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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 17:23:08 GMT
There is yet another nutritional article in the NYT today about the DASH diet for lowering high blood pressure. There have been a million articles lately, it seems about diet, exercise, corporate farming, environmental costs of agriculture, diabetes, obesity, obesity drugs, plant-based eating, the dangers of alcohol on gut bacteria/metabolism and it just goes on an on. If you are a subscriber, you've got to have noticed that like in the last 6 or 8 months, there has been a steady stream of these articles. Or maybe I'm just noticing because I'm trying to take better care of myself these days. But the comments on the articles are a fascinating study in what people think they are eating (subjectively they are eating "clean" like whatever article is being talked about) and simultaneously talking about how awful other people are eating. I am an overweight person, BMI obese. But I have never been a big processed food/fast food eater. Never. Cooking from scratch has nearly always been my MO. I do like baking cookies (so I do eat sweets). Other than an occasional bag of potato chips or diet soda (back when I wasn't dairy free, ice cream), I just don't eat these things, let alone on a daily or multiple times a day basis. I also post in the dinner thread. And most, if not all of those ladies are seeming to cook from scratch most nights too. My mom uses some UPF and my sister uses very little. I have one friend who doesn't cook and damn near everything is UPF but my two other close friends are cook from scratch kind of people too. I did a poll so no one would have to feel judged or embarrassed or attacked or anything. No need to even post on this thread if you don't want to. But I am stymied by the idea that all those commenters would feel like *they* eat clean but the vast majority of *everyone else* in the US eats crap. I just don't believe it to be true. And I'm really freaking tired of all the judgment, including the attitude that if you just ate "clean" you'd be thin. I really believe the vast majority of people are somewhere in the middle. Prove me right.  |
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Post by katlady on Sept 30, 2024 17:43:40 GMT
First, what is the definition of "fast food"? If it is take-out, but cooked to order is that "fast food"? Is a hamburger from McD's different than a hamburger from a restaurant? Just curious, because I get confused about what exactly is "fast food".
Usually for lunch, we eat out, either to go or eat in. Food always comes fast. I will order a salad or a rice bowl from some local places. Or, we get Mexican food, and that is cooked to order but fast. Once in a while, I'll get a hamburger.
As for ultra-processed, I do try to avoid those. We usually cook dinner at home. Mostly just meat and veggie stir-fry style. Probably the only processed element in the meals is the soy sauce. I do occasionally eat some chips or cookies.
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Post by lisae on Sept 30, 2024 17:49:44 GMT
Ultra processed food for meals, hardly ever. For snacks, occasionally.
Fast food - maybe 2x a year.
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Post by ~summer~ on Sept 30, 2024 17:51:10 GMT
I never eat fast food. I kinda assume I never eat ultra processed food- but I probably do.
I eat vegetables with eggs every day for a late breakfast, but sometimes I add a half piece of chopped bacon. It’s uncured bacon…but is bacon considered ultra processed?
I used to eat things like chips etc but now I basically never eat chips, cookies, bread etc. Getting older is no fun haha
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 17:53:52 GMT
First, what is the definition of "fast food"? If it is take-out, but cooked to order is that "fast food"? Is a hamburger from McD's different than a hamburger from a restaurant? Just curious, because I get confused about what exactly is "fast food". I don't even have a definition for you. Hearing these people talk, I think they think Americans are eating at McDonald's every day for lunch and then having Cheetos for their bedtime snack followed by Oreos with their morning cup of coffee. I just don't know very many people who eat like this and yet, I know a lot of fat people. Me included. I'm just saying, hearing people talk it is almost like they think there's a magic bullet to being thin and if avoiding FF/UPF is it, then somehow there's something else going on with me. LOL! And then honestly, I don't necessarily think people are being honest about what they are eating either. I like diet rootbeer. This is clearly UPF. I also like potato chips, but oil, salt, potatoes, is that UPF? It certainly isn't a great choice. But I'm not buying that these judgmental "clean" eaters are never having a chip or a soda either. So you got me. I don't know. I just have a hard time believing that people aren't judging others for things they themselves aren't doing any better. |
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Post by Zee on Sept 30, 2024 17:54:35 GMT
I'm also unsure as to what is considered "ultra processed". Sauces? Muffin mixes? Canned soups? Packaged broth? If I make a cheeseburger at home and use a bun from the store, is that different than a fast food burger, or the same thing?
I guess I'm not sure how to answer, though I answered "once a day" because I like my daily large diet Coke from McDonald's. Sometimes that includes a cookie, occasionally a burger or chicken sandwich.
When I cook it's often just "whole ingredients" but I also use prepared things like BBQ sauce or whatever.
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Post by Linda on Sept 30, 2024 17:54:58 GMT
I'm not sure on the definitions. I eat at home for 3 meals/day most days but while I mostly cook from scratch, it isn't exclusive and I do buy snack foods (chocolate primarily but also potato chips and ice cream on occasion). I do bake as well but I've cut back on that because we just don't eat enough of it most of the time to justify.
I do drink either coffee with (flavoured) creamer or a diet soda daily. BUT I almost exclusively drink water the rest of the day most of the year - once it gets colder, I'll drink (hot)tea also.
I do buy (and eat) some processed foods - partly for convenience (I'm not making my own sausages), partly because I'm cooking for more than just me (if DH or one of the kids requests something specific, it'll go on the menu), and occasionally just because (I love pierogies - I can and have made my own but storebought is just simpler most of the time).
Dh likes eating out more than I do - and he's usually the decision maker on where we eat out (or get takeaway from) - and it's rarely especially clean or healthy.
Overall - we eat a lot of veggies, fruits, cheeses, yoghurts; some meat/fish/eggs, grains, beans, breads; and try to exercise moderation on the rest.
This week, however, has not been a stellar example of eating well. Convenience foods are quick and easy to store and eat without power or water. So our hurricane supplies are heavy on packaged items, gatorade, canned ravioli, and the like. We did have apples and peanut butter though and carrots.
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Post by gar on Sept 30, 2024 18:01:02 GMT
Ultra processed as in - ready made meals, ice cream, energy drinks, mass produced bread, vegan meat, processed breakfast cereals etc - no. But I do have cookies, ham occasionally, potato snacks, chocolate - but I'm working on it  I think definitions vary so it's hard to be completely accurate. Fast food, less than once a month.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Sept 30, 2024 18:04:44 GMT
I never eat fast foods and cook every night except for a pizza every month or so. Not sure what ultra-processed food is but I don't think we eat much of it.
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Post by jill8909 on Sept 30, 2024 18:05:24 GMT
i had to think. today. fage yogurt, frozen fruit, a homemade piece of pineapple bread. so far no ultra processed but give me time!!
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 18:06:17 GMT
I'm also unsure as to what is considered "ultra processed". I'm not sure on the definitions. The definition I use is that it contains things that you wouldn't find in a well-stocked kitchen. For a bigger discussion of this, see Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken. It is muddy. |
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Post by gar on Sept 30, 2024 18:07:20 GMT
I never eat fast foods and cook every night except for a pizza every month or so. Not sure what ultra-processed food is but I don't think we eat much of it. Mass produced bread, cookies, chocolate, potato snacks, fizzy drinks, jams, sausages, ham, savoury crackers etc etc.are all pretty processed. ETA, jeremysgirl said, if it contains ingredients you wouldn't find in most kitchens then it's processed to a degree. The longer the list of non standard home ingredients, the more processed it is. |
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Post by Zee on Sept 30, 2024 18:09:20 GMT
If bread I didn't bake counts counts, then I'm definitely eating UP pretty much daily because I like to eat toast and tea or a bagel for breakfast.
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Post by compeateropeator on Sept 30, 2024 18:11:01 GMT
I picked other because I truthfully do not know what is considered ultra-processed. Fast food, could also have differing opinions…but most of my take out is local places, many who identify as farm to table or locally sourced. So I would not consider those as fast food. I would say that subway, Wendy’s, Burger King, Dominos are places I would call fast food. Those are rare visits, but do happen every now and then.
Ultra-processed I am less sure of. I eat a handful if chips, some goldfish, or cheese of some sort and a few crackers most days as a snack. Often with a hand full of nuts and some type of fruit. If all of those are considered ultra-processed, which I assume they are, then I really would have to pick daily.
Cooking is really not though. More components of meat, starch, veggie, casserole, etc. But all made by me but may include some processed food periodically.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 18:11:43 GMT
[tr][td class="content"][article] i had to think. today. fage yogurt, frozen fruit, a homemade piece of pineapple bread. so far no ultra processed but give me time!! [/article] [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td class="foot"][/td][/tr][/quote] You make me laugh. It's really easy to classify and avoid the big offenders. The littler stuff that's harder to classify, I'm not sure what to do with that. |
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Post by cadoodlebug on Sept 30, 2024 18:14:09 GMT
Mass produced bread, cookies, chocolate, potato snacks, fizzy drinks, jams, sausages, ham, savoury crackers etc etc.are all pretty processed. Thanks for these ~ then I'm doing well because the only thing I eat is ham at Christmas and I don't think a Honeybaked is really processed. But then again, what do I know. |
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,249
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Sept 30, 2024 18:16:18 GMT
I'm guilty. I cook with processed foods and I eat out a few times a week. I usually make myself a panini sandwich for lunch with roast beef and cheese on La Brea garlic loaf. Throw in a few chips and that's pretty standard for me.
I know I should eat better but some habits are hard to break. I'm not a fan of many fruits and veggies and even the salad mix that I get from the store has been processed. Sometimes, I feel like the deck is already stacked against me.
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Post by gar on Sept 30, 2024 18:17:27 GMT
Mass produced bread, cookies, chocolate, potato snacks, fizzy drinks, jams, sausages, ham, savoury crackers etc etc.are all pretty processed. Thanks for these ~ then I'm doing well because the only thing I eat is ham at Christmas and I don't think a Honeybaked is really processed. But then again, what do I know. No I was thinking of packet ‘plastic’ ham 😊 |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Sept 30, 2024 18:18:16 GMT
I listened to the book “ultra processed people” and they would say that pretty much any food that is not in its natural state is UPF. There were some compelling arguments/studies listed but imo it’s very hard to cut out all of those foods. And to me, they are not created equally with equal effects on the body.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 18:19:52 GMT
I'm guilty. I cook with processed foods and I eat out a few times a week. I usually make myself a panini sandwich for lunch with roast beef and cheese on La Brea garlic loaf. Throw in a few chips and that's pretty standard for me. I know I should eat better but some habits are hard to break. I'm not a fan of many fruits and veggies and even the salad mix that I get from the store has been processed. Sometimes, I feel like the deck is already stacked against me. Hey I just want to say that I'm not judging anyone. I'm just like trying to make some good choices here and I feel like all these articles pretty much say the same things and the same damn people come out of the woodwork with their holier than thou attitudes. I don't buy it. There are some choices better than others but I'm not buying that they are all saints and the rest of America (fat people especially) are all sinners. |
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Post by nightnurse on Sept 30, 2024 18:20:47 GMT
I rarely bake my own bread, I definitely get the processed stuff. I don’t eat bread every day but I might eat a sandwich for lunch every day one week and then not again for six weeks. We eat most of our meals at home, made from grocery store ingredients like meat, vegetables, a can of chicken broth, flour, cornstarch, soy sauce. I sometimes make my own teriyaki sauce instead of using a pre jarred one., and when I make the sauce, I quadruple it and freeze it for later. But when I don’t feel like it, I’ll use the store bought. I’m not churning my own butter or grinding g my own flour or growing my own spices. If I’m in a road trip, I’ll hit the drive through. So I guess I fall somewhere in the middle?
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,249
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Sept 30, 2024 18:21:42 GMT
I'm guilty. I cook with processed foods and I eat out a few times a week. I usually make myself a panini sandwich for lunch with roast beef and cheese on La Brea garlic loaf. Throw in a few chips and that's pretty standard for me. I know I should eat better but some habits are hard to break. I'm not a fan of many fruits and veggies and even the salad mix that I get from the store has been processed. Sometimes, I feel like the deck is already stacked against me. Hey I just want to say that I'm not judging anyone. I'm just like trying to make some good choices here and I feel like all these articles pretty much say the same things and the same damn people come out of the woodwork with their holier than thou attitudes. I don't buy it. There are some choices better than others but I'm not buying that they are all saints and the rest of America (fat people especially) are all sinners. No, I know you're not and I always enjoy your threads. They are thought provoking and insightful. |
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naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,423 
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Post by naby64 on Sept 30, 2024 18:23:04 GMT
Well, for the last 2 weeks, I have only eaten CFA one time. I had a very bad week and stress got the best of me on Wednesday. I ate nuggets and mac&cheese. And paid the price for the cheese later that night.
On a given normal week for me, when I am not trying to be good to myself, I would say I would pick up a drive thru maybe twice a week. For dinners, I have a crazy week night schedule. Some nights I get home too brain dead to cook. So at least one night we do takeway. But from a sit down type restaurant. For the last 6 months, I have not worried not taken good care of me or anyone else in the household.
I will say this on ultraprocessed food. I was watching something the other day, can't remember where or what. They were talking about Fairlife milk. It is labeled as ultraprocessed. To take out some of the stuff that affects us lactose intolerant folks. So in the scope of things, that would be on the ultraprocessed list.
I do sit down sometimes with a bag of Dot's pretzels. I do love some Doritos Spicy Nacho cheese chips. Are any of these good for me? Nope. Do I still eat them? You betcha! I do not cook good wholesome meals every night as I just don't have the brain power to do that. I didn't vote because I am not really sure what my category falls into.
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Post by Linda on Sept 30, 2024 18:24:17 GMT
I'm also unsure as to what is considered "ultra processed". I'm not sure on the definitions. The definition I use is that it contains things that you wouldn't find in a well-stocked kitchen. For a bigger discussion of this, see Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken. It is muddy. I have read that and determined that I while I do see the benefits of eating that way it simply isn’t practical for me at this stage in my life not least because the people I live with and shop/cook for would rebel I did make some changes and do attempt to make better choices but ultimately I don’t choose to make the effort to go completely uhpf free |
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Post by gar on Sept 30, 2024 18:25:08 GMT
I listened to the book “ultra processed people” and they would say that pretty much any food that is not in its natural state is UPF. There were some compelling arguments/studies listed but imo it’s very hard to cut out all of those foods. And to me, they are not created equally with equal effects on the body. There is a difference between processed and ultra processed for sure. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Sept 30, 2024 18:25:37 GMT
What are you considering UPF? Does that include pasta, bread, peanut butter, etc?
I would say that I eat fast food way too often. If I am home I do well, but if I am out and about I don't always plan my meals accordingly and end up getting fast food. I am really working on that.
I grew up eating mostly processed food. My mom hates cooking and as a single mom I assume that she just bought what was easy and that we would eat. My grandma also wasn't big on cooking. We had a lot of TV dinners, frozen pizza, mac and cheese, etc. My mom even bought spaghetti in the green Kraft box for awhile. I taught myself how to cook from Tv, pinterest, magazines, etc.
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Post by gar on Sept 30, 2024 18:26:52 GMT
I rarely bake my own bread, I definitely get the processed stuff. I don’t eat bread every day but I might eat a sandwich for lunch every day one week and then not again for six weeks. We eat most of our meals at home, made from grocery store ingredients like meat, vegetables, a can of chicken broth, flour, cornstarch, soy sauce. I sometimes make my own teriyaki sauce instead of using a pre jarred one., and when I make the sauce, I quadruple it and freeze it for later. But when I don’t feel like it, I’ll use the store bought. I’m not churning my own butter or grinding g my own flour or growing my own spices. If I’m in a road trip, I’ll hit the drive through. So I guess I fall somewhere in the middle? I think the majority of us probably do to be honest 😊 |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 18:30:22 GMT
I listened to the book “ultra processed people” and they would say that pretty much any food that is not in its natural state is UPF. There were some compelling arguments/studies listed but imo it’s very hard to cut out all of those foods. And to me, they are not created equally with equal effects on the body. There is a difference between processed and ultra processed for sure. That's where I'm at with this. Like sugar, white, brown? Yeah, it's processed. But not ultraprocessed like high fructose corn syrup. So I keep with my definition that if it's something that I can buy the ingredients and make it myself, then I'm OK with it. There's a local brand of spaghetti sauce that is sold at my farmer's market and I buy it all the time when I don't have the time/energy/supplies to make my own pasta sauce. But the ingredients are 100% something I could produce in my kitchen. That's where my dividing line is. |
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Post by katiekaty on Sept 30, 2024 18:33:39 GMT
We very rarely eat takeout. And we all are trying to get into better physical condition and lose the extra weight. One of the things we have done is become “serving size” conscious of the food we eat for meals. We have learned to measure serving sizes according to what our ideal body eight calorie maintenance per day would be. We were eating anywhere from 150-300 % of that amount on any given day in takeout and junk food or convenience food at home. Our meals are simpler, minus a lot of the heavy sauces and include more veggies and more protein. Our serving utensils may actually be a measuring cut😁 and everyone know their serving size. Mine is less than my oldest son—his ideal body is more than mine so I need less calories. If I decide to cheat, I eat less T a meal. There’s always a big salad or other low cal free eat item on our menu just for the feel if you want more!
this is working for us. My BMI has decreased by 5.5 points in 8 months. Both of my sons are trimmer and have lost weight. For DH it’s tougher because he travels during weekdays but he says he makes better choices😆
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 30, 2024 18:38:37 GMT
What are you considering UPF? Does that include pasta, bread, peanut butter, etc? I'm considered UPF if I cannot make that exact thing in my kitchen. I often make my own pasta, but if I buy I buy Delallo (SP?) whole wheat. Ingredients are wheat and water. I can (and do) reproduce. I tend to make my own bread. But I also pick up a loaf of sourdough at my farmer's market weekly. But again, ingredients are flour and water. Jeremy's JIF is UPF. My farmer's market fresh ground is not. I enjoy PB very much. I put my container under the machine and press the button and it grinds the peanuts fresh for me. One ingredient. I am very lucky to have a huge, indoor, year round, farmer's market that I shop for my groceries weekly. |
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