quality of life, so if you are thinking about changing your eating habits and living a healthier life, do it now! No matter what your age is, it is never too late.

With the right attitude, discipline, and information, you can reach your goals. Consult a registered nutritionist or dietician today and start your journey towards a healthy life!

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Note: Special thanks to Mr. Gilbert Gonzales, RND for being so open with us and sharing his full knowledge about wellness nutrition.