It’s a professional hazard that I get asked a lot of food and weight loss related questions. I’m more then happy to answer food questions and get a little too excited sometimes. I love talking about food!!
I’ve noticed more and more that the questions are all stemming around the same thing.
Q: What’s the best type of oil for cooking?
A: First let me congratulate you for not being afraid of using good quality fat in your daily diet. So many people are scared to incorporate this vital macronutrient fearing that it could lead to weight gain (false). The right fat choices have actually been proven to help speed up weight loss.
It’s a commonly held belief that Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the best type of oil to use when cooking. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a mono-unsaturated fat, which is at the top of the heart healthy fats but is only healthy for you when it’s used at room temperature.
Using EVOO at a temperature higher than low to medium changes the molecular structure of the oil and turns the heart healthy benefits rancid. EVOO is best used for cold salads, salad dressings and low temperature cooking.
The best type of oil to use when cooking is either Grapeseed oil or coconut oil. Both of these oils can withstand higher cooking temperatures without degrading. Grapeseed oil has a very mild taste. Coconut oil is great for replacing butter in most recipes and gives your stirfried veggies a lovely mild taste.
Q: Can I eat after dinner?
A: A common follow up question to this one is, what time should I stop eating? Both are very good questions. The truth is there is no one right answer. There are many factors that need to be looked at before we give you a personalized answer.
Here are some guidelines you can use to make the decision for yourself:
1. Are you actually hungry or just bored?
If you are actually hungry then review what you had for dinner and make some improvements. Add some additional protein or fiber. You should be able to go from dinnertime to breakfast time without feeling hunger.
2. Are you working out at night, specifically lifting weights?
If the answer is yes, then I recommend you consume a post workout shake in order to give your body the nutrition it requires after a strenuous workout.
Visit my Facebook page for a new shake recipe I just posted. Please remember to LIKE my page if you LIKE the recipe J Share the recipe with your friends and family too.
3. Is nighttime eating a habit?
Most of us have a nightly routine. For me, after the kids have gone to bed, I brew a cup of tea and relax either watching my favourite show or reading a book. My personal nighttime routine does not include food.
Does yours?
Think about your nighttime habits and if they are congruent to your goals. I often hear this “I was so good all day and then nighttime came around it all went up in smoke.”
If this sounds like you then you might need what I call a pattern interrupt or a break in routine.
Rule of thumb for nighttime eating is to stop eating 2 hours before you go to bed. I must caution you though… this rule of thumb is only helpful for people who go to bed at a reasonable time.
Remember to go my Facebook page and like my post workout smoothie recipe.
In good health,
Cheryl Wahl, RHN, Fitness Leader
