Anar Allidina Nutrition - Food, Freedom, and Feeling Your Best!

Healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated—or boring. Just ask Anar, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator whose approach to nutrition is as refreshing as it is realistic. With a passion for good food and better health, she’s on a mission to simplify the noise around nutrition and help people feel amazing without giving up the foods they love. “Life is too short to restrict the foods you enjoy,” Anar says. Her philosophy? Eating well should be sustainable, enjoyable, and tailored to your lifestyle—not driven by trends or guilt. Whether you’re juggling a packed schedule, managing a health condition, or just looking to feel better in your body, Anar’s practical, no-nonsense guidance makes healthy living both approachable and rewarding. In this Delivery Rank’s interview, Anar shares how small, consistent changes can lead to lasting results—and why loving what you eat is the first step to lasting wellness.

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Any tips for those on a tight budget and schedule?

Absolutely! I always tell my clients that you don’t need fancy superfoods or hours in the kitchen to eat well. Here are a few tips:

• Rely on frozen produce — it’s just as nutritious as fresh, lasts longer, and is often cheaper.

• Batch cook proteins like grilled chicken, lentils, or boiled eggs early in the week so meals come together in minutes.

• Build balanced meals around affordable staples like canned beans, oats, eggs, and seasonal veggies.

• Stick to simple combos — a boiled egg, fruit, and a handful of nuts can be just as blood-sugar-friendly as a gourmet meal.

How do you help clients with diabetes maintain a joyful relationship with food?

One of the most powerful mindset shifts I encourage is to focus on what to add, not just what to take away. Instead of labelling foods as “bad” or telling people to cut everything out, we work on adding fibre-rich veggies, protein, and healthy fats to meals they already love.

For example, we might:

• Add roasted veggies to a pasta dish

• Pair rice with lentils and leafy greens

• Add chia seeds to a smoothie or oatmeal

This approach keeps meals satisfying, supports better blood sugar control, and removes the pressure of perfection. It also helps people feel empowered, not restricted, because managing diabetes is about building habits that are both nourishing and joyful.

How do you help people overcome food guilt or anxiety?

We unpack where the guilt is coming from—usually years of dieting or feeling like food is “good” or “bad.”

I encourage clients to:

• Replace guilt with curiosity — “What did this meal teach me about my hunger or energy?”

• Practice gentle nutrition, where we prioritize both enjoyment and nourishment

• Rebuild trust with food through consistent, non-judgmental patterns

You can care about your health and enjoy food without shame. That’s the goal.

What does a typical day of eating look like for you?

I aim for balance, simplicity, and satisfaction. I focus on 3 meals and try to minimize snacking. A protein-rich snack between lunch and dinner is a must for me! A typical day might look like:

• Breakfast: focus on high protein savoury meals like eggs, cottage cheese or smoked salmon. 

• Lunch: a leafy salad and protein like chicken and chickpeas with a fruit 

• Snack: a protein smoothie, or an Rx bar 

• Dinner: Grilled chicken or fish, toasted veggies and some rice 

I love meals that are easy, colourful, and help me feel steady and energized—just like I teach my clients. 

One piece of advice for someone overwhelmed by starting their health journey?

Start small—you don’t need to overhaul everything at once.

Focus on one or two doable changes, like eating breakfast or walking after dinner.

Progress doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from consistency over time. You’ve got this—and you don’t have to do it alone.

To read more about Anar Allidina Nutrition, please visit https://anarallidina.com/