Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 23: What's Your Ideal Diet Breakfast?
After months of experimentation I have finally come up with my perfect diet breakfast. I wish what I am about to tell you would be of more comfort to those of you who strive to eat a reasonably healthy diet, but it most assuredly isn't. In fact, what I'm about to tell you may be horrifying. Because I haven't settled on Greek yogurt or granola or toast made from whole-grain bread as my ideal diet breakfast, though I have grown to appreciate each of those foods in recent months. In fact I am using all three of the above-mentioned items in my diet breakfast rotation, along with a toasted bialy with the lightest schmear of whipped cream cheese.
But for this past week at least, my ideal breakfast turns out to be a 0.8-ounce bag of Kettle Bakes potato chips, a 20-ounce bottle of Diet Coke, and a banana. I find it has everything I'm looking for in a breakfast.
The chips are crunchy, satisfying, and moderately caloric (each bag is just 100 calories). These potato chips taste like potatoes, aren't greasy in the slightest, and have enough salt to be lipsmackingly good. They also have one of my favorite lines of copy on the bag: "The rice cakes are jealous." C'mon, you have to admit it; that's genius. Who's the copywriter?
The Diet Coke supplies the caffeine, plenty of taste, and is very filling. Twenty ounces of Diet Coke will fill even the hungriest of folks right up.
A perfectly ripe banana is, of course, a beautiful thing. It's creamy, sweet, and a wonderful source of potassium.
I hope, serious eaters, that you are not too disappointed in me. I know this breakfast leaves a great deal to be desired nutritionally and is lacking in so many other ways. For one thing, too much Diet Coke has a corrosive effect on my intestinal tract. But right now this particular breakfast seems to do the trick in the morning. I am sated after I eat it, and it tides me over until lunch. I have found in general that eating a real breakfast is important in my effort to lose weight and keep my energy level up.
Now we're about to find out whether my chips, diet coke, and banana breakfast has helped me lose weight this week. I stayed even for the week. I'm still down nine pounds overall.
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31 Comments:
Wow. That was unexpected. An frankly, pretty gross. Although the weird thing is, a girl I work with does the same exact thing.
zackola at 9:03AM on 06/20/08
of course it has helped you lose weight, you are eating somewhere under 250 cals depending on the size of the banana. although, you could be eating other things that have better nutritional benefits like green tea as a boost/antioxidant. for healthier grains/vitamins and fiber you could mix some chopped banana in with cereal like kashi too (you still get a crunch but more protein).
how do you stay full on the lack of protein in your breakfast now?
sweetpotato at 9:19AM on 06/20/08
Forgive me, but yuck. Not that I'm a model of nutrition, but if you replaced the Diet Coke with a sweet smoothie, you'd be off to a better start. I blend leftover fruit with a touch of milk, ice and sometimes protein powder (if I'm feeling healthy). Keep your chips, but get a replacement for the soda.
Of course, I gave up Coke, Pepsi (even the diet versions) years ago, and I'm still pudgy as ever... :) Still, I'd like to think a little bit of me is healthier, and I've earned a couple extra years.
eatboutique at 9:22AM on 06/20/08
Oh. Dear.
I have to say, since you're lacking in protein in that breakfast, I just don't get how that could possibly be tiding you over until lunch. Unless, that is, you don't eat breakfast until 10am.
I am a big fan of an actual breakfast. A fried egg sandwich with melted shredded cheese on whole wheat bread sticks with me for four or five hours. And while the egg has long been maligned, and of course there is fat in the cheese, I think fat and protein are necessary.
And yeah, I'm skinny.
sarahbeam at 9:35AM on 06/20/08
Ha ha, this is going to get some comments! I come from a family where we drank a lot more Diet Coke than water, so I can't point any fingers. Anything that keeps you full until lunch (without frontloading the day with 800 calories) works, I guess! I am wondering if eating a little bag of potato chips for breakfast would help me make better food choices throughout the day b/c I would have to cut off daydreaming about snacks by thinking "you've already had your potato chips."
Robin Bellinger at 9:37AM on 06/20/08
I get it, Ed. My ideal breakfast is a small dish of leftover pasta and a diet coke. Today I had some plain melba toasts, a nectarine and a thermos of tea...starch, sweet, caffiene.
Eat what feels good/ satisfying to you. Sometimes it may be a pile of sprouted lentils, sometimes it will be a diet coke. Just don't get burned out on any one item.
Kerosena at 9:41AM on 06/20/08
Ed
Way to go. Screw the detractors and all the negative feedback. Like Dr. Ruth once said......."If it feels good, do it!" The banana provides the fruit, potassium and wholesome "feel good" lift that you need. The chips offer the needed sodium, cover the required vegetable component and hold off any further "salty temptations". Lastly, as far as the Diet Coke is concerned, it's nothing more than a cold, carbonated version of java. I've been drinking it instead of coffee for years.
Spicelord at 9:42AM on 06/20/08
A woman after my own heart. I've long considered chips and Diet Coke my favorite breakfast. And so does my office-mate. I try to switch it up some days though and stay on the more banana-side of things with other fresh fruit, yogurt or cottage cheese. But nothing beats a bag of chips (I also like to sub crackers) and a Diet Coke. Love it.
bozichsl at 9:50AM on 06/20/08
Sorry to break it to you, but the environmental, political and social ramifications of that banana are pretty disturbing, too. See this op-ed? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/opinion/18koeppel.html?em&ex=1214107200&en=89ef8c4d78998612&ei=5087%0A
Cathy@noteatingoutinny at 9:59AM on 06/20/08
@Cathy@noteatingoutinny: Ed actually shared his thoughts on the banana mini crisis here!
Erin Zimmer at 10:14AM on 06/20/08
So I guess nutrition doesn't fit into the plan? There is some potassium in the banana but I generally look for fiber, protein and calcium in my breakfast. I hope the rest of your meals are a bit healthier.
cookingwithamy at 10:37AM on 06/20/08
If that's what you like, who is anyone to tell you not to.
I'm on a homemade smoothie kick lately. Frozen blueberries, banana, non-fat milk and non-fat yogurt. I whip it up in the blender and drink it on the road. It does however lack the salty factor. :-)
Muhlyssa at 10:46AM on 06/20/08
My perfect breakfast is oatmeal made with skim milk, banana....and 24 ounces of Diet Mt. Dew.
sunfastrose at 10:51AM on 06/20/08
Wow, did you ever let yourself in for it! Have to admire your courage. I'm just thinking that growing that thick skin has to account for a couple of pounds? ;-D
PerkyMac at 10:51AM on 06/20/08
Ed...um, yuck. When I worked at a health and fitness woman's magazine, they ran a test where they had different staffers give up different kinds of processed foods, and the one who gave up corn syrup (including all soda), and was a normal weight to begin with, lost ten pounds in a month. And she wasn't even a frequent soda drinker.
Soda is one of the most empty calories-filled foods around. I think that your co-worker Adam may be a bad example. Perhaps you can both give up soda. Also junk food.
Perhaps you can have a nutritionist suggest a better breakfast?
NYminknit at 11:55AM on 06/20/08
If you are going to eat diet junk for breakfast, go all the way and try the Lay's Light chips. They are exactly like the real lays, and only 75 calories an oz. Much tastier than any of the "baked" chips.
If you are nervous about the Olestra, read Jeffrey Steingarten's article "A Fat of No Consequence". They've finally got the formulation right in the chips so they don't coat your mouth.
(my favorite diet breakfast is a few slices of boiled ham, and a few oz of blackberries)
peekpoke at 12:14PM on 06/20/08
LOVE IT!
I prefer wasabi rice crackers, a peach, and diet gingerale.
PS: If you want awesome chips, you must try Pop Chips. Sea salt flavor. They are incredibly great. Trader Joes has their version as well. Find them, seriously. They're not diet tasting, I promise.
mangabanga at 12:46PM on 06/20/08
You're getting quite a lashing but as long as you understand how much your breakfast is lacking in nutrition, I don't feel as though I should add to the chatter. I wish I had the cajones to eat chips for breakfast! How I envy you!
My favorite DIET breakfast is a 1/2 cup of plain fat-free organic yogurt, 1 apple (Granny Smith or Pink Lady), 1 hard-boiled egg, and 2 cups of water. If I've got more time, I like to do a quick tofu scramble with some bell peppers, served alongside half an avocado, pico de gallo, and whole wheat tortillas. I'm not much for sweets for brekkie.
Centelleo at 12:50PM on 06/20/08
Haha, at least you're honest! :)
Today I had a 20oz coffee with two splendas and about 1/4 cup of skim milk and a 2"x2" brownie (packaged Ghiradelli Double Fudge Brownie Mix--I don't care what anyone says, it freakin' rocks).
Tomorrow, I'm definitely making a blueberry/banana/yogurt smoothie with a side of bacon and gotta have my coffee.
wookie at 1:00PM on 06/20/08
The banana is a good start. :)
But, instead of the potato chips, what about some crunchy granola with a bit of yogurt, and a cup of green tea instead of that diet coke?
I know how hard it is to diet to shed pounds, and sometimes starting the day the easiest way possible seems to be all you can manage, but from experience, let me tell you that you need some protein and some whole grain to go with that healthy banana, or you'll be hungry again in a couple of hours, and tired as a dog by 4pm.
I applaud you for trying to take off some weight. It's not easy.
Brownie at 1:07PM on 06/20/08
Holy crap, you'd think by the way people responded to what you're eating Ed that you're actually eating like a deep friend snickers bar and beer for breakfast. It may not be the most nutritionally perfect breakfast, but in contrast to people's opinion too, its not always possible to get the "perfect balance" of protein, carbs, and fat. And if this is what is comfortable for him and is helping him throughout the day to eat better later on as well as lose weight, then more power to him.
@NYminknit: Soda can be a very empty calorie filled food but I wasn't aware that the diet forms had calories. Also, having a little junk food isn't bad for you. Everything in moderation. Thats the real problem in America and obesity. Many people don't do that here. I don't think telling Ed and Adam that they're bad examples is right and is really rude to be judging them like that.
zekks at 1:08PM on 06/20/08
Well, it's probably healthier than the breakfast burritos I love so much! =D
OneWallKitchen at 2:15PM on 06/20/08
@zekks.......Freudian slip? "deep friend snickers bar"
It must be really good to be your deep friend! Must try that with beer for breakfast - Saturday morning! Was planning to make orange sour cream scones, and they would accompany it perfectly! ;-)
PerkyMac at 2:18PM on 06/20/08
hahahaha, i love this. AWESOME breakfast.
Maybe that Fairway by you has this too, but I go to Trader Joes to pick up bags and bags of nuts for breakfast. You just keep it in jars or plastic Chinese take out containers. When you wake up you can scoop some out for breakfast. I would get a variety just so you can make your own mix (almonds, macadamia, cashews, whatever).
It is all good fats and it is fun to eat. When you buy it in big bags at a decently priced store, it's ok quality and won't break the bank.
foodinmouth at 2:24PM on 06/20/08
Diet Coke has a mysterious addiction piece too it; I don't understand it, and I've brought it up in several substance-abuse classes. (The prof sniffs at me, but there are always three or four people who say, "Yeah, I noticed that too!")
The satisfaction of drinking Diet Coke is more than just satisfying; I frequently compare it to those moments in P.G. Wodehouse's novels when Bertie Wooster drinks one of Jeeves' pick-me-ups and the sun peeks through the clouds, the birds start singing in three-part harmony, etc. etc.
But...I once worked at restaurant where all the fountain drinks were free to staff and we also got one meal per day. After a week I had 24/7 heartburn and I was afraid it was from the food. Switched to water from Diet Coke and the heartburn went away. So there's that, for what it's worth.
And Ed, a packet of potato chips per day for a gentleman of your age? A little high-sodium, no?
annien at 2:34PM on 06/20/08
Hey Ed, if it works for you...for now...go for it. I'd be a little concerned about the carbs, though. How about half a banana?
bessfour at 3:22PM on 06/20/08
@zekks: I say...post your breakfast on the internet and get ready to be judged. Mwahahahahah. But yes, perhaps I should take a less judgmental tone. Adam and Ed: Perhaps your fondness for soda is not a problem, but an opportunity to find more delicious and healthy drinks? Carbonated water mixed with juice? Or a splash of lime?
Also, though diet soda may have less calories, diet sodas, are in my opinion much worse than regular sodas. They're even more chemical and additives filled than regular sodas. Here is an article about their history: http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20060619-soda-diet-tab-diet-coke-diet-pepsi.shtml
NYminknit at 4:22PM on 06/20/08
On work days, I eat the same thing almost every morning-but it requires a bit of organization to have a supply of roasted veggies on hand. I heat up already-roasted potatoes (or sweets, and/or beets), already-done mushrooms and onions, and cut up a couple of stalks of asparagus, add egg whites, and boom-a breakfast frittata in a matter of minutes! I get protein, a little bit of carbs, and some veggies to start my day...grab the coffee (iced at this time of year), and I'm off to work.
If I'm really not hungry (or it's the weekend) I'll have a yogurt w/Kashi Go Lean Crunch mixed in--but that only carries me for about 2.5 hours, vs. the fritatta, which is good for the morning.
Curlz at 11:10AM on 06/21/08
I can understand the Potato Chip and Banana combo. Occasionally I'll indulge in some potato chips on my Elvis sandwich. Peanut butter, bananas, honey and salty potato chips. Yum.
These days my ideal breakfast is a piece of Trader Joe's high fiber bread with 1 oz of French brie from the Trader. They sell a nonbranded double creme brie that has only 90 calories for 1 oz. The fiber brand and the fat in the cheese get me going and keep me sated for a while. Sometime I'll also have some TJ's high fiber cereal or some Kashi Heart to Heart. Chased down with a skim latte when I get to work.
Whenever possible, I do enjoy leftover cake for breakfast. Mmm...cake...
BrooklynBrownie at 10:22PM on 06/21/08
Diet soda, while not having calories is full of aspertame, which (unlike Splenda) is an artificial sweetener that spikes the blood sugar. Strawberries or a real potato have more potassium than a banana, actually, and while some fruit is better than no fruit, a high sugar, high GI starchy fruit plus aspertame is very hunger-spiking, combined with potato chips (also high GI) that have little nutritional value.
A typical 'breakfast sandwich' of an egg on an English muffin with cheese or even lean meat would be lower in calories and have more protien, depending on the bread, how the egg was cooked, and so forth.
Smoothies are very high in sugar too, btw, for all of you 'fans' out there...
I've never understood smoothies, personally--as long as I have teeth, I like to chew my fruit!
Nothing is wrong with an occasional indulgent breakfast, but if I'm going to indulge, hell I'll have cake for breakfast, not packaged snack food and good coffee, not preservative-laden soda!
HeartofGlass at 8:34AM on 07/01/08
@HeartofGlass - Thanks for mentioning aspartame! Artificial sweeteners, while they may be noncaloric, do foster sweets cravings the same way that refined sugar does, so diet sodas can actually encourage overeating. And there's that little bit about aspartame being a neurotoxin...
I do take exception with the smoothies comment - when they're made with no added sugar, they can be an excellent breakfast food for the times of year when fresh fruit isn't readily available. Frozen fruit is not very palatable thawed and eaten, but it's perfect for a smoothie.
producestories at 9:29AM on 07/01/08