Things you like but do without because ...

[tskeeter]

I like paychecks.  But I do without them because I don’t like to work.

[andi9899]

Cigarettes. Nothing like a good old smoke and a beer. If I have just one I'll go back to smoking full time. My lungs like me to be smoke free. And I rather like being able to breathe.

[kittensaver]

Sugar. But I do without it as much as possible because the list of problems it causes to the body long-term just seems to keep getting long and longer . . .

[happyhoix]

There is a whole slew of fatty, sugary, yummy foods I can't even bring into the house, or even look at in the grocery store.

Heaven will be a place where Ben and Jerry's and Pepperidge Farm cookies have no calories.

Horseback riding - don't want to go to a rental stable (horses always seem so sad and poorly treated) and although technically we can afford to pay the upkeep for a horse, I don't have the free time right now to visit it much. I keep telling myself if our finances are good I'll get a horse when we retire, but I may be so old and wretched it's no longer fun.

[Tennesseer]

Oct 25, 2017 11:19:49 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Oct 25, 2017 10:35:51 GMT -5 Phoenix84 said:

How do you manage? A lot of lunch/fast food restaurants you go to only serve soda.

I don’t buy or drink soda at home anymore, and get iced tea where I can, but oftentimes find I pretty much have to get soda sometimes.

I still drink pop occasionally when I'm out, and not just diet varieties.

My wife and I used to buy 12-packs of A&W root beer and drink them at home. Both of us could put away a can or two per day--mostly me. But we gave it up a month ago when another study came out confirming the problems with aspartame.

Now my wife drinks carbonated water with a lemon slice. I cannot stand carbonated water, so I mostly drink water.

I sure miss my root beer, though.

Root beer and vanilla ice cream float?

[NoNamePerson]

I like smart phones but I know it is just another electronic addiction waiting to happen. My dumb phone is for AAA. 

[Virgil Showlion]

Oct 25, 2017 17:42:34 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Oct 25, 2017 11:19:49 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

I still drink pop occasionally when I'm out, and not just diet varieties.

My wife and I used to buy 12-packs of A&W root beer and drink them at home. Both of us could put away a can or two per day--mostly me. But we gave it up a month ago when another study came out confirming the problems with aspartame.

Now my wife drinks carbonated water with a lemon slice. I cannot stand carbonated water, so I mostly drink water.

I sure miss my root beer, though.

Root beer and vanilla ice cream float?

No.

Non-diet Ginger Ale is my biggest weakness.

Goes down so well with deli sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks.

[MJ2.0]

Oct 24, 2017 19:32:17 GMT -5 Shooby said:

I really like Fritos, but i never buy them because i really like them.

I'm the same with Cinnabons - haven't had one in years.

[whoisjohngalt]

Oct 25, 2017 14:18:16 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Sugar. But I do without it as much as possible because the list of problems it causes to the body long-term just seems to keep getting long and longer . . .

How do you manage that?  It's in everything!!!!!

[kittensaver]

Oct 26, 2017 12:30:03 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Oct 25, 2017 14:18:16 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Sugar. But I do without it as much as possible because the list of problems it causes to the body long-term just seems to keep getting long and longer . . .

How do you manage that?  It's in everything!!!!!

I've pretty much stopped buying anything in the Three P's: packaged, processed, preserved. This alone makes a big difference.

I read labels like crazy. I make most things from scratch. I do a LOT of batch cooking and batch canning/preserving so I can control the ingredients.

But I agree it is almost impossible to avoid. I just do the best I can when I eat out or at someone's home.

[whoisjohngalt]

Oct 26, 2017 13:50:36 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Oct 26, 2017 12:30:03 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

How do you manage that?  It's in everything!!!!!

I've pretty much stopped buying anything in the Three P's: packaged, processed, preserved. This alone makes a big difference.

I read labels like crazy. I make most things from scratch. I do a LOT of batch cooking and batch canning/preserving so I can control the ingredients.

But I agree it is almost impossible to avoid. I just do the best I can when I eat out or at someone's home.

Beyond the obvious - can you give me some examples?

Also, even from scratch - every recipe I have requires sugar...I know there are substitutes, but still...

[kittensaver]

Oct 26, 2017 14:52:05 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Oct 26, 2017 13:50:36 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

I've pretty much stopped buying anything in the Three P's: packaged, processed, preserved. This alone makes a big difference.

I read labels like crazy. I make most things from scratch. I do a LOT of batch cooking and batch canning/preserving so I can control the ingredients.

But I agree it is almost impossible to avoid. I just do the best I can when I eat out or at someone's home.

Beyond the obvious - can you give me some examples?

Also, even from scratch - every recipe I have requires sugar...I know there are substitutes, but still...

I assume you want examples from the bolded part above? We long ago stopped buying sodas, sports drinks, frozen dinners, processed breakfast cereals, commercial cookies, canned soups, commercial mixes, chippy-snacky things in bags, etc etc.

The hardest thing to give up is the baked goods: cakes, cookies, many breads, pastries, donuts etc. I won't say these things *never* pass my lips anymore, but they rarely do. When I make bread, I use only TBSP of honey to get the yeast going or I make sourdough bread - it has no sugar. I make "chips" with pita bread or day-old old bagels. Handmade pizza dough and pasta have no sugar. Once a year I batch cook and can whole tomatoes and sugar-free marinara sauce - usually about 100 to 125 lbs is enough for a year.

I make a number of things from scratch that are dead easy to do and skip the sugar: ketchup, mayo, nut butters, pickles/fermented veggies, herb/spice mixes, yogurt, soups, handmade seed crackers. When we want yogurt or oatmeal sweetened, we use dried fruit or date syrup. We make smoothies and popsicles with fresh or dried fruit. Fresh young coconuts and their water are very sweet. We snack on veggies and hummus, nuts, cheese and handmade seed crackers, cheese and salami, fresh fruit, smoothies, handmade popsicles. 

I have a ton of recipes that use no sugar: main dishes, grilled meats, sautéed seafood, vegetables, grain salads and side dishes. But you're right - all of the baked goods recipes have a ton of sugar. I've had *some* luck with small amounts of date sugar, date syrup and coconut sugar, but mostly now just stay away. BUT IT'S HARD   

[yogiii]

Oct 27, 2017 13:14:29 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

Oct 26, 2017 14:52:05 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Beyond the obvious - can you give me some examples?

Also, even from scratch - every recipe I have requires sugar...I know there are substitutes, but still...

I assume you want examples from the bolded part above? We long ago stopped buying sodas, sports drinks, frozen dinners, processed breakfast cereals, commercial cookies, canned soups, commercial mixes, chippy-snacky things in bags, etc etc.

The hardest thing to give up is the baked goods: cakes, cookies, many breads, pastries, donuts etc. I won't say these things *never* pass my lips anymore, but they rarely do. When I make bread, I use only TBSP of honey to get the yeast going or I make sourdough bread - it has no sugar. I make "chips" with pita bread or day-old old bagels. Handmade pizza dough and pasta have no sugar. Once a year I batch cook and can whole tomatoes and sugar-free marinara sauce - usually about 100 to 125 lbs is enough for a year.

I make a number of things from scratch that are dead easy to do and skip the sugar: ketchup, mayo, nut butters, pickles/fermented veggies, herb/spice mixes, yogurt, soups, handmade seed crackers. When we want yogurt or oatmeal sweetened, we use dried fruit or date syrup. We make smoothies and popsicles with fresh or dried fruit. Fresh young coconuts and their water are very sweet. We snack on veggies and hummus, nuts, cheese and handmade seed crackers, cheese and salami, fresh fruit, smoothies, handmade popsicles. 

I have a ton of recipes that use no sugar: main dishes, grilled meats, sautéed seafood, vegetables, grain salads and side dishes. But you're right - all of the baked goods recipes have a ton of sugar. I've had *some* luck with small amounts of date sugar, date syrup and coconut sugar, but mostly now just stay away. BUT IT'S HARD   

I do a lot of this stuff and if I didn't work I'd be content to stay home and do it all.  I think I'm a special kind of crazy.  Have you ever watched A Chef's Life?

[grits]

I had to give up the dream of owning my own home. My back injuries affect my legs, and it would be too much for me. I have to retire earlier than I wanted because of health issues, and it is going to kill my traveling. I am trying to not get depressed but between overwork, pain, and frustration.... it isn't easy. 

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 29, 2017 15:39:28 GMT -5 grits said:

I had to give up the dream of owning my own home. My back injuries affect my legs, and it would be too much for me. I have to retire earlier than I wanted because of health issues, and it is going to kill my traveling. I am trying to not get depressed but between overwork, pain, and frustration.... it isn't easy. 

 Cyber hug for you.

[Tennesseer]

Oct 29, 2017 15:39:28 GMT -5 grits said:

I had to give up the dream of owning my own home. My back injuries affect my legs, and it would be too much for me. I have to retire earlier than I wanted because of health issues, and it is going to kill my traveling. I am trying to not get depressed but between overwork, pain, and frustration.... it isn't easy. 

Hang in there, Grits.

[kittensaver]

Oct 27, 2017 18:18:58 GMT -5 yogiii said:

Oct 27, 2017 13:14:29 GMT -5 kittensaver said:

I assume you want examples from the bolded part above? We long ago stopped buying sodas, sports drinks, frozen dinners, processed breakfast cereals, commercial cookies, canned soups, commercial mixes, chippy-snacky things in bags, etc etc.

The hardest thing to give up is the baked goods: cakes, cookies, many breads, pastries, donuts etc. I won't say these things *never* pass my lips anymore, but they rarely do. When I make bread, I use only TBSP of honey to get the yeast going or I make sourdough bread - it has no sugar. I make "chips" with pita bread or day-old old bagels. Handmade pizza dough and pasta have no sugar. Once a year I batch cook and can whole tomatoes and sugar-free marinara sauce - usually about 100 to 125 lbs is enough for a year.

I make a number of things from scratch that are dead easy to do and skip the sugar: ketchup, mayo, nut butters, pickles/fermented veggies, herb/spice mixes, yogurt, soups, handmade seed crackers. When we want yogurt or oatmeal sweetened, we use dried fruit or date syrup. We make smoothies and popsicles with fresh or dried fruit. Fresh young coconuts and their water are very sweet. We snack on veggies and hummus, nuts, cheese and handmade seed crackers, cheese and salami, fresh fruit, smoothies, handmade popsicles. 

I have a ton of recipes that use no sugar: main dishes, grilled meats, sautéed seafood, vegetables, grain salads and side dishes. But you're right - all of the baked goods recipes have a ton of sugar. I've had *some* luck with small amounts of date sugar, date syrup and coconut sugar, but mostly now just stay away. BUT IT'S HARD   

I do a lot of this stuff and if I didn't work I'd be content to stay home and do it all.  I think I'm a special kind of crazy.  Have you ever watched A Chef's Life?

I love that show! I'm envious of people who can just look at a bunch of random ingredients and come up with a fabulous meal . . . but I guess a lot of that is training. When found food comes my way or I get a big crop from the garden, I always have to go hunting for recipes and preservation techniques. I don't think you're a special kind of crazy *at all* . . . I love food too and could have at it all day. I devote many weekends to nothing but planting, harvesting, preservation, batch cooking, etc. You need to hook yourself up with a group of foodies  The conversation at breakfast is always about dinner last night and what's for lunch; the lunch conversation is about what's for dinner; the dinner conversation is about food and wine pairings and what's for breakfast . . .

[NastyWoman]

flying business class because I would have to curtail my travelling too much to be able to afford that

[kittensaver]

Here's a wonderful book for you, yogiii

www.amazon.com/Six-Seasons-New-Way-Vegetables/dp/1579656315/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509410105&sr=8-1&keywords=six+seasons+a+new+way+with+vegetables