Another Post from Jocelyne Gross NTP, A.C.N. 

Are you confused about what to eat? Do you find it difficult to navigate the conflicting claims for different diet plans? Unfortunately, these dietary plans share little with the way healthy humans have eaten for thousands of years. 

At the Weston A. Price Foundation, we turn to the pioneering work of Dr. Weston A. Price to answer the question, “What is a healthy diet?” In 1939, Dr. Price published his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration in which he describes the diets of healthy non-industrialized peoples throughout the world. He studied many groups that had perfect dental health and perfect overall health. He found a wide variety of foods in these diets. 

Given the variety of foods in traditional diets, is it possible to come to any conclusions about how to eat? In fact, we can—it is possible to formulate basic principles to guide us through the maze of modern food choices. 

The Weston A. Price Foundation advocates eleven principles of healthy, traditional diets. A diet based on these principles is called the Wise Traditions Diet. 

People can apply these principles to a diet that includes a variety of animal and plant foods, or to a diet that is restricted by what’s available and affordable; or to a diet that requires the elimination of certain foods due to food allergies and sensitivities—or simply to a diet determined by individual preferences.

The Wise Traditions Diet does not dictate specific ratios of macro-nutrients—protein, fat and carbohydrates—nor does it mean we have to eat unfamiliar foods like insects, seal oil or fermented fish. There are modern ways to obtain the nutrients we need using foods that appeal to us—and more importantly, appeal to our children. The Wise Traditions Diet does not eliminate any category of foods—such as meat, grain, fats or dairy products—but rather emphasizes proper preparation techniques which allow most people to include foods in their diet that would otherwise be problematic.

Everything that traditional peoples did with their food resulted in the maximization of nutrients—from their agricultural practices, to their food choices, to their preparation techniques. We can do the same with our modern diets—it just requires care in purchasing our foods and attention to detail when we prepare them. See our chart at https://www.westonaprice.org/wp-content/uploads/Conclusion-Chart.pdf outlining the differences between traditional diets which maximized nutrients and modern diets which minimized them. 

Applying these principles to your food choices has many rewards. Many feel more satisfied and healthier eating this way.