May the Fourth be with you.

It’s Star Wars day again. That means it’s a perfect time to break out your light saber and pop in your old VHS copy of Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. But before you get frozen (in carbonite) in front of the TV, let’s see what our favorite Star Wars characters have to tell us about healthy eating. Whether your eating style “makes the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs” or is food equivalent of Episode I (i.e. not great), these tips can help you eat like a Jedi.

 “It’s a trap!” – Admiral Ackbar

Ackbar’s (too little, too late) warning also applies to fad diets. The Internet is full of diet traps offering extraordinary results for little effort. But remember to be suspicious of diets that look too good to be true. Develop your own healthy eating style, based on the principles of variety, balance and moderation, and stick with it. This may not help you avoid any Death Stars disguised as moons, but it will certainly help you avoid harmful fad diets.

 
“Your eyes can deceive you. Don’t trust them.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi

A classic quote from Obi-Wan Kenobi: Jedi (Food Safety) Master. When it comes to preparing a meal, your eyes can certainly deceive you. You can’t tell when meat, poultry or fish is cooked just by looking at it. It may “look done,” but dangerous germs could be hiding inside. Always use a food thermometer to make sure your meat or poultry has reached the proper internal temperature.

“That … is why you fail.” – Master Yoda

A gem from Yoda, who obviously missed his calling as a Registered Dietitian. When we make unrealistic healthy eating or weight loss goals, we set ourselves up to fail. Practice setting “SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Timely)” goals. These can help us set ourselves up to succeed.

Remember, when we’re aiming for a healthy lifestyle overhaul, it’s often more sustainable to make one small change at a time. These small changes can add up over time. Just remember, Cloud City wasn’t built in a day.