There Is No Universal Diet

  

 - What is actually healthy in nutrition, how are the foundations of healthy eating laid and what do extremes and obsessions lead to?

For me personally, all natural and real products are healthy, such as vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, legumes, nuts and seeds. Ie food in its natural form without being refined, processed, etc. And the foundations of healthy eating are laid at home, building some basic principles to follow the whole family. For example, to drink water instead of carbonated drinks, to consume mainly home-cooked food, to gather the whole family for dinner, and why not cook it together.
The subject of extremes and mania is very difficult because one rarely realizes that one has gone to extremes. This is usually a gradual process, which, unfortunately, comes at a price in the form of various deficiencies of valuable substances.

 - How to build a culture of nutrition in children and adults?

It is important for children to remember only one thing - children imitate others and especially their parents. We cannot expect a child to eat salads if there are none at home. Therefore, the first step towards changing the diet of children is to change the diet of adults - this at home, but also outside. The culture of nutrition is built by talking about the topic, so for example in some countries this is set at the level of schools and universities. The more we know about our food and our bodies, the more informed choices we make for our daily menu.

 - What can you say about the diet of the average Bulgarian from his experience so far?

Unfortunately, the average Bulgarian does not eat very well, because his menu has too many refined products, such as white flour, white sugar, trans fats, etc. We live in times when "quick and easy" have become key to our nutrition, but in reality "quick and easy" are not the best phrase for our health.

 - Is the  prone to changes and "experiments" with food and in which cases?

And yes, and no. He tends to follow an old Bulgarian custom when "the knife rests on the bone", ie when he is very unhealthy and looking for a way to improve. Sometimes a health problem in the family has a similar effect, especially when it comes to children's health. Something has to shake us to think for ourselves.

 - Is change possible if there is no support from the family?

It is possible, but it is extremely difficult, especially for us women, when we have to prepare food for the whole family. In such situations, it is good for the partner who is against the changes in nutrition to also see a specialist, at least to understand why these changes are necessary, how they will affect life together and whether it can be improved. Usually every sane person agrees that it is better for his partner to feel good and energetic than to be tired in the morning. However, for some it takes time to accept it.

 - How dangerous can be the chemical agents that are added to food, in terms of accumulation in the body and allergies?

This is a question to which we do not yet have an answer, but I suppose we will understand it in the coming years.

 - How can we achieve a balanced and complete menu?

First of all, by removing from the menu the unnecessary ingredients - too much sugar, refined fats, refined foods, etc., and then by trying to alternate different natural products and eat as varied as possible. The problem of the Bulgarian is that even when he eats real food, he usually clings to the same products. For example, he consumes only cow's milk and dairy products and neglects goat's, sheep's and buffalo's milk. Eat only wheat, while there are at least 10 other cereals on the market, such as einkorn, kamut, spelled, rye, oats, rice, buckwheat, etc. It focuses on only one type of meat, only one type of salad, etc., and it is good to think in the direction of diversity.

 - What do you think is the most important meal of the day?

From the point of view of the folk psychology of the Bulgarians and the building of a culture of eating, I would say dinner, because this is the moment when the whole family can gather and enjoy something delicious and home-cooked.

 - Are there universal diets?

No I do not think so. Everyone is different and individual, so it is good that the diet is such and corresponds to the way a person feels and the diseases that may occur.

 - How important is the environment, in addition to nutrition, for maintaining good immunity and health?

A lot. We humans are part of a whole, and when we talk about health, it is good to look at the holistic picture, which includes nutrition, movement, stress, the environment.