Sometimes I wonder why most of the good food are not healthy. Maybe those health freaks are overstepping. How can you ignore that juicy porterhouse steak that comes with mashed potatoes? And how about the big fat crabs cooked in coconut milk? The aromatic pork barbecue would make my day. But they are not good for your health according to those health conscious people. Well then, the case is like the cigarette which was invented but is not healthy at all. And the liquor, it's not good for you, either so avoid the whiskey shot, okay? How would life be if what there is to eat are only the healthy food? Maybe we can be like Popeye the Sailor Man with his bulging arm and funny face, huh. Maybe that's the reason why moderation was invented. If you do it moderately with food and activities, you will be okay. There is a saying that if you drink beer, you die and if you do not drink beer you also die so what the heck. In the recent reunion of former colleagues who are mostly past 70 years old, there are those who are choosy with the food and there are those who are feasting. I see those happy faces indulging in the roasted pork belly and fat crabs, buttered prawns, Chinese noodles. And those sickly-looking faces who are picky that posed a question to my mind - is that the way they live?
You are so right...one day we will be in heaven. You know I've been doing some thinking about this very thing. I must say I like the table...most of the time we eat about, hmmm 80% healthy and 20% decadent. We watch our sugar intake carbs, and sodium intake too. Found out about aspartame being poison and found all my sugar free jello sugar free pudding all had aspartame...I have to throw them all away!
Natural foods are healthy. Humans keep coming up with cheap substitutes for food and have convinced most of the population that their inventions are healthy. Wrong. It has been known for decades that Crisco and similar vegetable shortenings are unhealthy but people still use them instead of lard or other natural products. Oleo (margarine) was introduced as a cheap alternative to butter not a healthier one, but through advertising people came to believe it was healthier. Everyone should know better by now but margarine still outsells butter. The same goes for manmade substitutes for sugar. Will people ever learn? Fried foods got an underserved bad rap because people kept getting fatter so they had to blame it on something and they sure didn't want people to quit buying "diet" sodas. So many people still refuse to eat fried foods without really understanding why. We have long ago gone back to natural foods as much as possible and feel better for it.
Since my little adventure back in March, I've been learning to eat healthier foods and meals. To eat healthy, but tasty meals is a whole 'nother ball game. If it wasn't for ketchup and hot sauce, I wouldn't bother to eat at all.
We know we don't eat THAT healthy and that's why we take a daily multi-vitamin and a few vitamin supplements. Just love "stuffed crust" pizza, prime rib, rib eye, beef burgers, Mexican food, popcorn, chips (low salt) and a few other things way too much to give them up. And, of course, during the hot summer months, it's either water or a Bud Light.
Both Bobby and I were so close to dying from health issues a few years back, and now that we both had the care we needed, we feel that God has given us a second chance at living; so we both are focused on eating as healthy as possible the majority of the time. As @Sheldon Scott said, the natural foods ARE healthy, and we also try to eat as close to natural as we can. We also take vitamins and other health supplements, and go to the fitness center every other day to exercise and help build up our muscle tone again. We do not tell ourselves that there is food that we have to give up, and we do still have "enjoyment food" sometimes; but we do not base our life around it. When we are kids, our parents tell us to "eat your vegetables" and we all think that when we grow up, we can eat what we want. Well, we can; but that doesn't mean that we should make the same choices that a child would make and live on junk food. Eating healthy food just makes sense to me. As we get older, most of us have more pain from arthritis and other muscle or joint pains. Some foods are inflammatory, and some foods are anti-inflammatory, and eating inflammatory foods always makes the inflammation in the joints hurt worse; so why deliberately eat something that is going to make you hurt more, or age faster ?
My problem is that I don't consider vegetables to be 'real' food, like meat and grains. Much of my working life involved physically demanding labor. Try getting up early in the morning, sitting down to a breakfast of a belly full of green beans and carrots. Then, off to labor in the fields or factory. I'll wager in less than two hours you'll be hungry. I know veggies are full of the necessary vitamins and nutrients we need. But, a plateful of eggs, sausage or bacon, short stack of pancakes and some fruit will hold you much longer. And, taste better. These days, I can get by on more veggies and less meat and grains, since I no longer work. Don't like it, but I have to do it.
Thankfully I actually like healthy food, most of it anyway. I love veggies and could eat them all day. Love fish and the only meat I really like anymore is chicken. I've lost my love for steak. I've been low carbing so many years that I've gotten used to not eating pasta or rice and I don't miss it. Sometimes I'll eat a sweet potato but my sides are usually veggies. I wish I had a juicer (masticator). My daughter has one and I love the green juice she makes with an apple, cucumber, celery, half a peeled lemon, little ginger, and 3 huge handfuls of the Costco mixed greens (kale, spinach, Swiss chard) this makes 18 oz. Not cheap but cheaper than what you pay at a juicing place. It's healthy and very refreshing. Her boys like it too but the younger one prefers fruits and carrots.
It's easy for me to eat healthy foods because I really enjoy them. And my husband enjoys most of the healthy foods too so we do eat healthy in our home. But we also allow ourselves "junk food" in moderation too.
I'm a very health, conscious person Corie, and I believe in eating all foods. I do not eat a lot of sugar, I like stevia in bulk the best, the real thing. What I believe is that exercise is what a person needs. Or to put it another way, do not be sedentary. Drinking water is very important to the human body. I drink about 6 glasses of it a day, in the 8 ounce per glass amount. I do what I am able to do as far as exercise, walking is my main form. I don't have a home with yard, or garden to care for or grandchildren to chase after. But I am able to eat "anything" I want including all you mentioned in your post. I do not listen to people that tell me "you can't eat that" but I listen to my own brain and it says, eat balanced foods. Proteins, Vegies, Fruits, Grains, nuts and seeds, oil like Olive etc., dairy, and carbs. I do choose to eat complex carbs mostly but not exclusively. I just had white rice stirfry, with pork, eggs, green onions, soy sauce. Plus, my seasonings. I do believe in moderation, but I am not strict. I just know that if I eat more than I expend (burn) during a day, I will eventually start to store fat. Some people don't mind being overweight and that's ok with me. I love being active, my life does not revolve around food. Food is good, I like food that tastes good, but I like food that fuels my body so I can do the things I want to
I'd like to have a juicer too Chrissy, but that will come along eventually You eat a lot, almost identical to the way I eat. I do a lot of complex carbs, and the more of the good stuff I eat, the less I have any cravings for things I believe are unhealthy for me. The only red-meat I will eat on occasion is burger in tacos I like to make. Fish is my fave food, and it's way hard to get here, at least anything really fresh, and within my budget I found a jug of 7 grain beverage today in the soymilk section, and tasted it awhile ago. It is so good I couldn't believe it!! My fave dinners are salads with some chicken cut up in them, sometimes pork. Also love stirfrys so I get plenty of vegies. I use regular dressings and I like to marinate my meat when cooking it, I mean like my country style ribs that is
That's the ticket Babs, moderation. If I want a gut-bomb, I never have to say "oh, I can't have that". Or a piece of cake/pie etc. I love my new lifestyle and I've really only been at it since about 2013. It's great since you're married your hubby likes the same foods. I know that can be hard if you aren't both on "the same page" food-wise
It's not easy to eat balanced meals Ike, but I do believe they are good for us. Yes, proteins stay with you, and are so important to build and maintain muscle mass. But those other food-groups are good for other things in our bodies, again, it's about balance in my opinion. It does work for me
I love all the things you are telling us about Yvonne, like the Kefir, or the Camfree?? I can't remember the grain-drink you like? Anyway, I guess you probably saw where I posted about finding the 7-grain beverage, it's so good, and I bought it at a Grocery Outlet. I didn't really know what to expect, but it is good. Of course I love nuts, seeds and all kinds of grains so I guess I shouldn't be surprised I like it
Boy you are right on Sheldon!! I eat real butter, no "diet" or man-made that I know of. I have to work at it, and need to watch labels close. They can fool a person. Olive Oil is my fave staple, along with a lot of spices, especially hot ones as they are natural anti-inflammatories.