Written by: Nicole Pazdziorko, RDN, LDN

The start of a new year brings fresh enthusiasm to reset intentions. Whether it’s to exercise more, change an eating pattern or pick up a new skill, setting resolutions is exciting when motivation is high, but sustaining them through the year usually proves to be more challenging. There is no shortage of diet trends that resurface at the turn of the calendar year, but one trend that’s here for good is personalized nutrition.

Research suggests that a variety of different dietary patterns can support overall health and prevent chronic disease. Large studies and dietary guidelines from different countries around the world highlight that Mediterranean, DASH, vegetarian, high-fiber, Nordic and other traditional cultural diets can improve markers of health, like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. What these diverse patterns share in common is not a set of strict rules or forbidden foods but a few common staples: lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, plant based proteins and some lean animal proteins, healthy fats, and appropriate portion sizes. 

On the other hand, years of “yo-yo dieting” or weight cycling is linked to faster weight regain with a higher percentage of fat mass and lower percentage of muscle mass. Additionally, chronic dieting can increase feelings of anxiety around food and is associated with increased risk of disordered eating patterns. Unfortunately, many popular diets are highly restrictive – eliminating whole food groups or severely limiting calories or carbohydrates. While these types of eating patterns can be appropriate for some individuals, many people will find greater success over the long-term by taking a gentler approach. 

Every person’s healthy journey is different – routine, genetics, cultural foods, preferences, allergens and health goals all shape the type of eating style that will work for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to eating well, which is why tailoring meal plans to your unique goals and preferences is essential to making changes that last. 

Food City’s My Nutrition makes it easy to find specific product recommendations according to your personal needs. This feature allows you to create a customized nutrition profile. Whether you have allergens to avoid, want vegan or vegetarian options, need foods that support your health while taking a GLP-1 medication, or want to avoid artificial colors and preservatives, your My Nutrition profile will filter search results based on those preferences. Visit foodcity.com to create your own profile and make shopping for your health easier.