In a world of trending diets and food fads, don’t forget the benefits of simply eating whole foods, says dietician Dr Tim Crowe.

Trying to eat healthier, but confused by mixed messages about the best foods for your health? It can be difficult to see through diet recommendations such as detoxing or clean eating to find the healthiest foods. Start by following a simple food guideline that has stood the test of time: eat more whole foods.

What does ‘whole foods’ mean?

The term ‘whole food’ is normally applied to vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains with minimal processing, but it can apply to animal foods too.

It’s not as simple as neatly dividing foods into two groups – either whole foods or processed foods. Most foods we eat have undergone some degree of processing, whether it’s washing, chopping, drying, freezing or canning, and that’s not always a bad thing. For example, freezing and canning food gives us access to a variety of foods all year round.