With so many diet, health trends and fads bombarding you and your children on a daily basis, it’s hard to know what to believe anymore.

The magical world of the Internet has opened a portal into a world where any old dietary plan can find it’s way into our midst, from ‘apple’ diets to the famous 5:2 diet.

So what should we believe?

What really defines healthy eating, and how can you provide the best staple diet for your family?

In an article from NowLearning Au, it is stressed that a vegetarian diet plan can give you the boost of power and energy you need to get by day to day, whereas meat can make you sluggish and lethargic.

Though the transition can be brutal, enough people speak of the benefits of vegetarianism that aren’t drab and pale little wallflowers to give the notion some sense. Meat should be a luxury, rather than a three times a day staple. Or should it?

Avid gym goers seem to relish in the idea of adding protein wherever possible, in the form of shakes and juices, as this is supposed to help your muscles repair more quickly.

The Paleo Diet suggests that you should eat only food that is unprocessed, essentially replicating the kind of diet our caveman ancestors could attain.

So nothing man made, and for extra points avoidance of any meat where the animal doesn’t require chasing.

In essence, meat, fish, fruit and veg is the name of the game, but will cutting out grain and unnatural sugars benefit your family?

Eating refined and excessively processed foods can make you sluggish, unfocused and can lead to obesity and diabetes if eaten in abundance. Though pastas and breads aren’t particularly unhealthy and are filling, the body can’t process them as a staple.

The Paleo Diet says that carbs should be obtained from fruit and vegetables, for example, sweet potatoes.

So is a low carb diet the answer? Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Though effective in weight loss, this is rarely an ideal lifestyle long term. A lack of fibre and an abundance of protein can cause problems later on, such as gout, constipation and kidney stones.

But back to the matter at hand, vegetarianism. Abolition of meat reduces the threats of heart disease, cancer and even eases the effects of menopause due to a less extreme imbalance in the hormones rushing about.

However, eating meat improves bone and muscle function, is a good source of a multitude of vital vitamins, and helps to break down chemicals in the body. However those on a vegetarian diet claim more energy, better health and a happier lifestyle.

No matter where you look, there is some type of research that says one thing, and three more studies that contradict it. It’s no wonder modern day mothers are worrying over it, because they are being told a multitude of different things by various magazines, products, friends and (the big one) the Internet.

So what’s the answer? The answer is, there is no definitive answer!

You have to do what suits your family and your lifestyle. Eat a well-rounded diet, maintain portion control, and try not to worry too much. As long as you are cooking with fresh produce that looks like what it’s supposed to be (and not disguised as a bread crumbed dinosaur) then you and your family are golden.

Like anything in life, remain wary and pay attention to what suits your family and what doesn’t.