The question of comfort and the volume trap
When I started to shift my diet towards keto, the question kept coming back, like a worried refrain: 'But Nyla, aren't you depriving yourself too much?' My answer, today as yesterday, is a categorical no. Eating light, for me, does not mean eating less in terms of pleasure or nutrients. This means prioritizing density over empty volume. A well-constructed plate, rich in selected lipids, quality proteins and varied vegetables, offers comfort that starchy foods can only roughly imitate. One can feel full, warm and fully satisfied without needing to fill one's belly with poor foods that only require more calories to fill a nutritional void.
The silence of the stomach after a good meal. It's the most beautiful music.
I learned to compose meals that really care for the body: concentrated broths that warm the soul, fatty fish that nourish the brain, sauces emulsified with olive oil that provide that essential creaminess. These items are not extras; these are the pillars of lasting satiety. At the table, it is also about ritualizing the act of eating: taking the time, appreciating the textures, the scents, so that the brain records the information of satiety well before the call for sugar manifests itself. Restriction is a struggle; density is peace.
I remember the diets of yesteryear, where I counted every calorie. How tired. Today I'm counting colors and flavors.
Routines, pleasures and sharing
I almost always start my meals with a small acidic starter — a few fleshy olives, a piece of preserved lemon or homemade pickles. This activates digestion, awakens the taste buds and prepares the ground. I favor cooking which concentrates the juices rather than those which dilute them. My snacks, when necessary, are concentrates of energy: a few crunchy oilseeds, a very fatty fermented yogurt or a small cube of goat cheese. The pleasure is maintained, intact, without ever slipping towards those sugars which trigger uncontrollable cravings an hour later.
Socially, it is entirely possible to invite without imposing the fatigue of apparent restriction. Offering generous, colorful plates, where cereals are absent but where abundance is everywhere, helps guests feel nourished without being weighed down. Eating light does not mean giving up the pleasure of eating; it's choosing pleasures that last, which don't collapse as soon as the meal is finished.
On a practical level, adopting this lifestyle requires simple but powerful actions: preparing your own broths in advance, always having jars of lacto-fermented vegetables on hand, reserving portions of cooked fish for lunches in a hurry. These routines reduce the temptation of processed products, these false friends loaded with hidden carbohydrates. We regain control over what enters our body, and this autonomy is a source of immense pride.
The smell of thyme roasting on the fish. A promise kept.
Psychologically, defusing the idea of restriction is the first step towards success. I encourage everyone to identify their immediate non-sweet pleasures: the crunch of a radish, the creaminess of an avocado, the spiciness of a spice. These sensations satisfy the brain without triggering the glucose hormonal cascade. Food should remain a source of pure joy, not a place of guilt or permanent calculation.
For moments of doubt, I think about density. A small bowl of Greek yogurt with a few almonds and a twist of lemon is infinitely more soothing than a sugary granola bar. It's a question of dynamics: we nourish the body so that it leaves us alone, so that it allows us to live, to create, to move. We don't live to eat, we eat to live intensely.
Finally, for entertaining, I favor large dishes to share. This breaks the 'diet' aspect and reinforces conviviality. By transforming the aesthetics of the plate, we transform the overall experience. We show that low-carb is not a subtraction, but a rediscovery of the essential. A cuisine that respects the metabolism while celebrating life.
The sun is setting. I feel alert, light, ready for the evening. No 4pm 'crash'. Just calm, steady energy.
Eating light ultimately means giving yourself the luxury of not thinking about it all the time. It is to be free.
