Food & Health
As I get older I'm trying to become more health conscious because I realize that it won't be "easy" to keep the extra pounds at bay once I hit my 30's. I love to cook and generally make everything from scratch, which I've convinced myself is good for you no matter what you're making. I'm sure this isn't true, but it's what I tell myself.
I've recently become quite obsessed with looking at the nutritional information on everyday items. I don't eat a lot of junk food or fast food, so when I hear about the ridiculous amount of fat in McDonalds or other food, I'm not very surprised. You get what you pay for.
That being said, I had lunch with my parents today and they bought a couple of pizzas from Costco. Now, I know pizza isn't good for you, but I had NO IDEA it was this bad for you. I looked it up online and there's about 750 calories in a single slice of Costco's pepperoni pizza. I was shocked- especially since I'd eaten two.
Those two crappy slices of pizza provided me with the amount of calories I'm supposed to consume in an entire day! It wasn't even good or filling or fulfilling! Basically, what I'm saying here is that it blew my mind.
Has anyone else become more health conscious lately? Have you come across any shocking information? After all, if that many calories and grams of saturated fat are in two shitty slices of pizza, can you imagine what the caloric intake is for kids who eat fast food three or four times a week? I'm beginning to understand the "obesity epidemic."
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15 Comments:
it's so hard to grasp that 2 slices of pizza were almost your total daily caloric requirement.... but it's true. at least you're aware of it now.
i don't eat anything but whole, natural foods. i eat a huge salad every day, veggies, good quality protein. at this point it is not even a challenge. it's a way of life. i'm a sucker for dark chocolate and i love a good bag of potato chips every now and then - maybe twice a year i'll eat a big bag just to get it out of my system. afterwards i say, "why did i do that?" ... because i'm human.
so, if you get used to eating really good quality food -- you won't miss or even want the other stuff. take care of yourself now because those years fly by.....
pooch at 9:29PM on 05/19/09
Yes! It's so hard to balance loving food and staying in shape. I also recently passed the 30 year mark, and it's wayyy harder to keep the pounds at bay. I love to cook, but recipes always use gobs of oil and butter that I know I shouldn't be using. If you're shocked by the nutrition in pizza, have you ever measured an ounce of cheese to see what a serving looks like??? My kitchen scale is my new best friend.
I'm leaning towards loving baking more and more every day, but you can't really bake for a hobby if it's then sitting on the counter starting you in the face.
In the past, I thought "healthy" meant lean cuisine and spray butter. I successfully and easily lost 20 pounds on weight watchers several years ago, by using lots of "low fat" products. The past few years I've eliminated most of the chemical stuff, but that leaves me using more butter and heavy cream. The health nut in me wants to buy part skim pollyo mozzerella - the cook in me knows how good fresh handmade mozz is. The more I become a better cook, and lean towards natural ingredients, the calorie count goes way up.
Going to restaurant is tough too - when I'm actively watching my weight, I know I should get a salad or something, dressing on the side, but what fun is that? Or I could go with portion control, and eat a "serving" of pasta that's not enough to even gently curb my appetite. BTW, ever measure a "cup" of pasta? It's laughable....
I know it's possible to add flavor to your food using fresh ingredients and herbs and spices rather than heavy fats, but what can I say- I love to cook and find new recipes, and to eliminate all of them that call for tons of cheese or butter would really be a shame.
It's been on my mind a lot lately (hey, summers coming and i want to lose the same 10 pounds that every woman wants to lose!). I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling it, especially in a food community like this one. Thanks pumpkin - good luck!
nalega at 10:26PM on 05/19/09
i have written many scholarly papers and done extensive research in this area!
calorie WATCHING is a good thing, being aware of whats in your food, and what it does for your body is very beneficial. Calorie COUNTING however, tends to lead to obsession about food, and unhealthy relationships with food (food as a number instead of something to enjoy). i am sure this differs between people, but it is a slippery slope for those who already have an unhealthy relationship with food.
with that being said, i believe all foods are fine in moderation. Just make sure you get lots of fruits and veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats (olive oil, avocados, raw nuts, etc). Also, drinking only water is beneficial to weight loss. you would not believe how many empty calories we consume a day from drinking!
its not going to kill you to indulge every once in a while, it also may prevent you from loosing control later and eating way too much of a bad thing.
i think most calorie bombs are pretty obvious (fried chicken meals, gigantic pastries, fried foods, etc) but some you might not expect!
such as: many salads pack more calories than a sandwich, this is due to all the add ons (bacon, cheese, dressings, mayo, etc). always ask for your dressing on the side!
also, beware of smoothies! for instance, the medium sized pb mood at jamba juice packs a whopping 800 calories!
high calorie food does not automatically mean its bad, it could actually mean it is nutrient rich. (like in nuts and avocados) these foods you can enjoy in moderation. just beware of high (and low) calorie foods that do not help your body in any way!
the take away message here is, just because something seems like it should be healthy, doesnt mean that is. do your research, and understand what you are putting into your body, and you will be fine!
knowledge is power! (haha, cheesey, i know ... but oh so true!)
Deeberry at 3:14AM on 05/20/09
@Deeberry--I think the problem with fast food and processed food is the problem that sometimes the 'calorie killers' aren't obvious. A slice of pepperoni pizza I would assume had 450 calories if it was a large slice, not 750.
After growing up with a very unhealthy attitude towards food (lots of anxiety about eating too much, but an emphasis on always cleaning my plate) sometimes it amazes me to 'go back' and watch my father and his family talk about going to Pizzaria Uno, and everyone getting a personal pan pizza at about 2,700 a pop, plus drinks and appetizers--at some restaurants you probably could eat twice as many calories in a meal than you should have in a day if you 'tried.'
I agree that growing up with a healthy attitude is best--eating until you are almost full, no more--but unfortunately in this society, very few of us have this 'luxury' and sometimes being nutritionally conscious is a necessary step to getting in touch with your natural appetites.
HeartofGlass at 5:22AM on 05/20/09
I've always been relatively healthy compared to the regular US population, but I've definitely had my own personal ups and downs with really healthy eating. I'm on a recent upswing since not being able to rid myself of the extra 10 pounds of post-wedding, post-pastry school, I'm not in my early 20s anymore fat. This time it's a little different since I'm not just looking for low fat, low calorie stuff but really analyzing the food chain as well. It's a slow lifestyle adjustment this time. I've been doing a lot of reading the usual suspects like the Omnivore's Dilemma. I just started Skinny Bitch and Food Matters is next. I think the more you research, the more aware you are automatically about what is going into your body. It's a lot to think about though... and I really like Doritos. It's a struggle.
meem21 at 11:13AM on 05/20/09
Fortunately in the case of all of us SE'ers, we LIKE to make things from scratch. That alone gives us a serious advantage over people that don't like to cook or don't know how. Your pizza dilemma is a great example. Pizza can actually be a really healthy, well-rounded meal if it's made in the right way. Just last week I purchased some whole-wheat dough from Trader Joe's, and it tastes great, not to mention it's all-natural, and high in fiber. Spread your favorite tomato sauce over it (homemade is even better since you control the fat, salt, and sugar in it), top with any veggies you like, lean meats, and a reasonable amount of low-fat cheeses, or small amounts of full-fat, highly flavored cheeses. Use the "everything in moderation" approach in whatever you cook or eat, and the rest will take care of itself.
And the other thing that I can't stress enough is exercise. I'll be the first to admit that one of the main reasons I work out regularly is because I love to eat! I love to bake and refuse to give up dessert, so if running 5 days a week allows me to occasionnally indulge in a slice of cheesecake, I'm all for it.
kimberlymac at 11:24AM on 05/20/09
PumpkinBear's gonna turn thirty? Holey smokes! I think I'm wearing a pair of underwear that old. Kimberlymac has got it right. Diet is NOT our big health problem. Our big health problem is a lack of exercise. Well, it helps to cut back hard on the sugar. Lay off the soda water, walk a mile or two everyday, unless you happen to have a job that requires a lot of physical labor, and you won't have that much trouble. The battle of the bulge doesn't really get started until you turn thirty-five.
Grumpy Old Man at 11:49AM on 05/20/09
@Grumpy old man: I'm actually twenty-four, but my thirties are looming!!!
PumpkinBear at 3:51PM on 05/20/09
I am not shocked, but I am dismayed to learn about the Mercury tainted corn syrup. Especially since corn syrup is in almost everything from condiments to canned soups, and everything in between. If corn syrup wasn't bad enough before, it certainly is now.
I do drink sodas from time to time, and have made the choice to switch to "sugar only" sodas (boutique sodas like Jones - et al, and Mexican Coke in the bottle), for the times I do enjoy them.
As far as a diet lifestyle: Moderation, exercise, lots of clean water, quality oils, and plenty of good fresh produce is a great way to go.
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 5:17PM on 05/20/09
@PumpkinBear,
Only twenty-four? Yep, I have a drawer full of skivvies that are older than you are. Take it from an old fart that had to learn the hard way. STAY active. Daily exercise is more important than a fastidious diet. Oh, and exercise is similar to savings and compound interest. It isn't how much you do on any given day that matters most. It's a matter of doing a reasonable amount regularly. At twenty four, you shouldn't have any trouble running a mile a day, or even five miles a day. Go get your cholesterol checked. If you don't have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, you don't need to panic over your diet.
Grumpy Old Man at 8:38PM on 05/20/09
It is a struggle. I love to cook and I really love to eat. I lost 20lbs doing weight watchers a year ago and found I was simply eating too much. I have become more and more aware of trying to eat more locally and healthfully, but I still love dessert and my fair share of junk food. I wish I could be the person who only eats whole foods and no refined flour and no sugar, but unfortunately I am not. I never have eaten much processed food but I do love to bake and eat what I bake...along with ice cream and chocolate... I probably exercise more than the average person my age (40 this year, how did that happen??!!) but find I HAVE to in order to enjoy my food habit. Weight Watchers has taught me a lot about portion control and thinking about what I eat. It's about balance and it's not always easy.
The biggest shocker for me that I was eating about twice as much as I needed to, and I in fact did not starve to death when I cut back. Though it was a long winter and I really need to get back to counting those points...
mrsmoosie at 9:19PM on 05/20/09
Paula,
The Newsweek story is, as is usual for our "news" services, short on details. If the mercury is coming from the equipment used during processing, then there is a relatively easy fix for it. If, on the other hand, the mercury is coming from the corn we have a much more difficult problem to deal with.
Mercury is getting into the environment from burning coal. Now, there are a number of ways to reduce or eliminate this source of trouble, but they are not cheap. The only place where any kind of stack scrubbing is going on is right here in the United States. China, India and Mexico are burning coal as fast as they can feed it to their boilers. Not a one of those three countries have bothered to install stack scrubber or made an attempt to remove the mercury from the coal prior to burning it. Many countries buy coal from us because even after shipping costs our coal is cheaper than their mining efforts.
Careful checks will likely reveal that it is not just corn syrup that has mercury in it. We are creating a situation wherein our entire food chain is becoming contaminated with mercury. Worse, it takes an exceedingly long time for mercury to be pumped out of biological cycles. For example, a forest that was somehow converted to coal sequesters mercury and takes it out of the environment. A forest that burns, either from a forest fire or natural decay (natural decay is basically very slow combustion), releases mercury back into the air and water. Yes, I am simplifying the definition of the problem.
The only answer that I can see, and many likely will find this distressing, is to build nuclear power plants to replace the coal fired plants. We here in the US could replace all of our coal fired plants with nukes and it would not make a bit of difference until China and India chose to follow suit. The situation really is that bad.
Grumpy Old Man at 1:30AM on 05/21/09
You're looking at a pizza that's got a relatively thick crust (it will stay fresher longer) plus it's HEAPED with toppings - and cheese. If you limit yourself to "better," smaller pizzas with thinner crusts made of whole wheat and less cheese - pile on the veg - It's not such a terrible sin to have pizza.
therealchiffonade at 12:22PM on 05/21/09
I totally understand this dilema because I am a foodie and one who particularly loves things like real butter, good cheese, dishes made with cream, ,good bread, red meat, things of that nature but I have to watch calories and count carbs because of my diabetes.
I have learned how to balance the things I want to eat and the things I should eat but sometimes I take extra medication so that I can indulge...
Oh andhave you read that series of books Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenco? It will BLOW YOUR MIND how many calories are in the food you eat...not to mention the fat and sodium but it gives you great alternative choices.
mayoxqueen at 12:46AM on 05/22/09
Since a young age I have been extremely cautious of what I put in my mouth - and I am still very strict about my food consumption. Luckily I adore the foods I allow myself to eat so that's a good thing. Non-starchy vegetables and high quality protein are the 2 food groups allowed in my diet along with healthy fats from olives and their oil, fish and flaxseeds. I will never veer off my lifestyle either because I feel so good! :)
Giasbash6260 at 11:56PM on 05/26/09