Nutrition by Addition: Why Adding to Your Diet is Better Than Taking Away

Most diets focus on restriction, from carbohydrates to sugar. But a new way of thinking among nutritionists suggests that the ultimate answer is to add, rather than take away.

Nutrition by Addition; the concept of “eating what you want, adding what you need.” This has become a popular phrase used primarily by nutritionists when encouraging people to add nutritious foods to their diet. It succinctly describes how people can enjoy their food while still meeting their nutrition needs, taking the focus away from solely focusing on restriction and placing the spotlight on how to eat more and properly nourish our bodies.

Why you should try nutrition by addition?

Helps add important nutrients to your diet

Focusing on adding nutrient-dense foods to meals and snacks, rather than focusing on what to take away, means that things like vegetables and fruits that most of us are missing are added to our diets.

Feel full and satisfied after eating

Eating carbohydrate-rich foods alone can lead to a spike in blood sugar, leaving us feeling hungry again shortly after eating. Adding foods rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats helps us feel satisfied as well as feel full for longer.

Adds variety to your diet

Variety is important to healthy dietary patterns. Eating a variety of foods, specifically, plants like vegetables & fruit, means we are getting the variety of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that we need.

Easier to adopt

Focusing on what you can add is a more positive approach to diet change, which makes the habits more likely to be adopted. The more enjoyable we can make a healthy decision, the more likely we are to make it.

Eat what you want, add what you need

Only focusing on restriction can feel like a punishment and foster feelings of guilt. Nutrition by addition supports a more flexible approach to eating; it provides guidance on how to create a nourishing plate of food while still providing people with lots of choices. Feeling full and satisfied from your meals also can help prevent overeating foods that are less nutrient-dense.

What should I add?

Protein

Helps keep us feeling full, and is important for tissue repair/muscle growth. Some examples of protein-rich foods are fish, beans, tofu, meat, eggs, and cheese.

Fiber

Focus on adding color to your plate. Fruits and vegetables add fiber as well as micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Fats

Increase satiety/satisfaction. Some examples of healthy fats to add to your plate include nuts, seeds, olive oil, and avocado.

Carbohydrates

The brain's main source of fuel and an essential macronutrient. Some examples of carbohydrates are rice, potatoes, pasta, grains, bread, and tortillas.

Cravings

You are allowed to eat the foods you are craving. Nutrition by addition puts the consumer in control of their cravings by adding nutrient-dense foods to them.

Here’s how nutrition by addition might work in practice. Let’s say you need a snack and are craving crackers. What can we add to your plate to make your snack more nutritious?

Carbohydrates/craving: one serving of crackers

Fiber: carrots or peppers

Protein: cheese or a Greek yogurt dip

Fat: pistachios or avocado

You have built a snack plate with a variety of foods that provide you with fiber, protein, micronutrients, fats, and carbs. Plus, you still got to enjoy the crackers you craved. Now you will feel satisfied until your next meal.

As always, for those who are required to follow specific diets for medical conditions, talk to your doctors and a nutritionist about how you can best meet your nutrient needs.

Maddie Peck RDN, CDN, Huel nutrition team