There is no single healthiest diet for everyone, but healthy eating patterns generally emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and other nutrient-dense foods while limiting saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.
Mandy Katz, Director of Healthy Living at Giant Food and a Registered Dietitian, says the healthiest diet ultimately depends on an individual’s lifestyle, activity level, health conditions, culture, food preferences and personal goals. The Mediterranean diet is one well-known example of a plant-forward eating pattern associated with health benefits, but it is not the only way to eat well.
As consumers become increasingly focused on health, nutrition and wellness, questions about healthy eating are influencing grocery purchasing decisions across nearly every department. Shoppers want to know which foods support long-term health, how to build healthier meals and whether popular dietary trends align with established nutrition science.
To explore those questions, Food Trade News spoke with Katz, who is a Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) and Certified Specialist in Pediatrics (CSP). She works with customers and associates to provide evidence-based nutrition guidance and practical strategies for healthy eating.
In this six-part interview series, Katz addresses some of the most common questions consumers ask about nutrition, healthy diets, grocery shopping and wellness. Her answers also provide food retailers with insight into the health and nutrition questions their customers are bringing into the supermarket.
What Is the Healthiest Diet?
The short answer: The healthiest diet is generally one built around a variety of nutrient-dense, mostly plant-forward foods while limiting saturated fat, sodium and added sugar. But there is no single diet that is healthiest for everyone. Individual health needs, lifestyle, activity level, culture, food preferences and personal goals all play a role.
Food Trade News (FTN): Mandy, thanks for sitting down with us. We’re excited to set the record straight – there are an incredible amount of people who all seem to be pitching the best diet and “best” foods to eat. I recognize that there’s a lot of fluff and “PR” there… It’s hard to figure out the truth from the TikTok. So let’s start with the big question:
Is there really one “healthiest” diet?
Mandy: Although the Mediterranean diet often earns top billing as the “best diet,” the truth is there are many culturally relevant eating patterns that offer the same health benefits.
The healthiest diet possible is simply one that includes a variety of nutrient-dense foods, is mostly plant-forward, and limits saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.
The best diet also depends on your lifestyle, activity level, health conditions, and personal goals. A long-distance runner and someone managing diabetes will likely eat
differently. And if that long-distance runner also has diabetes? Well, that’s a different nutrition approach altogether.
Is Healthy Eating About Cutting Foods Out?
FTN: So I should focus more on veggies and less on the snacks?
Mandy: Here is my recommendation: Think about nutrition in terms of what you can add for better health, not what you need to take away. For example, adding vegetables to a snack of chips and dip will provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which in turn may reduce the overall amount of saturated fat and sodium you consume because you’ve added volume from a nutrient-rich food.
Although most of us could significantly improve our diets just by adding more fiber and reducing added sugars and saturated fats, the healthiest diet possible is personal. It
needs to fit your lifestyle, food preferences, culture, and health goals.
Why Are Some Diets Difficult to Maintain?
FTN: I’ve been on diets that worked for me and ones that didn’t, but eventually the weight seems to bounce back. Is there a diet plan we can all stick to?
Mandy: Fad diets and even the greatest diet program in the world all have the potential to fail if it’s not the right eating pattern for you. For the best guidance, I recommend working with a registered dietitian who can help you figure out a nutrition strategy that works best for you and takes all of the things in your life into consideration – like your budget, cultural preferences, family needs, abilities and health goals.
At Giant Food, we have a team of registered dietitians who offer a variety of free nutrition services including education, meal planning, store tours, shopping and cooking
guidance.
We also offer Guiding Stars, a nutrition guidance program that points the way to more nutrient dense foods to make finding better-for-you items easier. Available on product tags, online and as a downloadable app.
The healthiest diet isn’t about restriction. It’s about building a way of eating that supports your health and fits your life.
FTN: (Sigh) I thought you were going to give me an easy way out here.
Mandy Katz, Director of Healthy Living at Giant Food, brings a wealth of knowledge as a Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN), Certified Specialist in Pediatrics (CSP). Born and raised in the DMV, she received her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Morgan State University and a Master of Science from SUNY Oneonta. She’s passionate about all things food and shares the inside scoop on all things that affect healthy living. You can learn more through Giant Food’s Healthy Living program.