That’s right. Everything.

That’s what I heard one of my coworkers say not too long ago. Did I mention that she’s a registered dietitian? And it really did ring true to me. I loved that she was saying that.

What does it mean to eat everything? Pretty much what it sounds like.

As in- yes, you want to eat your fruits and vegetables.

Also- yes, have some protein, some starch. It’s good to eat some carbohydrates, some fats (like butter). And it’s okay to have a little dessert, too. (Just don’t eat the whole pie).

Interestingly, there is a book that came out not too long ago by Dr. Dawn Harris Sherling called Eat Everything, which has to do with avoiding certain additives and emulsifiers that are in a lot of processed foods these days. Additives and emulsifiers are present in all kinds of foods, not necessarily just “junk foods.” There is growing evidence that these things aren’t good for our gut microbiome.

But what I’m thinking about, and what I heard the dietician talk about, is that it’s good to eat a little of everything. Not a high protein diet. Not a no-carb diet. Not a low-fat diet. She didn’t say to eat only between certain hours. She didn’t say never eat ice cream. Just, have a little of everything.

But everything in moderation isn’t very exciting.

One place that we run into trouble is with portion sizes.

Here in the United States, portions get so big it is ridiculous. When I go out to eat on the weekends with my boyfriend, I am rarely able to eat everything, and often take at least half of it home. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with that I guess. But if you’re a die-hard member of the “clean your plate” club, it’s way too much food. There are burgers so full of toppings that they are overflowing and you can’t even get it into your mouth. It’s literally impossible to take a bite. And crazy when you think about it.

So I sit there and watch these huge portions brought out and think, okay, this salad is big enough for a small family. Acknowledging the problem is the first step. There is no way I’m going to eat the whole thing. So I sort of portion off what looks like a reasonable amount, and then save the rest.

Let’s review some portion sizes. The Mayo Clinic has a great post comparing portion sizes to everyday objects that are easy to remember. For example, a serving of fruit (such as an apple) is the size of a tennis ball. A portion of protein is the size of a deck of cards. A portion of fats (such as mayo) is the same size as a pair of dice. I’m a very visual person, so these comparisons work really well for me!

Of course, if your doctor or other healthcare providers have told you to avoid certain foods due to health issues, always follow their advice!

As for me, I’m going to practice eating a little of everything. Just not so much.