Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 10:36:36 GMT -5
I want to model a healthy lifestyle for my daughter and avoid health issues that run in my family. That's very vague. I'm gonna harp on the define 'healthy' thing. What does a healthly lifestyle look like to you? Everyone in the family with a BMI within the generally accepted normal range for gender/hieght? Everyone being able to stand up for an hour or two at a time/being able to walk up several flights of stairs without passing out, being able to walk a 5K and think it was a nice 40 minute stroll? You'll have to come up with what's 'healthy' foodwise as well. Is a breakfast of a 6 inch diameter wholegrain bagel with lite cream cheese 'healthy'? Is eating 3 or 4 peices of chicken an appropriate amount of protein for dinner? ** Before you change your diet - you may need to change how you think about food and excercise. it may not be easy. ** in my opinion neither of those things is 'healthy' - the bagel's too big - that's too much food and for the calories/nutrition you'd probably be better off with something else for breakfast on a regular basis. There's too much chicken in that dinner as well.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 10:40:03 GMT -5
I thought of another one that I stole from my mom. I add beans whenever possible. It bumps up the fiber content and nutrition and is also a great way to stretch a buck. You can start with a handful if you might meet resistance or don't like them much yourself and then gradually bump up how much you use over time.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 10:41:26 GMT -5
Roast potatoes I've found don't reheat well. No they don't - but you can cut them up and 'fry' them in a nonstick pan with a spray of cooking spray. Or a teaspoon of Olive Oil. Be patient and let them brown up. Yummy home fries. Do this with Yukon Gold or Purple Pototoes to shake things up alittle!
ADDED: I sometimes shake a 'garlic' blend seasoning (salt/or no salt) herb mix over them - extra yummy. The trick is to limit the oil you use.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 10:47:07 GMT -5
I love purple potatoes but the darn things so are so hard to find. I was delighted when a vendor at the farmer's market started carrying them, I hope they have them again this year.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 10:52:20 GMT -5
I wanted to add that I think it's kinda interesting that I found that I feel better since I cut out alot of meat from my diet while other people feel better by eating fewer grains.
What did you replace the 'fewer grains' with? Or did you just cut down the serving size (to what a serving size should actually be - ie still eating grains 2 or 3 times a day but in smaller quantities?)
I modified my serving sizes (1/2 a box of pasta is not a single serving...) so I still eat most of the stuff I use to eat - just less of it (I did switch over to the kinds of grains with fiber still in them: whole wheat pasta, brown rice, whole wheat bread).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 10:52:40 GMT -5
And choose good oil... Olive, coconut...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 10:54:46 GMT -5
I find I eat less of better stuff. I eat mostly rice for grains, potatoes, some pasta, but no gluten, so it's rice/ potato pasta... Some tapioca starch, coconut flour... More nuts, almond and hazelnut flour, etc.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 10:57:15 GMT -5
I love purple potatoes but the darn things so are so hard to find. I was delighted when a vendor at the farmer's market started carrying them, I hope they have them again this year. i get purple potatos in my "Farm Box" - but I also look for them (and other varieties) at the Farmers Markets I pass by. How did you cooking the Kholirabi? I usually peel them slice them, hit them with some ground coriander or basil or fresh chives and steam them in the microwave. you can layer in some sweet onions with them and roast it in the oven (I'm too impatient for this.) I sometimes eat them raw with dip/hummus. The purple ones are alittle sweeter than the green ones.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 12, 2012 10:59:08 GMT -5
Eat pesticides! They will pickle your insides. And pickels last FOREVER!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 10:59:17 GMT -5
I avoid substituting. I don't buy that sugar substitutes are better for me than sugar. I am trading one set of problems for another. So I use less sugar. I don't like the laundry list of ingredients that go into fake butter or margarine, so I use real butter, just less of it. That also help keep costs down. I noticed Hungry Girl recipes use A LOT of splenda and I nearly swallowed my tounge when I saw how much a bag of that stuff costs. I'd rather figure out how to use less real sugar than rely on expensive substitutes when I don't have to. Then I am eating better AND I've kept my grocery costs low. Really LOOK at labels if you plan on substituting, you could be trading one set of calories for another. Like a lot of low fat salad dressings add a crapload of sugar in its place or vice versa. Sometimes it's healthier to just skip it, use less of the real thing or make your own. How did you cooking the Kholirabi?I tried to saute it like potatoes in a skillet but since I had no clue what the texture is supposed to be in order to be considered "done" it wasn't good. I give DH props for trying it at least. Gwen took a few nibbles too. If I get it again I'm going to try shaving it into a salad.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 11:03:32 GMT -5
But white sugar isn't real either. I use maple sugar, maple syrup mostly, palm sugar... Again, real stuff you seem to be satisfied with less.
And honey.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 11:06:38 GMT -5
Eat pesticides! They will pickle your insides. And pickels last FOREVER! I'm trying the same technique with beer.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 11:07:41 GMT -5
Meh. I've never really consumed much sugar to begin with. I use it for baking and a couple teaspoons in my tea. Now DH on the other hand. . .I've taken to moving the bag of sugar around the pantry and only keeping a small container out. I don't get how one human being can eat that much sugar. And Gwen is starting to pick up on his habits and mimicking which ticks me off. I can't make a 39 year old man change his habits but I can control what habits my 2 year old gets into. So far she takes more after me than him in eating habits and I hope she keeps it up.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 12, 2012 11:12:32 GMT -5
White is definitely processed. On the other hand I'm thinking it is far less processed than some substitutes.
It is a gradual process and takes time. I've had to learn new ways of cooking and expand my tastes. Less processed is better for me because I have a list of food allergies that is ever expanding.
I got a nasty reminder to read labels after eating a Cliff bar. I have never been so damn sick in all my life. I felt like dying. Soybeans and me are not friends.
It takes time but check the labels. You'd be surprised what brands have junk fillers and which ones don't. Spaghetti sauce is one where I find a lot of the trendy, high price varieties have either soybean oil or HFCS. Those go back on the shelf. Prego has neither. Yes, I could make my own but at the moment I am working with limited freezer space.
My grandma canned me some, I will bring it back at Christmas time. I also find the closer to nature it is, the more likely it is to set off my food allergies.
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Dec 12, 2012 11:16:21 GMT -5
I am very lucky with my brother. I am the picky one and the one with food allergies. He pretty much eats what I set on the table. He offers suggestions in a helpful way. Since I do the shopping and cooking he pays for more of the groceries and cleans up.
I am working on the new kitchen setup and getting there. It will be good for me because it forces me to try new things since leftovers are pretty much an unheard of thing these days.
I've gone from gas to a ceramic flat top and it is an adjustment. Certain pans just don't work well.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 11:16:35 GMT -5
Spaghetti sauce is one where I find a lot of the trendy, high price varieties have either soybean oil or HFCSI've noticed that too. I've had to work hard to remind myself that more expensive doesn't always mean better in terms of quality or health. The $1.79 Hy-Vee brand Spaghetti sauce has only four ingredients and the nutrition stats are way better than some of the higher priced brands. I make my own sometimes too but when trying new recipes I like to skip that step and just use a jar of sauce. If I really like the recipe I'll go back and make my own if I feel like it. It's a weird tick I have. I get pissed if I make a beautiful sauce and then the recipe I use it in is crap. I don't care if I wasted a $1 jar of sauce.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 11:28:57 GMT -5
Eat pesticides! They will pickle your insides. And pickels last FOREVER! I drink Diet Coke... have for the last 20 + years. I'm a walking science experiment for the artifical sweetner in it. When people get on the 'drink more water' band wagon - I say I drink plenty of water! I have a couple cups of coffee flavored water every morning (I drink it black no sweetner/no cream). I also drink alot of Diet Coke flavored water. Sometimes diet root beer flavored water. I occassionally have wine flavored water. I like alot of frozen water in my Diet Coke as well.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 11:35:43 GMT -5
I also drink alot of Diet Coke flavored water
DH is that you? He always likes to point out the first ingredient in pop is water.
I like to ask how he's doing with his kidney stones.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 11:36:40 GMT -5
On the substitutes - I can't stand Splenda (sucrolose) it leaves a nasty lingering bitter taste. I have to read the labels on most low calorie stuff (anything that's advertised as 100 calories) cause if it's got splenda in it, it will taste nasty to me. I found this out by accident when I bought 10 containers of yogurt that fit the weight watchers guidelines (I think they were yoplait or dannon) and then I couldn't choke them down from the bitter aftertaste. I started paying attention to the sweetners used after that. There's a couple of "Zero" cola type products that use a sweetner Acesulfame potassium I think... that's even worse on the bitter neverending aftertaste than Splenda. FWIW: even if you don't add suger/sweetners to your food (don't bake alot) there's added sweetners in just about everything! My example of canned tomatos... I suspect if someone from 50 years ago got into a time machine and visited to today and had dinner they'd be overwhelmed by the sweetness...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 11:41:16 GMT -5
I don't use chemicals on my food... That isn't food. I'd rather have white sugar than fake sweetener, and don't use that...
I use Poma tomatoes in a box... They are just tomatoes. I do buy expensive sauce, on sale its 3.50... But it is good, good ingredients, and agin. We just don't eat as much of it.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 11:42:28 GMT -5
Yeah you really got to read the labels. DH lost several pounds when I started reading labels and putting anything with HFCS back on the shelf. I'll survive just fine with it in my 8 oz can of tomato sauce, but when it's in EVERYTHING I eat that really adds up. You also really have to pay attention to things that say "whole wheat" and make sure that's the first ingredient. I was buying Mission whole wheat tortillas and one day I decided to look at the ingredient list. First ingredient was.. . brown sugar! Whole wheat was about the 5th ingredient down. Now I buy Hy-Vee whole wheat toritllas.. .first ingredient in the list is whole wheat. do but expensive sauce, on sale its 3.50I'll pay that for a jar of spaghetti sauce from one of the Farmer's Market vendors. SO GOOD. My homemade stuff doesn't come close.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Dec 12, 2012 11:55:36 GMT -5
Tiny - I guess to me healthy is maintaining an ideal weight, keeping blood pressure & cholesterol low, and staying active. I've gotten down to my ideal weight but now I am slacking on the exercise. We used My Fitness Pal for about 6 months last year and got a really good handle on correct portion sizes and healthy alternatives. My mom's family really struggles with being overweight (morbidly obese) and my dad's family has a long history of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, leading to heart problems. I've seen my 45 yr old relatives struggling with diabetes, heart disease, and just generally looking horrible. I want to make good choices now to prevent what I can later. I want to get back into meal planning to keep us on track. If I have meals planned, then it is less tempting to order a pizza. Luckily DD is a pretty good eater - the only thing she won't touch is meat. Unless is the barbacoa from my tacos We did cut out most of the sugared drinks and now we only keep milk, water, and tea in the fridge. That is, until the past few weeks when DH was coming home with beer or wine every other night.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 12:00:02 GMT -5
I do believe every Hy-Vee has a dietician on staff now and it's free. You'd have to check it out because I am not sure if that is a chain wide thing or just a local thing.
You can tell the dietician your goals and concerns and she can help you plan your meals. They'll even do a tour with you of the store so you can be familar with the layout and will explain products to you.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 12, 2012 12:00:34 GMT -5
The problem I have with touting organic foods is that so many Americans could improve their diet so much, without going organic (or even local.) So, when the OP asked the question, I wonder what their diet is already like. If you eat frozen corn-dogs, bags of chips and twinkies every day - then you don't need to spend the extra to go to organic twinkies and organic corn-dogs. You would be better off improving your diet to include fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc. If, however, you are already eating a "healthy" diet, but are worried about pesticides and frankenfoods, then you need to determine what your biggest concerns are and decide how you will avoid that particular issue with food. Are you worried about sugar? Are you worried about pesticides? Are you worried about processing?
What, exactly, are you trying to accomplish?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 12:03:23 GMT -5
If you eat frozen corn-dogs, bags of chips and twinkies every day - then you don't need to spend the extra to go to organic twinkies and organic corn-dogs
But the organic twinkies are better for me!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 12, 2012 12:03:55 GMT -5
Are they?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 12, 2012 12:14:12 GMT -5
Of coures it is! It's organic. I only eat a twinkie once a year deep fried on a stick. No amount of organic ingredients can make that healthy. It's clever marketing though and deep pockets. Companies know people will see the word organic and automatically assume it is healthier. I mean should Kraft mac & cheese REALLY be able to obtain an organic label? It's still junk despite the fact they use organic orange cheese powder. I read How America Eats a few weeks ago and it was really enlightening. She worked in an organic field for one of the bigger produce companies and guess what, they use pesticides. The loophole is it has to be one that has been approved to be sprayed on organic produce by the USDA. Unless you're buying direct from the farmer that grows it, a lot of the lables are meaningless. Sure there are rules and regulations but you don't really buy that Big Agra hasn't made sure there are a ton of loopholes do you?
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Dec 12, 2012 12:39:13 GMT -5
Tiny - I guess to me healthy is maintaining an ideal weight, keeping blood pressure & cholesterol low, and staying active. I've gotten down to my ideal weight but now I am slacking on the exercise. We used My Fitness Pal for about 6 months last year and got a really good handle on correct portion sizes and healthy alternatives. My mom's family really struggles with being overweight (morbidly obese) and my dad's family has a long history of high cholesterol and high blood pressure, leading to heart problems. I've seen my 45 yr old relatives struggling with diabetes, heart disease, and just generally looking horrible. I want to make good choices now to prevent what I can later. I want to get back into meal planning to keep us on track. If I have meals planned, then it is less tempting to order a pizza. Luckily DD is a pretty good eater - the only thing she won't touch is meat. Unless is the barbacoa from my tacos We did cut out most of the sugared drinks and now we only keep milk, water, and tea in the fridge. That is, until the past few weeks when DH was coming home with beer or wine every other night. Looks like spending $5.00 on a pint of 'organic' strawberries isn't really gonna help you to be 'healthy'. It doesn't look like you need to spend more money on 'healthy' food. Well, maybe spending on trying out some new recipes might keep doing the right things (which it sounds like you have been or are doing) interesting and doable. I'm of the opinion that you can't 100% control what ailments you'll have later in life... There's no gaurentee I won't suffer from diabetes as I age - but I can keep from inflicting it on myself sooner by watching my weight and staying active. I'm seeing alot of my relatives (and friends) having health problems because of the excess weight (50 to 100 pounds and more) they've been carrying around for years and years. I've also noticed the ones who have always been plump but active suddenly start to pack on pounds because as they've aged (hit their mid 40's) they've stopped moving as much as they use to - they blame it on being tired. (well, yeah, they've been carrying around 40 or 50 pounds for years - and now they are buried under 80 or 100 pounds). I don't want to be tired all the time or buried in flesh. I don't want to have the ailments that goes with that. I know where that train goes...
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 12, 2012 14:31:29 GMT -5
Eat pesticides! They will pickle your insides. And pickels last FOREVER! I drink Diet Coke... have for the last 20 + years. I'm a walking science experiment for the artifical sweetner in it. When people get on the 'drink more water' band wagon - I say I drink plenty of water! I have a couple cups of coffee flavored water every morning (I drink it black no sweetner/no cream). I also drink alot of Diet Coke flavored water. Sometimes diet root beer flavored water. I occassionally have wine flavored water. I like alot of frozen water in my Diet Coke as well. Actually, you're not drinking a lot of water. The caffeine in Coke is a diuretic. You're losing water.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 12, 2012 15:36:03 GMT -5
Personally I can't stand whole wheat pasta, I think I've tried every brand on the market and just can't choke it down. So I use SmartChoice or Brallia Omega. Still better than plain white pasta. If I die at 90 instead of 92 because I didn't eat 100% whole wheat pasta, oh well. ---------------------- I can't stand whole what anything, especially bread. I live in the land of baguettes and can walk to 5 really good french bakeries. Evidently, a lot of other people consider whole wheat baguettes an abomination, as well. If I go late in the day, it's all that's left. Nobody wants them.
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