Many people live for the glory of cheating on their diets. This concept of eating your favorite treats while otherwise following what you consider an optimal diet is often referred to as “cheat meals.”
Many nutrition experts recommend that people don’t try to be a dietary saint all of the time and incorporate some leeway into an otherwise healthy eating plan. “You can eat healthily and be healthy without eating nutritious foods 100% of the time,” says Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition expert with a focus on mental wellness. “When you remember this, it’s easier to stay on track with healthy eating because a less healthy meal isn’t viewed as a setback.”
