Finding out what food your body needs for optimal health and vitality is one of the greatest things you can learn about yourself. When you get the right ratio of protein, fats and carbs for your body you will increase your energy, mood and satisfaction after eating.
Through years of study and working with clients, we know that there isn’t one correct way of eating for everyone.
"There isn’t one correct way of eating for everyone."
Our BePure food pyramids take the confusion out of eating according to your macronutrient type. They all have leafy green vegetables - not processed grains - at the base. Leafy greens are some of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet and they should form the basis of your diet for nutrient density and health.
All of us are genetically suited to eating somewhere on a continuum between protein, fats and carbohydrates. At BePure we use macronutrient profiling to help explain which combination of these macronutrients work best for you.
For those that do well eating most of their diet at the protein/fats end of the scale , we use the term “protein type”. For those that thrive off plant-based proteins, which are higher in complex carbohydrates, we use the term “carb type”.
Other people will fall between a "protein type" and "carb type" - either they will be directly in the middle, a "mixed type" or will be skewed to one end of the other "protein-mixed" or "carb-mixed".
Protein Type
Many protein types share similar characteristics. However, if a protein type, that doesn’t mean we’re like everyone else who’s a protein type. We're all completely unique on a metabolic level and the way you react to foods, your appetite and so on will be unique to you.
Nonetheless, here are some typical characteristics of a protein type;
- Strong appetites: Protein types tend to have a strong appetite to the point of being ravenously hungry throughout the day. We may feel the need to eat often, and may have a hard time feeling satisfied with meals and snacks. Protein types are usually 'hangry' if made to skip a meal.
- Cravings for fatty, salty foods: Protein types usually find themselves gravitating towards rich, fatty or salty foods, like meat, nuts, cheeses etc. However, if we stray too far from these heavier foods and consume too many carbohydrates, we may find yourself craving sugar. The likelihood is that the more we eat anything sweet, the stronger our cravings become. Eating sugar most likely causes your energy to drop or may make you feel nervous and jittery.
If we are a protein type, following this pyramid is a good way to construct our meals. Ensuring you include a protein and a fat at every meal will help reach this target.
Examples of meals that suit a protein type:
- Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Almond, lemon and parsley crusted salmon
- Scrambled eggs with greens and mushrooms
- Chicken Liver Pate
- Eggs Florentine with Smoked Salmon
Protein - Mixed Type
Protein - mixed types fall into the same category as a protein type and will therefore have many of the same characteristics. Protein-mixed types usually require just a little more carbohydrates (especially gentle carbs such as kumara, pumpkin, carrot and beetroot) to sustain their energy and keep them full.
Examples of meals that suit a protein - mixed type
- Lemon and thyme chicken drumstick with veggie skewers
- Lettuce Cup Burgers with Chips
- Nourishing summer bowl
- Roast Rosemary Lamb with Kumara and Mint Sauce
Mixed Type
Mixed types fall somewhere on the macronutrient profile scale between Protein Types and Carb Types. In this sense, they’re a mixture of the two, needing a more balanced ratio of carbs, fats and proteins at every meal.
Some mixed types will fall more on either side of the mixed scale i.e. be more on the protein side of mixed or more on the carb type side of mixed.
Many mixed types share similar characteristics. Like protein and carb types these similarities will not extend to a metabolic level - these always remain unique to each of us. Here are some typical characteristics we may have in common as a mixed type;
- Variable appetite: Mixed types tend to have average appetites. We tend to feel hungry at meal times but typically do not get hungry or think about food too much at other times.
- Weight control: Mixed types have the capacity to do well on the widest range of foods. For this reason, we're less likely to have a problem with weight. However, the freedom to eat a wide range of foods is not the unrestricted free-for-all it may seem at first glance – it’s also a requirement. When mixed types eat a restricted or one-sided diet (metabolically speaking) they can develop weight problems.
If you are a mixed type, following this pyramid is a good way to construct your meals.
Examples of meals suited to mixed types:
- Nourish bowl with homemade hummus
- Calming Green Smoothie
- Poached eggs with Kumara Rosti and Kale
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Pine Nuts and Halloumi Recipe
Carb - Mixed Type
Carbohydrate - mixed types will have many similar characteristics to carbohydrate types. Carbohydrate-mixed types usually require just a little more protein at meals to stabilise blood sugars, sustain their energy levels and keep them full.
- Nourish bowl with homemade hummus
- Buckwheat salad with chorizo and feta
- Chocolate smoothie with BePure EstroClear
- Warm, spiced cauliflower bowl with some roast chicken on the side
- Sugar-free baked beans with free range mince added
Carb Type
Many carb types will also share similar characteristics. However, similarly to the protein type above, this doesn’t mean we're like everyone who’s a carb type on a metabolic level. The way we react to foods, your appetite and so on will all be unique to us. Here are some typical characteristics we may have as a carb type;
- Relatively Weak appetite: For a carb type, a little bit of food tends to go a long way. We may eat three meals a day but often the meals won’t be large. Or we may find that we're satisfied with one or two meals and several small snacks throughout the day. Whatever the routine, chances are that food does not play an important role in your awareness daily.
- High Tolerance for Sweets: Carb types, generally, can handle sweets pretty well. This can be both a blessing and a curse, for although we can handle sweets, they can also be our downfall. Your tendency might be to reach for them whenever we're hungry or need an energy boost making it easy to overdo it. Over time this can increase our insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes.
If a carb type, following this pyramid is a good way to construct our meals. It’s important to include a small amount of protein at every meal as it is good for our body and will help to stabilise blood sugar levels but we don’t require a lot to keep us full.
Examples of meals that suit a carb type:
- Kale, Kumara and Quinoa Fritters
- BePure Berry Smoothie
- BePure Pancakes
- Pumpkin Soup
- Cauliflower steaks with green salad