Five Nutrition Myths That Sound Sensible — But Don’t Work for Everyone

Nutrition advice often sounds confident and clear-cut. But many well-known “rules” only work in certain contexts — and not for everyone.

Here are five common nutrition ideas that sound sensible, but can be unhelpful when applied too broadly.

1. “Everyone should eat at the same times”

Regular meals can help support stable energy, concentration, and routine for some people. For others, rigid meal timing simply doesn’t fit their lifestyle, work patterns, cultural norms, or natural appetite cues.

Shift work, caregiving, training schedules, medical conditions, and individual hunger signals all influence when eating feels supportive rather than forced. Forcing everyone into the same meal schedule can create unnecessary stress or disconnect from internal cues.

What matters most isn’t when someone eats on the clock — it’s whether their eating pattern supports sustained energy, focus, and overall wellbeing in their real life.

2. “Healthy eating looks the same for everyone”

There’s no single template for healthy eating because food needs are shaped by many factors, including:

• Culture and traditional foods
• Personal preferences and taste
• Health conditions and medical needs
• Activity levels and physical demands
• Budget, access, time, and cooking facilities

Two people can eat very differently and both be eating in ways that support their health. When we assume there’s one “correct” way to eat, it often leads to comparison, guilt, or confusion rather than clarity.

Healthy eating is not about copying someone else’s plate — it’s about building something that works for you.

3. “If it’s natural, it must be good for you”

The word “natural” is a label, not a guarantee. Many foods, supplements, and eating patterns marketed as natural can still be unsuitable — or even harmful — for certain individuals.

Foods interact with bodies differently depending on digestion, allergies, medications, health history, and tolerance. Something that works well for one person may cause discomfort or imbalance for another.

Context matters more than buzzwords. Health isn’t determined by how a product is marketed, but by how it fits into someone’s overall needs and physiology.

4. “Willpower is the main factor”

Eating patterns are influenced by far more than motivation alone. Factors such as:

• Energy availability
• Stress levels
• Sleep quality
• Emotional load
• Access to food
• Daily structure and routine

all play a significant role in food choices.

When eating is framed purely as a test of willpower, it often ignores these realities and places unnecessary blame on individuals. Supportive environments and realistic strategies are usually far more effective than trying to “be stronger.”

5. “More information leads to better eating”

Most people already have access to an overwhelming amount of nutrition information. Knowing what to do is rarely the main barrier.

What’s often missing is help translating that information into something practical, flexible, and sustainable within real-world constraints. Without that, more rules can actually increase confusion and frustration.

This is where personalised support — rather than more advice — can make a meaningful difference.

Final thought

Nutrition myths persist because they’re simple and easy to communicate. Real life, however, is complex.

A personalised approach allows room for flexibility, context, and nuance. That’s why professional nutrition support often feels very different from online advice — it meets people where they are, rather than where a rulebook says they should be.