I have some catching up to do with rules, and the next two rules are not only similar, but they are also two more ways to help avoid processed food. I feel like I have already blabbed on and on about staying awayfrom the evil packaged food stuff, so I wont go on too much about it. I am glad it is a bit of a repeat of the theme of avoiding processed food, though, because I have been away from this blog a little longer than I expected, and it serves as a bit of a recap/”shot-in-the-arm.”
Rule 6- Avoid food products that contain more than five ingredients.
“The specific number you adopt is arbitrary, but the more ingredients in a packaged food, the more highly processed it probably is. Note 1: A long list of ingredients in a recipe is not the same thing; that’s fine. Note 2: Some products now boast, somewhat deceptively, about their short ingredients list. Haagen-Dazs has a new line of ice cream called “five.” Great-but it’s still ice cream. Same goes for the three-ingredient Tostitos corn chips advertised by Frito-Lay- okay, but they are still corn chips. In such cases, apply rule 60 for dealing with treats and special occasion foods.”
Rule 7- Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.
“Basically the same idea, different mnemonic. Keep it simple.”
Geez, I can’t even pronounce some ingredients...
All I really want to add, is that although these are both obviously excellent ways/rules to avoid food that is not good stuff, I personally have to be careful, because a lot of things that fall under these two rules can be high in calories (and sugar), regardless of how healthy they are, so I am working hard at eating less of these healthier packaged things, or just not even “going there.” And then, thinking “well hey, this is healthy, so I can eat as much as I want” can really be a problem for me (overeating!). As healthy as avocados and olive oil are for you, slicing a whole one onto some delicious whole grain bread and then drizzling it with olive oil and S&P may be technically healthy (and ridiculously delicious), but eating it almost every day (during our avocado season, especially), also leads to eating it without your pants on, because they won’t fit anymore. The balance between healthy and small portions/calories for me is tricky.
A personal update: I am happy to say my sugar intake is better, and am doing much better with craving it. Another thing that is helping me, whether I like it or not, is that I recently went to my GI doc for a routine follow-up on my Colitis (that has been fairly dormant for a long time) and a few other issues. Aside from kicking me in the ass, and basically telling me that if I lose weight I will have less problems with my digestive system, she asked me to stop eating gluten for a while, because I have been having trouble with symptoms that possibly indicate trouble with digesting gluten (I will spare you the whining, but headaches after I eat and acid reflux are two of the things that have been troublesome for a long time now). She wants me to try this for a few weeks, and see if the symptoms go away. SO, avoiding gluten knocks out battered and fried foods and ANY baked goods, unless they are made with non-gluten flours- PHEW!! Most of these things that are readily available, including BREAD and pasta, are made with gluten flours, ssssooooo...
Thank god I can have oats and potatoes and corn and rice, or I might have to take prisoners.
Most importantly, this time of year, good salads and all kinds of veggies and fruits become not only more available, but more desirable in the warmer weather. If Lee and I try to stick with those (which I already love to eat tons of) and a few lean meats and fishies as our core menu, it rules out all the stuff we shouldn’t be eating anyway! How’s that for trying to “keep it simple!?” I know some stuff will creep in here and there (like ice cream), but we are watching it.
(“Speak of the devil”- That Haagen-Dazs “Five” is really excellent, by the way- there are even flavors like “ginger” and “brown sugar” and “passion fruit”- all dee-lish and homemade tasting! I’m just sayin’...).
