Clean Eating Challenge question
- Thread starter Bobbi
- Start date
starlight6
Cathlete
I asked Cathe that once, but she never answered. From what I've read since, she prefers not to get into the nutrition arena as it is so complex.
I'm certainly no expert, but to me eating clean means whole grains, lots of veggies, some fruit, lots & lots of water, & some lean protein.
What it doesn't mean is, of course, saturated fats, white flour products, sugar, and just in general, "junk".
Having said that, however, I must say that my biggest struggle has been learning to eat more food & more often, rather than not eating certain things. But I'm sure that's different for everyone.
When I feel that I am far enough along to have a cheat day, I'm sure I will be having some chocolate!
This is hard, but it's a lot of fun too, now that we have buddies to cheer us on & share our pain!
Ruth
I'm certainly no expert, but to me eating clean means whole grains, lots of veggies, some fruit, lots & lots of water, & some lean protein.
What it doesn't mean is, of course, saturated fats, white flour products, sugar, and just in general, "junk".
Having said that, however, I must say that my biggest struggle has been learning to eat more food & more often, rather than not eating certain things. But I'm sure that's different for everyone.
When I feel that I am far enough along to have a cheat day, I'm sure I will be having some chocolate!
This is hard, but it's a lot of fun too, now that we have buddies to cheer us on & share our pain!
Ruth
Bobbi
Cathlete
Can you be even more specific, Ruth? What kind of lean proteins? Do you indulge in red meat? I just read Andrew Weil's Eating Well for Optimum Nutrition. It was really interesting. You can tell from the posts that arise that nutrition is a really complex and baffling subject. Sometimes I have to agree that ignorance is bliss because reading about our food supply is a little scary! And of course, being moderate is one way to know you're ok. Or is it? What about genetically modified foods and hormones and antibiotics in meat and dairy? Then there's pollution and pestisides!
I am really curious about how people eat and, yes, I am a little kooky about it! I love to read about diets. Knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
I don't consider chocolate a cheat food, though. It's an essential food group! I just bought what is called Pound Plus. That's 17.6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate imported from Belgium. It is divine and I indulge a few times a week.
I am really curious about how people eat and, yes, I am a little kooky about it! I love to read about diets. Knowledge can be a dangerous thing
. I don't consider chocolate a cheat food, though. It's an essential food group! I just bought what is called Pound Plus. That's 17.6 ounces of bittersweet chocolate imported from Belgium. It is divine and I indulge a few times a week.
starlight6
Cathlete
Bobbi, you're a girl after my own heart! I've decided you're right, chocolate IS an essential food group!
I've read a lot about nutrition over the years & have shared all of your concerns, and then some. I finally felt overwhelmed by it all & just decided to do the best I can. I try to eat foods grown locally without chemicals, & meat raised humanely, but who knows what is true & what is a lie? Lean protein to me is meat, yes, & certain fish (I dislike fish but have learned to eat a few types, mostly salmon.) Low-fat yoghurt & cottage cheese sometimes. I gave up meat at one point in my life but I felt pretty lethargic throughout...my Dr. recently told me I should eat MORE meat, as I have low blood pressure. I have to admit, it seems to have helped.
Still, I only eat a small amount of protein foods, preferring to bulk up on veggies & whole grains, which I love. I force myself to eat some fruit every day.
I guess the real secret is "moderation in everything", as Cathe says! Except veggies & water?!
What do you eat?
Ruth
I've read a lot about nutrition over the years & have shared all of your concerns, and then some. I finally felt overwhelmed by it all & just decided to do the best I can. I try to eat foods grown locally without chemicals, & meat raised humanely, but who knows what is true & what is a lie? Lean protein to me is meat, yes, & certain fish (I dislike fish but have learned to eat a few types, mostly salmon.) Low-fat yoghurt & cottage cheese sometimes. I gave up meat at one point in my life but I felt pretty lethargic throughout...my Dr. recently told me I should eat MORE meat, as I have low blood pressure. I have to admit, it seems to have helped.
Still, I only eat a small amount of protein foods, preferring to bulk up on veggies & whole grains, which I love. I force myself to eat some fruit every day.
I guess the real secret is "moderation in everything", as Cathe says! Except veggies & water?!
What do you eat?
Ruth
Bobbi
Cathlete
I can pretty much describe my diet the way you described yours. Lots of fruit and veggies, whole grains, lean meat. I eat tuna and salmon each once per week. I have a great recipe for broiled salmon. I too had to learn to like fish. We didn't eat it growing up in Michigan. I buy cage free eggs that are supplemented with omega-3's. I drink soy milk and eat tofu and LOVE edamame. I eat chicken breast too. I eat brown rice and basmati rice and pasta. I used to make potatoes alot. We ate them almost daily as kids but now they have become an occasional food. I just bought red potatoes and went to FoodTV.com for recipies although I haven't fixed any yet. I like to cook but I keep it very simple. I also have just started buying milk which contains no bovine growth hormones and I usually buy Laura's ground beef which contains no hormones or antibiotics. I avoid partially hydrogenated oils. I use olive oil and expeller pressed canola oil mostly.
My dad died a few years back. He had emphysema and heart disease. He ate mainly red meat and potatoes. A few years before he died I quit smoking and took up running. Talk about being reborn. It was amazing! Now I get to be a health nut instead of a smoke fiend. I'll take that any day.
Dr. Weil's book raised some interesting ideas. One is that early this century, even with the innovations that brought us refined sugar and flour, people still had less incidence of heart disease. One reason being they were naturally more active. But Weil conjectures that the food sources were higher in Omega-3's because cattle and chickens weren't raised commercially in the way they are today. Like you I do the best I can. I'm lucky that Tucson has some awesome places to shop organically!
As for chocolate, Weil says we'll "be glad to know the body handles cocoa butter like olive oil-i.e.,cocoa butter does not raise cholesterol and has a beneficial effect on the serum lipid profile"' Dark chocolate which I adore!
Hope you haven't gone to sleep reading this! My family finds this so boring and exasperating. They just don't give a hoot how much they pollute their bodies!
My dad died a few years back. He had emphysema and heart disease. He ate mainly red meat and potatoes. A few years before he died I quit smoking and took up running. Talk about being reborn. It was amazing! Now I get to be a health nut instead of a smoke fiend. I'll take that any day.
Dr. Weil's book raised some interesting ideas. One is that early this century, even with the innovations that brought us refined sugar and flour, people still had less incidence of heart disease. One reason being they were naturally more active. But Weil conjectures that the food sources were higher in Omega-3's because cattle and chickens weren't raised commercially in the way they are today. Like you I do the best I can. I'm lucky that Tucson has some awesome places to shop organically!
As for chocolate, Weil says we'll "be glad to know the body handles cocoa butter like olive oil-i.e.,cocoa butter does not raise cholesterol and has a beneficial effect on the serum lipid profile"' Dark chocolate which I adore!
Hope you haven't gone to sleep reading this! My family finds this so boring and exasperating. They just don't give a hoot how much they pollute their bodies!
starlight6
Cathlete
Chocolate not bad...hmmm...I think I may be falling in love with Dr. Weil! I have some of his books too, like them very much.
Don't worry about boring me, I've been fascinated by nutrition for many years. Even when I eat wrong!
I think our diets are very similar, with the one exception of tofu, which I simply CANNOT eat. I've tried, but it just makes me nauseous.
For me, this all started in my hippie days when nutrition became a big thing. That's when I learned to eat whole grains, which I took an immediate liking to. I still have all my old nutrition books from those years (Adele Davis!) & some of the ideas were pretty peculiar, but some of it holds true even today.
My husband does all the cooking now in our house, and he does a wonderful job of defatting everything as much as possible, & using the kinds of foods & ingredients I want us to eat. We have a wonderful source in D.C. called simply The Co-op, which has tons of things to offer along those lines.
One of my friends works for the FDA & I understand they are starting a program whereby meat will be labeled "humanely raised" when appropriate. I'll be interested to see how that develops.
How about the rest of you ladies...what do you eat?
Ruth
Don't worry about boring me, I've been fascinated by nutrition for many years. Even when I eat wrong!
I think our diets are very similar, with the one exception of tofu, which I simply CANNOT eat. I've tried, but it just makes me nauseous.
For me, this all started in my hippie days when nutrition became a big thing. That's when I learned to eat whole grains, which I took an immediate liking to. I still have all my old nutrition books from those years (Adele Davis!) & some of the ideas were pretty peculiar, but some of it holds true even today.
My husband does all the cooking now in our house, and he does a wonderful job of defatting everything as much as possible, & using the kinds of foods & ingredients I want us to eat. We have a wonderful source in D.C. called simply The Co-op, which has tons of things to offer along those lines.
One of my friends works for the FDA & I understand they are starting a program whereby meat will be labeled "humanely raised" when appropriate. I'll be interested to see how that develops.
How about the rest of you ladies...what do you eat?
Ruth
Bobbi
Cathlete
Ruth,
I wish I could "let" my husband do all the cooking. He's a great cook but he'd kill us fast. He doesn't worry about much of anything. He has (or THINKS he has) the Methusala gene.i.e., his dad is going to be 89 in August. He doesn't work out at all and he looks great.
Being humane is a huge issue and one I think about alot. Besides which it takes alot of water and other resources to raise cattle. The grains fed to cattle, if fed to the world, could end alot of death and deprivation. It's something to think about.
The only way I like tofu is to get the extra firm and sautee it in LOTS of garlic with a little olive oil and soy sauce. Served over wilted spinach. Not bad at all!
Last night I was reading Fitness Magazine. There's an actual "nervosa" regarding obsessive healthy eating! It made me chuckle!
So, what about all you other FitHeads? What's on your plates?
I wish I could "let" my husband do all the cooking. He's a great cook but he'd kill us fast. He doesn't worry about much of anything. He has (or THINKS he has) the Methusala gene.i.e., his dad is going to be 89 in August. He doesn't work out at all and he looks great.
Being humane is a huge issue and one I think about alot. Besides which it takes alot of water and other resources to raise cattle. The grains fed to cattle, if fed to the world, could end alot of death and deprivation. It's something to think about.
The only way I like tofu is to get the extra firm and sautee it in LOTS of garlic with a little olive oil and soy sauce. Served over wilted spinach. Not bad at all!
Last night I was reading Fitness Magazine. There's an actual "nervosa" regarding obsessive healthy eating! It made me chuckle!
So, what about all you other FitHeads? What's on your plates?
RE: Thank you!
I just wanted to say "thank-you" for not blowing off my question and giving me some ideas of other foods, books to read, and things to look for such as FDA guidelines, chemically processed meat, etc. Also I would like to tell you both that I too enjoy reading about this "boring" nutritional stuff, but am in the same boat - when I start talking about exercising or anything nutritional every single person in my family and friends eye's glaze over and they don't listen to a word I say. But keep up the posts and I will read and enjoy them!! : )
I just wanted to say "thank-you" for not blowing off my question and giving me some ideas of other foods, books to read, and things to look for such as FDA guidelines, chemically processed meat, etc. Also I would like to tell you both that I too enjoy reading about this "boring" nutritional stuff, but am in the same boat - when I start talking about exercising or anything nutritional every single person in my family and friends eye's glaze over and they don't listen to a word I say. But keep up the posts and I will read and enjoy them!! : )
Steppingup
Cathlete
RE: Thank you!
It has been very interesting reading all of your replies. I have really tried hard for many years to eat healthy. I eat brown rice, wheat pasta, and few potatoes. I don't buy prepackaged dinners except for an occasional pizza which my son likes. I have not been able to develop his tastebuds fully but am trying hard to include vegetables in his diet. I eat a lot of vegetables in a lot of different ways. I cut up broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (or use the baby carrots), and celery. I put that in a big bowel and fix a low-fat dip. I snack on that during the day and it is really great and filling. As far as meat goes, I don't eat that much. I eat chicken, fish and limited hamburger and steak. My husband hunts deer and we fish so we have fish and deer meat that is totally processed by my husband. I have made tofu burgers in the past and they were fairly good. I just don't eat a big portion of any kind of meat just because I feel better eating more vegetables. I have a hard time getting in enough fruit but I do get at least two servings a day. I also drink LOTS of water and almost never anything else.
It really is a complex subject. I have a link to a web site that you might be interested in. On that web site there is a place to the right that talks about a Dr. Irene. Click on that and you can subscribe to her Nutrition Tidbits. They are very informative and interesting. Her last newsletter was about nutrition and cancer. How it is effected by our diet and how it is prevented by our diet. Good stuff. If you want to read that one I can copy and paste. I don't know of another way to get it to you. Anyway, hope this helps!!
Kelly
It has been very interesting reading all of your replies. I have really tried hard for many years to eat healthy. I eat brown rice, wheat pasta, and few potatoes. I don't buy prepackaged dinners except for an occasional pizza which my son likes. I have not been able to develop his tastebuds fully but am trying hard to include vegetables in his diet. I eat a lot of vegetables in a lot of different ways. I cut up broccoli, cauliflower, carrots (or use the baby carrots), and celery. I put that in a big bowel and fix a low-fat dip. I snack on that during the day and it is really great and filling. As far as meat goes, I don't eat that much. I eat chicken, fish and limited hamburger and steak. My husband hunts deer and we fish so we have fish and deer meat that is totally processed by my husband. I have made tofu burgers in the past and they were fairly good. I just don't eat a big portion of any kind of meat just because I feel better eating more vegetables. I have a hard time getting in enough fruit but I do get at least two servings a day. I also drink LOTS of water and almost never anything else.
It really is a complex subject. I have a link to a web site that you might be interested in. On that web site there is a place to the right that talks about a Dr. Irene. Click on that and you can subscribe to her Nutrition Tidbits. They are very informative and interesting. Her last newsletter was about nutrition and cancer. How it is effected by our diet and how it is prevented by our diet. Good stuff. If you want to read that one I can copy and paste. I don't know of another way to get it to you. Anyway, hope this helps!!
Kelly
starlight6
Cathlete
RE: Thank you!
Bobbi, obsessive healthy eating? What is wrong with that phrase? LOL
Kelly, the site you mention sounds really interesting...could you tell me the address? I do the veggies & low fat dip thing too...it's a lifesaver (in more ways than one!)
Lori, I think most of us have the glazed eyes problem. However, I've been lucky...my husband is interested in the subject too, & even my best friend is fascinated when I tell her some of this stuff. (And she grew up on a farm, & works on a farm now!)
I can remember a day when EVERYBODY talked about it, & was interested...or at least pretended to be! I remember being shocked when I found out everyone still indulged in ice cream...now I understand that!
Keep posting if you get a brainstorm...I'm always looking for something new which is healthy, humane, & EASY. I have to eat on the run all day long.
Ruth
Bobbi, obsessive healthy eating? What is wrong with that phrase? LOL
Kelly, the site you mention sounds really interesting...could you tell me the address? I do the veggies & low fat dip thing too...it's a lifesaver (in more ways than one!)
Lori, I think most of us have the glazed eyes problem. However, I've been lucky...my husband is interested in the subject too, & even my best friend is fascinated when I tell her some of this stuff. (And she grew up on a farm, & works on a farm now!)
I can remember a day when EVERYBODY talked about it, & was interested...or at least pretended to be! I remember being shocked when I found out everyone still indulged in ice cream...now I understand that!
Keep posting if you get a brainstorm...I'm always looking for something new which is healthy, humane, & EASY. I have to eat on the run all day long.
Ruth
Steppingup
Cathlete
Duh!
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-23-01 AT 05:16PM (Est)[/font][p]Hey Ruth,
I meant to put the link in when I posted before and just didn't. Sorry about that. I also noticed when I posted before that I said that I cut up vegetables and put them in a bowel....bowel? Excuse me? I really think I meant bowl! LOL! I got a good laugh at that!!!
For some reason I cannot do a link...duh again! So I am just given you the web site address!!! Hope I at least did that right!
www.healthandage.com
I'm here to edit my edit! The web site above is correct but the advertisement for Dr. Irene is not there when I checked. The web site looks like it has some good stuff but I haven't had a chance to look at it fully but Dr. Irene puts out a good newsletter so I wanted you to have the opportunity to read them if you desired. ANYWAY, her web adress is this:
www.healthandage.com/html/res/drirene/qa3.htm
I am having a truly confusing day! Can't you tell?
Have a great day and if none of this is clear to you...you're not the only one!!!!! Seriously, let me know if I've screwed up again!
Kelly
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-23-01 AT 05:16PM (Est)[/font][p]Hey Ruth,
I meant to put the link in when I posted before and just didn't. Sorry about that. I also noticed when I posted before that I said that I cut up vegetables and put them in a bowel....bowel? Excuse me? I really think I meant bowl! LOL! I got a good laugh at that!!!
For some reason I cannot do a link...duh again! So I am just given you the web site address!!! Hope I at least did that right!
www.healthandage.com
I'm here to edit my edit! The web site above is correct but the advertisement for Dr. Irene is not there when I checked. The web site looks like it has some good stuff but I haven't had a chance to look at it fully but Dr. Irene puts out a good newsletter so I wanted you to have the opportunity to read them if you desired. ANYWAY, her web adress is this:
www.healthandage.com/html/res/drirene/qa3.htm
I am having a truly confusing day! Can't you tell?
Have a great day and if none of this is clear to you...you're not the only one!!!!! Seriously, let me know if I've screwed up again!
Kelly
Bobbi
Cathlete
RE: Duh!
Kelly,
It's an excellent site! I've already posted a question for Dr. Irene and printed out info on how to calcualte your fat intake! I love websites like that! So much info, so little time! We got DSL in April and I can get online in seconds. So I find myself checking into THIS website alot! Maybe too much! There's that obsessive behavior again;-)! It's a good thing I use my powers for good and not evil!
Kelly,
It's an excellent site! I've already posted a question for Dr. Irene and printed out info on how to calcualte your fat intake! I love websites like that! So much info, so little time! We got DSL in April and I can get online in seconds. So I find myself checking into THIS website alot! Maybe too much! There's that obsessive behavior again;-)! It's a good thing I use my powers for good and not evil!
Steppingup
Cathlete
RE: Duh!
I'm glad you like the website. We have had DSL for several months so I am online a lot more than I used to be. It's great to be able to talk on the phone and be online at the same time. When we move in about a year we won't have access to DSL. BOO HOO!!!
Kelly
I'm glad you like the website. We have had DSL for several months so I am online a lot more than I used to be. It's great to be able to talk on the phone and be online at the same time. When we move in about a year we won't have access to DSL. BOO HOO!!!
Kelly
starlight6
Cathlete
RE: Duh!
Kelly, I liked the vegetable in the bowel too! Got a nice laugh, nothing wrong with that!
Thanks for the address...it sounds great...will check it out after here.
Ruth
Kelly, I liked the vegetable in the bowel too! Got a nice laugh, nothing wrong with that!
Thanks for the address...it sounds great...will check it out after here.
Ruth
Bobbi
Cathlete
RE: Duh!
That WAS a good one! Kelly, I got Dr, Irene's newsletter. Thanks againg for tipping me off. I am going to try to link up a website from the newsletter. It's regarding the new American plate and deals with how to fill one's plate for optimum nutrition. Here goes: http://www.aicr.org/nap2.htm
That WAS a good one! Kelly, I got Dr, Irene's newsletter. Thanks againg for tipping me off. I am going to try to link up a website from the newsletter. It's regarding the new American plate and deals with how to fill one's plate for optimum nutrition. Here goes: http://www.aicr.org/nap2.htm
RE: Duh!
Hello everyone...I found all of the discussion above very interesting and thank you all for sharing some of your insight.
It encourages me to get back into the vegie/fruit routine...it is hard slipping back into bad habits...and is such a downward spiral healthwise. So, I will return and keep on keeping on.
Kathleen
Hello everyone...I found all of the discussion above very interesting and thank you all for sharing some of your insight.
It encourages me to get back into the vegie/fruit routine...it is hard slipping back into bad habits...and is such a downward spiral healthwise. So, I will return and keep on keeping on.
Kathleen