Healthy Eating / Healthy Living - Page 4

BarTopDancer · 03-05-2008, 12:44 PM

C - try to get yourself to like coffee and tea without any sweetner at all. The fake stuff is starting to be shown to cause weight gain and not promote weight loss.

Snowflake · 03-05-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

One major exception to that is Splenda, which I'm actually trying to sub in once in a while as a way to reduce my sugar intake. I'm not comfortable with subbing it in 100% (see above paragraph), but I find that if I put 3 sugars in a coffee, I can easily put in 2 sugars and one Splenda, reducing my sugar by 1/3, and still not feel like I'm bombarding myself with over-processed food.

Goonie, you may want to switch to agave sweetener, it's natural and ridiculously sweet for coffeee and such. It is liquid (like honey) I've given up all the other sweeteners like spenda because I just do not know how they will be for me. Splenda gives me a headache, and I used to use Equal by the ton.

Morrigoon · 03-05-2008, 12:45 PM

Yeah, you don't wanna end up like me, and have to wave goodbye to "bacon fest".

I learned at this last NYE that no matter how much I want to, my grease tolerance simply won't allow for stuffing my face on bacony goodness. A few slices, maybe, but in moderation.

LSPoorEeyorick · 03-05-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

As an aside, I'm also trying to reduce heavily processed foods and eat more "real" food, stuff that's closer to its source. So real butter, more "fresh" bread and less preservative-filled bread, more items that still retain their original shape (chicken comes to mind).

I know that the processed foods is your personal soap-box the way vegetarianism is mine - and I agree that natural foods are best. Still, there are some things that are processed that are healthier than their unprocessed counterparts. (Earth Balance v. butter comes to mind, in terms of cholesterol. ETA - but then, it's not really soooo processed. It's pressed natural oil.)

Though I'm confused about the question of retaining original shape. Is that more of a... cooking process thing?

Disneyphile · 03-05-2008, 12:53 PM

SF - I've never heard of agave sweetener. That sounds really interesting!

Morrigoon · 03-05-2008, 12:53 PM

I'll be honest, I can't take my coffee or tea without scads of milk and sugar. With tea, one can use honey, it's true, but not so much with coffee. I've found that vanilla lattes and getting my lattes medium with only one espresso shot make it so I can use less sugar (actually, with vanilla ones, all the sweetener is in the flavoring, I add nothing else).

I believe someone here said that Peet's Vanilla syrup is sugar based, not HFCS, so that's helpful. I'm not *as* concerned about the sugar thing as everything else, because in cutting down on the amount of soda I drink, I'm automatically cutting huge amounts of sugar out.

Oh, has anyone else discovered Fresca? I've had that the last few nights instead of Coke with my dinner.

Morrigoon · 03-05-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

I know that the processed foods is your personal soap-box the way vegetarianism is mine - and I agree that natural foods are best. Still, there are some things that are processed that are healthier than their unprocessed counterparts. (Earth Balance v. butter comes to mind, in terms of cholesterol. ETA - but then, it's not really soooo processed. It's pressed natural oil.)

Though I'm confused about the question of retaining original shape. Is that more of a... cooking process thing?

It's the difference between getting a chicken breast or a chicken nugget.

If I have a choice between a sandwich of turkey pieces in odd shapes because they were sliced right off the bird, or deli slices in perfect ovals, I'm going to prefer the odd shapes because direct off the bird is probably processed less. And the overall sandwich usually tastes better.

Also, to be fair, I'm not a hardliner about this, at all. I eat plenty of processed foods. But I'm trying to eat more of the "real" stuff and less of the processed.

One side effect I'm finding is that somehow my decision to prefer "real" food is aiding me in preferring sandwich shops over burgers, even though the difference in processing is probably minimal. I'd actually say the effect is as strong as my fear of getting sick in terms of helping to discourage me from getting burgers. Somehow my mind is convinced that the stuff in sandwiches is closer to the source. (they're certainly less greasy) Weird, but hey, if it works...

Snowflake · 03-05-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

SF - I've never heard of agave sweetener. That sounds really interesting!

Trader Joe's is now carrying an organic agave (currently until they discontinue it) $2.25 for an 11oz squeeze bottle.

It's a 100% natural product and is super sweet. I use it in my tea, on fruit & yogurt, just about any place I'd use sugar. I do not know if it can be or is proceesed to a form like crystals. It tastes great and I do not know all the benefits, all I know is that I like it and it has replaced white death in my household. I do use turbanado sugar for baking and stuff like that.

blueerica · 03-05-2008, 01:09 PM

Yes, Peet's uses Monin, which I know is made with pure cane sugar. You can also reduce the amount of syrup in the drinks. Ex. A medium vanilla latte is made with three pumps of vanilla, you could reduce it to any amount. The least I've seen someone ask for is 1/2 a pump, and it's not an issue for the barista, nor is it an issue for the person taking the order. You could incrementally reduce how much syrup you use.

As far as my health routine, I've been trying to eat one salad a day for a meal. I take it easy on any condiments and try to have a variety of veggies and include fresh fruit if possible. Makes dressing less necessary. I also like to put a little lowfat cottage cheese on top, which pretty much makes dressing unnecessary.

I also am trying to drink more water. I find that I am less tired with plenty o' H2O and tend to eat less. Even if I get an iced tea or other drink at dinner, downing a glass of water for every other beverage I have prevents me from drinking too much if the other drink has sugar.

Also, I think I have mentioned it elsewhere, but not having a gym any longer has really dampered my desire to go work out. I have the dinky thing here, but I really don't enjoy it like I did before. I would love to have some workout equipment around here, and really think finding a Wii would be great. I think we will try to order one somehow, even if delayed, since shipments in Utah seem to clear out within an hour or so, and we're never there on the right days. Bleh.

Stan4dSteph · 03-05-2008, 01:15 PM

For those looking to reduce sugar in tea, I strongly recommend Good Earth tea. You can get both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties. It's a spiced tea, and I drink it without any added sugar or milk, whereas I drink regular brewed tea with both milk and sweetener.

I also love Republic of Tea wild blueberry tea, but it's probably harder to find in CA, or even at the current time of year. No sweetener needed.

03-05-2008, 12:44 PM	#31
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	C - try to get yourself to like coffee and tea without any sweetner at all. The fake stuff is starting to be shown to cause weight gain and not promote weight loss. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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03-05-2008, 12:45 PM	#33
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	Yeah, you don't wanna end up like me, and have to wave goodbye to "bacon fest". I learned at this last NYE that no matter how much I want to, my grease tolerance simply won't allow for stuffing my face on bacony goodness. A few slices, maybe, but in moderation. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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03-05-2008, 12:53 PM	#35
Disneyphile SQUIRREL! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the curbside. Posts: 5,098	SF - I've never heard of agave sweetener. That sounds really interesting!
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03-05-2008, 12:53 PM	#36
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	I'll be honest, I can't take my coffee or tea without scads of milk and sugar. With tea, one can use honey, it's true, but not so much with coffee. I've found that vanilla lattes and getting my lattes medium with only one espresso shot make it so I can use less sugar (actually, with vanilla ones, all the sweetener is in the flavoring, I add nothing else). I believe someone here said that Peet's Vanilla syrup is sugar based, not HFCS, so that's helpful. I'm not as concerned about the sugar thing as everything else, because in cutting down on the amount of soda I drink, I'm automatically cutting huge amounts of sugar out. Oh, has anyone else discovered Fresca? I've had that the last few nights instead of Coke with my dinner. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
	Submit to Quotes

03-05-2008, 01:09 PM	#39
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	Yes, Peet's uses Monin, which I know is made with pure cane sugar. You can also reduce the amount of syrup in the drinks. Ex. A medium vanilla latte is made with three pumps of vanilla, you could reduce it to any amount. The least I've seen someone ask for is 1/2 a pump, and it's not an issue for the barista, nor is it an issue for the person taking the order. You could incrementally reduce how much syrup you use. As far as my health routine, I've been trying to eat one salad a day for a meal. I take it easy on any condiments and try to have a variety of veggies and include fresh fruit if possible. Makes dressing less necessary. I also like to put a little lowfat cottage cheese on top, which pretty much makes dressing unnecessary. I also am trying to drink more water. I find that I am less tired with plenty o' H2O and tend to eat less. Even if I get an iced tea or other drink at dinner, downing a glass of water for every other beverage I have prevents me from drinking too much if the other drink has sugar. Also, I think I have mentioned it elsewhere, but not having a gym any longer has really dampered my desire to go work out. I have the dinky thing here, but I really don't enjoy it like I did before. I would love to have some workout equipment around here, and really think finding a Wii would be great. I think we will try to order one somehow, even if delayed, since shipments in Utah seem to clear out within an hour or so, and we're never there on the right days. Bleh. __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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03-05-2008, 01:15 PM	#40
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	For those looking to reduce sugar in tea, I strongly recommend Good Earth tea. You can get both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties. It's a spiced tea, and I drink it without any added sugar or milk, whereas I drink regular brewed tea with both milk and sweetener. I also love Republic of Tea wild blueberry tea, but it's probably harder to find in CA, or even at the current time of year. No sweetener needed.
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