In politics, a ‘diet’ (or, /ˈdaɪd/ˈdia/d/ – see note below) is an informal deliberative meeting. The word is typically used historically for ceremonial assemblies like the ancient German Imperial Diet, and as a label for political assemblies of various countries and states including…
As you can see from the examples above, there is no universal definition for ‘diet’, with different cultures putting a different spin on the word depending on their perspective. A more useful definition is, ‘a method of eating meals that may influence the body’s digestion and absorption of nutrients, either directly or indirectly’. While this may not have been the intent of the original Latin ‘diet’, in modern English, the word has come to refer to a set of guidelines that help people maintain good health and lose weight.
The general consensus is that the word ‘diet’ was first used in the 1920s to describe the ‘National School Lunch Program’ (which is designed to provide healthy meals to children at the start of school every day) and the ‘Ten Year Plan’ introduced in Canada in 1970. Many other countries such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand have used the word to describe their own plans for food consumption, or even their policies to encourage healthy eating. These governments have adopted some of the guidelines of the National School Lunch Program, as well as implementing other strategies aimed at encouraging healthy eating.
Despite the popularity of this concept, the concept of a ‘diet plan’ is controversial. Many people view it as an attempt by the government to control people’s eating habits, and this would have a detrimental effect on the market – particularly if they were to implement strict guidelines for the consumption of food.
It is possible for the government to mandate healthy food consumption, but this approach is not necessarily desirable, as it limits individuals’ freedom to be choosy and their diets’ ability to vary and therefore limit healthy foods and create unhealthy alternatives. An alternative approach would be to encourage people to incorporate healthy eating into their daily routine by introducing healthy snacks into their diet, and encouraging them to choose nutritious foods at dinner time and snack throughout the day. This method might also encourage people to eat less food, resulting in weight loss and reduced intake of calories and other fat, and calorie-laden products.
There are several popular diets that use similar methods to promote healthy eating. A diet for example, would provide a list of healthy foods, which the person could include in their diet. Other healthy eating tips include making healthy food choices in the preparation and consumption of meals, avoiding processed foods and sugar, and choosing foods that are low in calories and salt to reduce stress and promote energy.