Comments on: 10000 Ways to Ruin Your Diet http://www.starvingfoodie.com/index.php/2009/09/11/10000-ways-to-ruin-your-diet/ Gourmet Food, Diets and Healthy Living Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:30:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: huck http://www.starvingfoodie.com/index.php/2009/09/11/10000-ways-to-ruin-your-diet/comment-page-1/#comment-40 huck Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:13:23 +0000 http://www.starvingfoodie.com/?p=120#comment-40 I think it is a mis-conception that local chains are any healthier than large fast-food chains. In fact, I suspect it to be the opposite, which may be why they tend to taste better. Unless the chain has a health focus, you can be assured that they use just as much fat, salt and pre-made foods as the big guys. The small food chains' secret is called Sysco. You see their trucks and products at almost every small food chain. Many restaurants use them for pre-made items ranging from soups to canned foods to bathroom supplies. So, though the chain may appear healthy, you are probably getting just as much salt and fat as a major chain -- unfortunately, there's now way for you to know. Remember this rule -- the only way you know what in the food going into your mouth is if you have bought and prepared it yourself. And I mean preparing meals from fresh, whole foods -- No shortcuts. Sure I eat out quite often, especially as lunch, but I don't delude myself in knowing what is in my meal. I try to control breakfast, dinner and snacks carefully. I have lunch out about 2-3x weekly and dinner out 2x weekly. However, there are 21 meals in the week. So if I'm controlling 75% of them, I'm in good shape. And when I eat out, I go for the simple dishes as they are typically the most natural. I think it is a mis-conception that local chains are any healthier than large fast-food chains. In fact, I suspect it to be the opposite, which may be why they tend to taste better. Unless the chain has a health focus, you can be assured that they use just as much fat, salt and pre-made foods as the big guys. The small food chains’ secret is called Sysco. You see their trucks and products at almost every small food chain. Many restaurants use them for pre-made items ranging from soups to canned foods to bathroom supplies. So, though the chain may appear healthy, you are probably getting just as much salt and fat as a major chain — unfortunately, there’s now way for you to know.

Remember this rule — the only way you know what in the food going into your mouth is if you have bought and prepared it yourself. And I mean preparing meals from fresh, whole foods — No shortcuts.

Sure I eat out quite often, especially as lunch, but I don’t delude myself in knowing what is in my meal. I try to control breakfast, dinner and snacks carefully. I have lunch out about 2-3x weekly and dinner out 2x weekly. However, there are 21 meals in the week. So if I’m controlling 75% of them, I’m in good shape. And when I eat out, I go for the simple dishes as they are typically the most natural.

]]> By: Nicki http://www.starvingfoodie.com/index.php/2009/09/11/10000-ways-to-ruin-your-diet/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Nicki Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:53:36 +0000 http://www.starvingfoodie.com/?p=120#comment-39 The thought of 10,000 calories when I don't even hit 2,000 most days makes my stomach hurt. I don't eat fast food if possible, but I do like Chick-Fil-A (I know how many calories are in just about everything on their menu and their salads are awesome). This week when I was feeling sick I got a baked potato from Wendy's with no "butter" never mind what they serve is not butter anyway. I then stopped at Chick-Fil-A for soup and a side salad. My kids were in heaven, but I had a reasonable meal with conservative calories that fulfilled my sick/comfort food needs. I don't eat at Burger King or Starbuck's ever. Pizza Hut has a "Pizza Mia" crust that is slightly healthier than their average pizza. (I had to send pizza to the kids' school one day and spent 2 hours reading the calorie count of food at Pizza Hut). I love Mellow Mushroom pizza, but I can't begin to guess the calories. The good thing about these evil chains is that they are required to post nutritional information. Local chains don't do this, which means the food might be healthier made, but still have too many calories. What are we to do!? Great info, Foodie. The thought of 10,000 calories when I don’t even hit 2,000 most days makes my stomach hurt. I don’t eat fast food if possible, but I do like Chick-Fil-A (I know how many calories are in just about everything on their menu and their salads are awesome). This week when I was feeling sick I got a baked potato from Wendy’s with no “butter” never mind what they serve is not butter anyway. I then stopped at Chick-Fil-A for soup and a side salad. My kids were in heaven, but I had a reasonable meal with conservative calories that fulfilled my sick/comfort food needs.

I don’t eat at Burger King or Starbuck’s ever. Pizza Hut has a “Pizza Mia” crust that is slightly healthier than their average pizza. (I had to send pizza to the kids’ school one day and spent 2 hours reading the calorie count of food at Pizza Hut).

I love Mellow Mushroom pizza, but I can’t begin to guess the calories. The good thing about these evil chains is that they are required to post nutritional information. Local chains don’t do this, which means the food might be healthier made, but still have too many calories.

What are we to do!? Great info, Foodie.

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