If people are responsible for what they put into their bodies, then why is most food available CRAP?

[devilgrrl]

Seriously. I keep hearing that "you are what you eat" "personal responsibility" bullshit but let's say that you are on the road with your family and the kids get hungry.

What's usually available to you on the road? McDonald's, Burger King, Applebees, Chili's, etc. The service stations are stocked with pre-packaged processed crap. I mean please.... think about it.

I eat well but I'm just one person and not everyone has what I have near them and when I see this type of argument brought up, I wonder if people think past their own nose.

Just thought I'd ask.

[valerief]

1. Foodstuff. Food costs more than foodstuff. nt

[Retrograde]

72. I prefer the term "food-like substance" (n/m)

[DailyGrind51]

117. Especially, if you are buying for one or two people!

If you buy quantities of fresh produce to save money, half of it will be inedible before you use it. With families, however, you can get through ten pounds of fresh apples, tomatoes, or carrots in a week.

[hlthe2b]

2. Forget the fast food joints, try buying anything without HFCS

I just got back from Safeway. I have a heavy week coming up and wanted to buy some convenience foods since I will have zero time to cook. I spent an hour reading labels--frozen foods, ice cream products, yogurts, deli packaged items, soup, you name it. Loaded with crap--high fructose corn syrup, MSG, food starches. Breads? LOADED with the crap. Not a single brand of packaged potato salad (or "fresh from the deli") that does not contain HFCS. Since I am boycotting Whole Foods, have no time to make potato salad, where am I going to get it as promised for a social event this week (attended by equally discerning "healthier eating" friends)?
It is all crap-- even (and especially the stuff labeled healthy). You can now pay 2 1/2 times the price for sandwich ham or turkey by paying for a "healthy" labeled brand that (when you read the fine print, is loaded with sugar-not hfcs, at least, but also nitrates.

Geebus. 65-80% of the store is crap I wouldn't eat, given a choice.

[MercutioATC]

3. Economics.

If there was an economic demand for healthy fast food, it would exist.

If you'll notice, fast food places HAVE put some healthier items on their menus in the past few years.

[juno jones]

11. Mostly salads

kept unoxidized by chemicals (except where illegal) and served with calorically ridiculous dressings loaded with...ta-da...HCFS and crap oils. Fast food healthy is merely giving you the illusion of healthy.


I'm frustrated at my current place of employment because they have 6 kinds of pre-prepared chemical soup and neither balsamic vinegar nor olive oil which is all I put on my salad.

[nadinbrzezinski]

92. One more thing on those salads

sugar, not only HFCS, but sugar, on the salad itself. May come in the form of seemingly healthy dry fruit, or other means... but it does have it.

My other favorite, you too can order apple wedges for the kiddies.... instead of fries. Seemingly that is great... problem is, no skin on them... and they come with a caramel dipping sauce...

This is the debate, should I give them the Sugar in the form of easily processed carbs in the fries, or the easily processed sugars in the caramel sauce?

What to do?

But they have people fooled, don't they?

Did I mention that the caramel sauce probably has some salt too? Not that you could taste it for that matter, and the apples are in that wonderfully laden liquid that will keep them from oxidizing.

Yep, they have become good citizens, really.

:SNART:

And yes, you do get it, since you worked in the industry at one point...

I did at a college cafeteria and if most people knew what came in their food and from where... and it was a time when HFCS were not as pervasive. But your story down thread about mayo had me laughing out loud... since I also worked at a kitchen in another country that did their own. And for all those who think store bought mayo is good.... they have not lived until they have eaten the fresh kind... same goes for butter, or freshly picked eggs at the chicken coup.

[Missy Vixen]

103. I just spent a week recovering from food poisoning

I evidently obtained via a salad (or the dressing) at a local bar and grill. I picked the only thing on the menu that wasn't fried or breaded, and it seems I made the wrong choice.

Of course, it's my choice, but that's the last time I eat any salad at all I haven't prepared myself.

:scared:

[nadinbrzezinski]

82. Been reading the End of Overeating

and you'd be shocked as to how far off base you actually are on this one.

I fully recommend the book. By the way, this is the latest in a series of exposes we have had over the years.

[Missy Vixen]

100. And there are people here who, when you tell them you've availed yourself of those choices,

will tell you what is wrong with them. I've seen it over and over here. For instance, I wanted to try Chipotle; I've heard good things about them. This is evidently wrong.

We don't make perfect choices every day, but we make them a damn sight more often than we used to. We are a married couple with NO children, and we are pressed for time. I can't even imagine what people with kids go through daily. It would be nice if there were more options available for them that didn't have a day's recommended salt/fat/grease allowance.

[Speck Tater]

4. When on the road, plan ahead and bring homemade nutritious snacks.

Either that, or complain that nobody is offering you nutritious snacks on the road. Simple choice, really.

[devilgrrl]

13. Oh, so flippant. BTW, I was using the road as an example. Plus, some don't have a choice.

You and I do but most others probably don't.

Get off your high horse.

[vadawg]

14. off course you have a choice, i was in the gas station this morning

i got 2 bananas for a buck, i could have bought some crap for the same, but theres always a choice..

[devilgrrl]

17. You're right! People who haven't your foresight can rely on bananas cross-country!

YEAH! :headbang:

[pitohui]

19. well this person obviously doesn't travel anywhere, so consider the source

he's talking about grabbing bananas in the one convenience store that actually has bananas that is on his way to work

you are talking about people on the road, who actually do travel, esp. in urban areas where there are no groceries other than processed salts or sweets

a person who doesn't travel, presuming to give advice to those of us who do, will always look like the idiot that he is (no offense to the idiot, who thinks HIS convenience store is representative of all convenience stores and that 2 for $1 bananas has ever happened in any other gas station)

and think of travel by air, where your food is actually confiscated and you are FORCED to buy the airside crap, again, all salt or sugar

[vadawg]

22. lol so i guess all those stores all over the world ive been in where ive found fresh fruit etc

are anomolies, the secret is to step past the cream cakes and take the time to look around..

[vadawg]

20. well i figure if you dont have enough foresight to plan food

its probuably better if you stay at home as your just going to end up on the milk carton anyway if your that dumb...

[devilgrrl]

23. what a ghoul - what a ghoul.

:puke:

[vadawg]

28. what you dont do any planning when you set out cross country

no maps, no idea where you are going, no supplies, nothing, then yes you are going to end up on the milk carton..

[devilgrrl]

32. I'm not talking about me - not everyone plans like I do - I am not most people...

and most people don't have it as easy as you and I. Now stop it. :spank:

[vadawg]

38. lol what do you mean easy, how hard is it to stop of at any store

and get some fruit, especially if your doing the driving. got no idea whats so difficult about that whatsoever...

[devilgrrl]

39. OMFG! Get over yourself!

:crazy:

[vadawg]

48. ill take that as you conceding my points, thanks

[devilgrrl]

50. uh no. You don't think past your own nose.

eom

[cwydro]

115. I agree with vadawg.

You can buy peanut butter, bread, usually fruit, milk, yogurt, juice...and all number of decent food if you just make the EFFORT.

All these items are available in convenience stores.

[Scout]

128. pb is high in fat, bread is full of carbs and HFCS, milk and yogurt have fat

and juice is full of sugar and likely HFCS.

and buying them at "convenience stores" is outrageously expensive.

[Missy Vixen]

109. Gosh. Looks like perhaps, you need some enlightening

Here's the thing, and God, I hate raining on your "I'm so much smarter than they are" parade...

Have you looked at the price of fresh fruit lately? How about apples, for instance? Here's another question: How many kids are you feeding? Do they need some protein as well because they're in sports, or dance, or other activities that require not only energy but stamina? What is it you feed them, besides yet more string cheese?

We live in Washington State, apple capital of the world. Apples can be as much as $1 apiece here. Yes, you read that right. Bananas, while high in potassium, are somewhat caloric. If you have a kid that's already trending towards chubby, what do you buy for him or her? An apple? How many of those apples is that kid going to eat in a day? How much is your food budget? When you're not wondering about that fruit, fresh vegetables are pretty spendy, too. I distinctly remember looking at beefsteak tomatoes that were $2.50 apiece not so long ago, for example.

I just love reading the responses on these threads. After all, it's so nice to know we're among paragons who never, ever make a mistake, the happy little mommy driving the minivan always has perfectly nutritionally balanced, affordable snacks for all the kids at all times, and she's not sitting at the drive-through window wishing she could afford the grilled chicken sandwich her kids should be eating, but settles for the cheeseburger and juice Happy Meal she can just about afford.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Quantess]

91. She specifically said she manages to "eat well enough".

:eyes: I think your comment is uncalled for. I don't know devilgrrl, but clearly you are missing the point.
Have you never taken a road trip? It is difficult to eat healthy when you are travelling. It is possible to eat well on the road, if you have some determination to avoid junk food, but it is not always easy.

[Scout]

127. i see by your profile you are a man...

and i will probably get in trouble here, but i'd be willing to bet that you have VERY LITTLE experience being the caretaker of children on a car trip.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slampoet]

89. The word is You're

As in "You're missing one of your chromosomes."

See the difference?

I thought not.

[Scout]

124. if i had your problems with spelling and punctuation, i wouldn't call others dumb. n/t

[Name removed]

70. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

78. Don't forget the string cheese and little bags of peanuts!

Oh, and the one or two cartons of yogurt if you can find them in the refrigerated case. Very filling!

I understand the point you are trying to make. I've traveled up and down 95 too many times to count, and the majority of food offered IS crap. If time allows, I'll track down a deli or diner when up north, but usually I'm just thankful to find a half-way decent Subway. I pack fruit/bars/anything that travels well, but it's more nosh food than a filling meal. I'd be happy with decent (and fast) sandwich shops, with fruit, yogurt, soups and salads. Not sure why it's so difficult.

[Missy Vixen]

110. Okay, IMHO

Do you know how many schools now ban peanuts in any form? I'm not a mom, but I know lots of 'em. I was a little shocked to learn this, too.

When you're an adult on your own, it's possible to stop for some string cheese, some yogurt that doesn't have HFCS in it, whatever. I can't even imagine trying to drag a couple of kids through that same store, choosing only healthy items and something the person in question can afford.

[Scout]

123. where the hell do gas stations sell bananas??? n/t

[cwydro]

125. Every one of them on my way to work here in the Keys

sells bananas.

[Scout]

129. well none of them in Michigan do n/t

[cwydro]

133. Wow, I travel a lot

and they have them in NC too at all the stations I have been to, anyway.

But that is just another reason to plan ahead if you don't have that option.

[gmoney]

126. plenty of them in the midwest

If you go to the ones with the mini marts (Speedway, Sheetz, Circle K, etc) there's usually a small stand front and center with bananas and sometimes apples. I'm guessing they put them up front because they need to sell quickly.

Yes, if you go to the ones with a phone-booth sized kiosk, or that's also a service station, those tend to not have the selection. But if you're on the interstate, they're easy to find.

[timeforpeace]

54. You were using on the road as the crux of your argument, not as an example. Thus the criticism.

[Speck Tater]

61. Under what conditions would someone not have any choice?

I'm really curious. When I was a little kid back in the 50's my folks were pretty poor so whenever we went on a long road trip my dad always made sure the Coleman stove was in the trunk and when time came for the evening meal we pulled over at any convenient rest stop or wide spot in the road and pulled out the stove and made dinner.

The poorer a person is the more important it is for them to conserve money by buying inexpensive staples instead of packaged factory food. Since I started really cooking four or five years ago, and stopped buying fast food and canned food and boxed food and frozen dinners, not only do I eat better, but my grocery bill is WAY lower than it used to be. It just baffles me why some people say they are too poor to eat well. The opposite should be true. Too poor to eat crap makes a lot more sense to me. I don't mean to be snarky, but it seems to me in every case that I am personally familiar with the people involved are too LAZY to eat well, not too poor to eat well.

The fact is, I am well below the poverty line and I eat like a king. Oops. The timer just beeped. Time to go punch down the bread dough and put it into loaf pans.

[Quantess]

95. When someone else is driving, and makes the decisions where to stop to eat. That's when.

It's excellent to be able to be autonomous, but when on a road trip, the passengers are more or less at the whim of the driver. I have been an adult passenger on road trips before, and I don't always have a say where we stop to eat. I have skipped meals in this situation.

Your parents sound like great people, smart people, who had good eating habits. They drove the car, and made good eating choices. You were a lucky kid.

But, have you ever considered what it's like to be a passenger in a car driven by an overweight fast-food lover? Assuming you are not in control of the situation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

111. Been in that exact situation myself

as a medic it was where the driver liked to eat. Also where we could afford to eat.

Of course we carried food bars, because sometimes all we had time for was... a bar while driving code three to the next call.

[TexasObserver]

119. "Too poor to eat crap makes a lot more sense to me"

Thanks for giving your testimonial, which is not a popular point of view with some here.

I agree with you. Our family always prepared meals on the road, and when the parents do that, you eat well. We didn't eat breakfast at a fast food joint. We prepared it. We didn't stop for lunch at a restaurant. We ate at a park somewhere along the way, even a roadside park. We had real meals, cooked in sensible portions.

With so many restaurants now competing to put sugar and such in food, fast food pretty much equals bad food. If one is willing to read labels, do a little research, buy smart, and cook smart, one can eat very well and do so economically.

A banana or a Snickers? A complete home cooked meal or a Big Mac? An apple or a bagel? Water or a coffee milkshake? People who like to think they're always in a hurry can rationalize eating crap because it takes an extra 20 minutes a meal to do it right.

[slampoet]

88. How do you do that when no liquids or gels are allowed on planes?

[cwydro]

116. You can take sandwiches on planes.

I do it all the time.

[slampoet]

136. And how do you preserve them w/o liquids or gels?

BTW - Jelly And peanut butter are routinely taken away under the gel laws.

[juno jones]

5. There's a lot of hidden baddies too.

Even if you find a restaurant with decent food, often HFCS is hidden in products that they use, or crap oils like soy and corn, or other additives not put there deliberately by the restaurant but contained in ingredients that they use. Crap ingredients are really invasive, when I was running a 'health food' kitchen 19 years ago, even we had to compromise on some ingredients to satisfy everyone from customers to the health dept.


I truly wish they could make food these days without the crap. The adulteration of basic ingredients makes the stuff even more ubiquitous. It's well hidden and even those who claim to read all labels and reject the wanting are probably still ingesting some of that stuff albeit in a more peripheral manner.

[devilgrrl]

10. Exactly! Which is basically my point and that is most food available is shite and can't be avoided.

BTW, which ingredients did you have to comply with? Good call on soy and corn oil - what a scam!

[juno jones]

15. Eggs for one

We couldn't use more than x number eggs for anything (health code) unless we went with a pastuerized processed egg product. We couldn't make our own mayonaise for our basil chicken tortellini salad and sandwiches because of the egg thing and our customers thought anything that wasn't 'Hellmans' or what ever didn't taste right anyway (19 years ago, most of our current crop of health-food products didn't exist and many that did tasted radically different). That's sugar and soy oil right there. This was awhile back, so I don't remember HCFS being such a big thing and we tried to make everything in the kitchen from absolute scratch, but stuff surely slipped by. Things as innocuous as canned tomatoes are sweetened with sugar or HCFS these days (because it's easier to transport unripe tomatoes), so even a 'homemade' salsa or chile might very well contain it and the chef who made it would be shocked to know it was there. Basic condiments that have been used for years change formulation overnight and cooks don't always notice. Supply and availibility adds to the problem too. Before they started outlawing transfat frying oil that stuff was all over, mostly because that was pretty much all to be had. Even after they discovered it was bad, many restaurants kept using it because it was cheap and easy to find. There might still be states where it's legal, caveat emptor.

We did some good at the 'New Leaf', even though we had to comprimise. We were one of the first semi-vegetarian restaurants in the area and taught a lot of midwesterners that food without meat could still be tasty. So I don't feel TOO bad. :)

[devilgrrl]

16. Wow, is that 'New Leaf' still around? I'm hungry ;-)

Thanks for the info too.

I am rather disturbed by some of the responses. I just used being on the road as an example and I suppose people have the choice of eating just bananas their entire time but I think most people don't have access to non-processed foods and until they are, people should STFU about it and do something about it.

ya know?

[juno jones]

24. Wish it were.

Long story there, suffice to say never go into business with your least favorite sibling in an attempt to patch things up. There's a lesson in that. I hope those two are doing all right where ever they wound up. ;)

After it closed down, I did vegetarian catering at a series of holistic festivals in the area. It was a pleasure to watch these older farmers try the food... they'd been dragged to this event by the wife, all the while they were joking about hippies, vegetarians and how they were going to buy a steak after they left...and proceed to buy second helpings and ask where our restaurant was.

It still gives me a fuzzy feeling.

PS I understand the road thing. I carry stuff while travelling, but there are times you need more than a banana. I've travelled cross-country a lot and you gotta eat a real meal sooner or later.

[valerief]

18. Mmm, eggs, still my favorite food since childhood and that was a long time ago. nt

[juno jones]

26. How d'ya want 'em?

I cook all kinds, I like 'em best over easy cooked in clarified butter or ghee and topping a piece of whole-grain toast, but that's just me. :D

[devilgrrl]

40. I like mine cooked mine on both sides - nice and crunchy

:-)

[valerief]

44. Fried in grapeseed oil, over easy, atop buttered organic oatnut bread.

With a piece of fruit on the side!

Yum!

[Maru Kitteh]

90. What poverty stricken person hasn't enjoyed eggs fried in grapeseed oil atop organic oatnut bread

with fresh fruit on the side?

[Scout]

130. those poor folk are just too lazy, all they need is 20 minutes extra per meal....

and they can just shop at those convenience stores on the interstate!

:sarcasm: shouldn't be needed, but last time i left it off....

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. One lean turkey saussage we like

it just now had HFCS (corn syrup) added to it. I put back and told the store why. Not that it will make any difference.

The rest of the sausages I was looking at, again corn syrup... I gave up and took a fresh piece of meat for lunch. At least the mashed potatoes don't have sugar and all that crap, but I think I will make it fresh at home from now on... even though it takes more work.

[nadinbrzezinski]

74. And chopping fresh really cut into your profits

oh and here is more, these days many of the food items come prefried, pre battered you know the drill...

I don't have to go into it, you've been there, done that.

I remember the difference from the Kibbutz chicken and the school cafeteria.

Kibbutz, we spent a few hours baking fresh bread, chopping the salads, from produce that came from the field, using eggs that came from the coup, churning fresh butter and mayo, which even with a machine takes some time. (Yes kiddies, as in a couple hours for the butter)

The school cafeteria, I still have nightmares over the globs of yellow fat dripping from the sides of the chili as it slid into the kettle from the can... or the large stacks of Yellow Cheese, with yellow food coloring, and my favorite, yummy, green eggs... them powdered eggs, overcook them, they taste fine, they turn green.

[FarCenter]

6. Well, for example, at Burger King...

Order a plain Whopper, which is a bun, meat patty, and some pickles, lettuce and tomatoes (no double of anything, no cheeseon anything).

Do not order a soda -- if it is not a diet drink, it is usually HFCS; and if it is a diet drink, why are you paying money for nothing?

Do not order french fries, onion rings or any other greasy side dishes.

Do not order desert in any of the fatty, sweet forms.

Roy Rodgers is a little better, because if you do the above, you can add more veggies at the fixin's bar.

[emilyg]

37. +1

[nadinbrzezinski]

77. And the bun probably has HFCS... so there...

as well as salt...

[FarCenter]

120. By itself, at 678 calories, it is not too bad by itself as a lunch

Anything else on the menu at Buger King makes the nutrition go downhill.

It is a little high in sodium, but not outrageously so. The sodium is probably not in the bun; more likely in the sauce.

If HFCS is used in baking, it is probably HFCS 42, which is 42% fuctose. This is better than cane sugar (sucrose), which is 50% fructose.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fast-foods-generic/9280/2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-fructose_corn_syrup

[TexasObserver]

7. You're right that options are limited and you have to plan ahead.

Do you stop at a park and make sandwiches with healthy ingredients, or do you drive into McDonalds and buy a McWhatever?

Do you drink water and juice or cola and coffee?

Do you eat a light or heavy breakfast?

Sometimes you have to settle for the sausage biscuit at McDonald's, but eating poorly is usually a matter of choosing a convenient source of food that tastes good.

Do you pack fruit and healthy snacks for the road, or stop and buy Twinkies at the gas station?

It's not easy to eat right when one travels and it does take planning ahead and effort.

[pitohui]

21. one tires of TSA grabbing one's healthy snacks carefully packed

as for road travel, get real, days on the road, that "healthy stuff" you put in the cooler lasts only so long, like one day before you have to buy more ice and other supplies

it is just not that easy

a brown bagger shouldn't really think they have much to tell the actual traveler

[devilgrrl]

25. In my OP I wondered about people thinking past their own nose - apparently they don't

astounding isn't it?

[TexasObserver]

33. Apparently you didn't read your own post.

You wrote "let's say that you are on the road with your family and the kids get hungry."

You spoke of being on the road with your kids, and that's what I addressed.

Don't get snippy because I answered the question you asked.

[devilgrrl]

36. And don't get snippy because you didn't think past your own nose and we called you on it.

:P

[TexasObserver]

45. No, you "called" me on answering the question you asked.

You're not really interested in finding out how to feed kids well while traveling. You just want to complain about how it's someone else's fault you feed yours unhealthy crap.

[devilgrrl]

51. Unheathy crap is what is mostly available...

eom

[TexasObserver]

57. I agree with you, and that is a big problem.

[devilgrrl]

63. I used the road as an example because I noticed that there was really nothing but crap...

Sure, you could drive around a bit to find something healthy but most aren't willing or have the time.

[TexasObserver]

31. The OP spoke of "being on the road with kids" not flying.

"let's say that you are on the road with your family and the kids get hungry" is what the OP wrote.

[devilgrrl]

35. same difference - airports can be used as another example of being exposed to crappy foods

Not everyone is you or me. Just because we think things out doesn't mean that everyone else does. What I suppose I'm suggesting is that people would eat better if they got rid of the crap! If all people had access to were fruits and vegetables, they'd eat more of them.

[TexasObserver]

46. I agree with you that airports are much harder to find good food.

And I agree with you that food that is healthier should be easier to get.

[devilgrrl]

49. That's basically to point I'm trying to make. That if there was nothing but healthy food available..

people would make healthier choices.

I can need to put a tin hat on where food and diet industries are concerned but I won't for now.

I think we're on the same page though.

[TexasObserver]

56. Healthy foods should be more available.

I favor legislation to limit things like HFCS in prepared foods. They're basically dunking food into sugar, to make it all taste sweeter. I favor attempts to require fast food and other restaurants in interstate commerce to offer more healthy foods, and to limit additives, where possible.

But that's all down the road, if we get it at all. Big companies will always have more stroke than consumers - who are largely unaware and unorganized.

I had to break my kids from eating Happy Meals and such 20 years ago, and it was worth it. Now they're adults, and all eat very healthy. One is a vegan, one is a vegetarian, and one is a macrobiotic. I eat healthy, but they all eat even better than I do. They chose the path of eating they would take, but their mother and I started them on a healthy path.

[devilgrrl]

60. We can only hope that the rest of the country gets on that same path.

In the meantime we just need to educate and watch out for others.

[nadinbrzezinski]

83. Did you find Jesus on the way to Damascus?

Serious...

This is one of Kessler's arguments... damn...

Don't bother by the way. after your insults today, I really don't want to read it, but damn it, perhaps you can learn.

[TexasObserver]

86. I learned how to eat smartly 20 plus years ago, and have been living it since.

That's why I preach the gospel of eating well by committing to eat well.

Anyone who wants to be my age and have my blood pressure (116/66), my cholesterol (182), my pulse (74), and my blood sugar (92), can do so with good eating habits and regular exercise.

[Name removed]

87. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TexasObserver]

96. issue resolved

so post deleted

[nadinbrzezinski]

98. But personal attacks are fine...

I see.

By the way, they are not... but you are free to obey the rules you choose to obey and follow them and the ones you are not willing to.

And that is exactly what you have engaged on... for a few days now.

I mean this, have a good life....by by... you have now joined another DU'er that will not be sent to the ignore list, but kept at bay. TO have a good life. And I do mean it, ask your doctor about that pesky differential. The standard of Cholesterol screening is NOT a total number... stopped being the standard over fifteen years ago... and YOUR LAB is doing the differential as a matter of course when doing a lipid panel.

I also expect you to post on threads I post, on health issues, like clockwork... That is the nature of the beast... so be it.

Bu bye...

[REP]

93. Ha! My numbers are waaay better!

BP: 90/60 LDL: 93 HDL: 57 HbA1c: 6%. No statins or BP meds, but I do have severe kidney disease!

[nadinbrzezinski]

94. Hey good for you, you did get the differential

and the A1C to boot.... good on you.

Take care of the nephropathy though... and vibes to avoid the rest of the mess that goes with it at times.

:-)

[REP]

101. I have primary idiopathic FSGS/nephrotic syndrome

plus massive scarring from years of chronic/recurrent renal infections and chronic stone formation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

105. Ouch...

I do hope that the care you take will help you. Good vibes, good vibes.

[REP]

106. Thanks

Just recovering from Yet Another Kidney Infection, which hurt about a million times more than a stone.

[nadinbrzezinski]

108. Had one as a child, I know how much they can hurt

I was literally doubled over and going into shock.

If they asked me how bad in the scale I think I'd have said an 11.

So yes, I do understand.

Just remembering gives me the shivers.

[TexasObserver]

97. Congratulations. Do you credit eating properly or exercising?

[REP]

104. I have excellent table manners and always eat properly

That, however, has nothing to with my BP and other stats.

[TexasObserver]

107. A masticator. I see.

Whatever it is, your BP is looking good.

[Scout]

131. hah! got you beat! i'm "morbidly obese" and i have EXCELLENT

blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.

i have crap eating habits and exercise sometimes. (i have just lost 25 pounds ... but my numbers were excellent before the weight loss too.)

it's genetics asshole, not personal superiority.

[Greyhound]

8. Corporate Catch-22.

I see the inevitable argument for the magical hand of the "free market" has already made its appearance.

[nadinbrzezinski]

81. It is predictable, like the sun rises in the East, and sets in the West

what can I say?

[MindPilot]

9. And single people --

many "good" foods are difficult to buy (and in many cases prepare) in small enough quantities for one person to use before it spoils.

[devilgrrl]

12. Because most stores package their "good" foods in bulk.

Thankfully, there are stores nearby where I can buy just what I need, not everyone in the US has that option.

[flvegan]

27. In that situation, most food is crap because that's what people want.

So you're on the road with your family. Kids get hungry. Have McD's. Have Burger King. It's one meal (or a couple, if it's a long trip). There's nothing wrong with eating crap now and then. Personal responsibility is about what you eat MOST of the time. Yeah, have a pizza. Eat some fries. Have that Blizzard. Go to a steakhouse and eat a porterhouse as big as your head. Just don't do it often. The rest of the time, mind what you put in your mouth.

It really is just that simple.

[devilgrrl]

42. And most people want it because that's all there is.

So let us not continue to whine about the abysmal physical state of the nations citizenry. It is what it eats.

[flvegan]

113. Ummm...no.

It's a supply v demand issue. People want it, therefore that's what's available. Ties in REALLY strongly with basic economics.

[alphafemale]

29. In an aside. I had somebody give me a strange look at the grocery store today.

I was at the milk aisle and I selected my usual choice skim milk. I had bacon in my basket. They looked down at that and looked up at me and the :wtf: was all over their face.

My philosophy on the matter is that I eat bacon maybe once a week. Sometimes once every two weeks. And even then it's two slices max.

Milk on the other hand, I drink every day.

And 2% milk isn't fooling anybody.

Well, I guess it does fool quite a few...but it shouldn't fool anyone who's ever bothered to read the labels.

And yeah. All that pre-processed stuff is predominent and too easy.

Don't get me wrong I still love a Big Mac every now and then. But I really limit my consumption of them to two or three times a year.

[Quantess]

114. Only the weirdest of people would analyze you at a glance and give you stink eye

based on skim milk & bacon in the shopping cart. Something else was going on, definitely.

[abumbyanyothername]

30. Hitting the road.

I don't necessarily like it, but when we hit the road, I stop at supermarkets and buy fruit. At home, I eat farmers' markets fruits. Once a day I have a mixed raw vegetable salad.

There are choices, people just aren't making them. Mostly because of advertising. Food that gets advertised, gets eaten.

[aikoaiko]

34. speaking of good food: McDonalds has 2 sausage-egg biscuits for 2.50

Doesn't get much better than that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. I'll pass on the salt, fats and sugars in that

no thank you.

Knowing how this is designed, definitely no thank you.


You can have mine... for the next twenty years.

[flvegan]

112. No it doesn't.

If you hate yourself.

[FirstLight]

41. Let's take the limited income folks into account as well

I use foodstamps, and even if I budget I cannot sustain a month's worth of groceries buying from the "healthy aisle" in the grocery store, and the Grass Roots health food store isn't allowed to accept foodstamps because "they don't sell enough meat products to qualify"

Much of the time we are left to shop at the grocery outlet and buy the crap to make the foodstamps last all month

I travel to college 150 miles RT every other week and I do pack myself sandwiches and fruit etc, for lunch and dinner -- but in the 104 heat of the past months, the food has gone bad or questionable before I drive home... so much of the time dinner on the road has become a drive thru thing... and when you have put all your money into gas and parking, the only choice left is the 99c tacos or burger special...salads cost close to $6!

so before some people go off and say that people are making "unhealthy choices" and it is all their own fault - take the OTHER factors into account. Fixed income folks have to buy the crap becaus it is what's affordable...and planning ahead isn't always the answer either.

The holier than thou take on eating right is bullshit. I know enough about health and prevention and alternative healing to know some of the food I buy is crap for us...but at this point, can I fix it? nope.

and fwiw - being a single mom with 3 kids, going to school and trying to work is taxing enough - it's okay that I sometimes just decide to throw a frozen pizza in the oven because it is all I can muster, at least the kids get vegies with it too!

[devilgrrl]

43. Thank you for your story - it is your situation that I was thinking about regarding this issue.

:hug:

The holier than thou attitude just slays me... unbelievable. :crazy:

[FirstLight]

47. Ya, I hate it when friends or others tell me

"wel you know what you SHOULD do..."

it makes my blood boil...I have all the know-how...but lack either resources or sometimes even the STAMINA to do it "the right way"

so fuck 'em
we get by

like I tell my kids: "I'm doing the best I can with what I have"

[devilgrrl]

53. I'm sure you haven't the time or energy to do your own canning, roasts and soups.

No one ever takes "time" into account regarding this issue either. :crazy:

You seem to be teaching your children well about what really matters and they will be better people for it. :hug:

[vadawg]

55. lol you really cant see past your own nose, you make the time

to prepare good foods, how long do you think it takes, unless you are working 20 hours a day 7 days a week then you have time to prepare some foods, a lot of it comes down to convenience and taste, kids especially like burgers and fries and theres nothing wrong with junk food if thats what you want, but to complain that theres no healthy choices out there is bull, they may not be the healthy choices that you want but they are there...

[devilgrrl]

58. Why don't you ask FirstLight the same question Mr. High and Mighty.

:hi:

[vadawg]

59. why should i, ive been there, done that, had to grow,forage and steal food

for most of my younger life, why do i need to have someone tell me that the only food thats out there is unhealthy when anyone who has actually ever been in a store knows were the veg and fruits are. Nothing high and mighty about it, just get annoyed when people dont take the responsibility for spending the $1 on a candy bar instead of the banana, but instead blame society and everyone else.

[devilgrrl]

62. And not everyone is you! Can women get by the way you did as a kid?

You had steal food?

Well, it better have been an apple or something! :spank:

[FirstLight]

64. screw you

"spending the dollar on the candy bar instead of the bananna..."

that's not MY example, thank you...and I even said that when I have to give the kids something sub standard like frozen pizza, they have vegies too...

so don't make it sound like I feed the kids candybars and then cry that we can't buy good food.

I clearly said that buying the healthy food from the 'good side' of the grocery store is not sustainable when your food money is limited.
and no, as much as I love baking my own bread or cooking from scratch... the time factor is a big issue when you are scrambling to just get through the day and get it all done....

No, we aren't perfect by any means when it comes to healthy eating, but our situation isn't very perfect either. so take your attitude and stick it.!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

80. Lemme guess--you had to walk to school 5 miles, barefoot, in the snow, uphill, both ways? (n/t)

[nadinbrzezinski]

79. I know and I understand it

as a Navy wife I have bought the milk for more than one navy family at the end of the month, or the cheese, or the fruit or what have you.

But most people are not exposed to that too often.

I count my blessings that I can afford to not just make healthy choices for myself, my husband and yes the parrots (They eat what I eat), but to ahem spread the wealth every so often for people who cannot.

And yes, it sickens to my stomach when people who have little in the way of money have to put down the bag of apples because it is either that or the milk.

So at the exchange, at the end of the month I have told the cashier many a times. put their milk on my tab or their fruit, or both... at least for that month, they can do that.

And if you were in front of me at the local store, where I have done that a few times, too, I'd do it as well.

[Heidi]

52. Predatory marketing yields shareholder (not to be confused with STAKEHOLDER) value. (nt)

[JNelson6563]

65. Sure, roadfood sucks.

But these things are supported not by long journey travelers so much as the locals.

Back in the day of parents' youth there weren't fast food joints all along the way. Travelers had to go to a sit down restaurant in a town they passed through or pack sandwiches, fruit, etc. When my kids were young any time we made a long journey in the car we brought lots of stuff from home so we wouldn't have to spend money on crap when we got hungry. I worked full time, had two little ones and lived paycheck to paycheck. Making our own food at home was much less expensive and more healthful than the alternative. People really have to go back to the ways of things before McDonald's etc. were everywhere. Just remove it as an option in your mind and work around.

As to day to day living and using it as a quick not too terribly expensive dinner after a long day, yeah, it's a tempting option and I sometimes choose it but rarely. To do so regularly would be too costly for one thing. I hate grocery shopping and have precious little time off from work but I force myself to go because I know it will be much cheaper than just picking something up on the way home. Throw in how much healthier the food is and that's enough for me.

It takes added effort but making such choices regarding what we eat empowers us and I more people start to do it.

Julie

[cwydro]

122. I agree.

Nine times out of ten I pack my own lunch to bring to work. Usually dinner too, since I work long days. All the peeps I work with (who have plenty of money) CHOOSE to eat junk. I make breakfast at home and I have to be at work EARLY.

Everyday there is a co-worker discussion about which crappy fried food outlet, pizza joint, Chinese food, etc. they can't wait to order from that day.

That doesn't count the day we have office "feasts", which are held once a month. Supermarket cakes, KFC or pizza...sometimes cold cuts. Occasionally I'll indulge, but usually not.

Choices.

[BlooInBloo]

66. I'm very sorry what your hand puts into your mouth is outside of your control...

Must be a hellish way to live.

[devilgrrl]

67. Oh come now, you know better...

[Quantess]

85. She specifically said she herself "eats well enough".

It seems to me that she is commenting on the typical American diet that is mass marketed to us. You know...large portions of starchy, deep fried crap. Or larger portions of starches and meats swimming in creamy sauces. And a greasy, starchy, sugary dessert, size XXL.

I eat very well myself, but not without conscious effort.

[BecomingBrainy]

68. This year I grew stuff in a garden that was previously grass

Next year I will be more organized about planting the edibles, but I am really on the 'grow what you can of your own vegies.' plan. I know many of you don't have a yard, I am going to work on this winter (we have horrible winters) on growing some edibles indoors in planters. Many of you could get some soil and a good sized planting container and grow some edible, even in a window.

Be it the economy or the crappy food that is offered after all of the processing/fast food prep, I am going for food staples more and more each day. The more control over the food I have, the better.

I am also finding that I can make much, much better food by making my own rather than a company preparing it for me.

[Cha]

69. I take food with me and do research

on the net before we go in order to know which natural foods store I'm going to when I hit a particular town at feeding time.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[David Zephyr]

75. Excellent. Why is the obvious always the most ignored. Thanks!

If you work for a living and have to grab a fast lunch, what are your choices.

There should be a full month on this topic. Thanks!

[REP]

99. More options need to be more available at more places to more people

There are far too many neighborhoods where fresh food - forget organic - just fresh produce and quality meat are simply not available. Doing your shopping by bus to another neighborhood is difficult; at least it was for me when I was young and healthy; I can't imagine doing it now, older, injured and chronically ill. When given a choice, most people will prefer to buy food that is actually good; healthy foods do actually taste good. Not everyone has the luxury of time time to bake their own bread, but even most busy people can find the time to make a decent, easy meal if given choices.

[nadinbrzezinski]

102. And that is a chronic problem of the Inner City...

and one that many round these parts like to ignore.

Hell, even at the PX it can be a problem and the PX does buy locally and the prices are better.

But people in the military, the other subgroup people here don't seem to know not much about, are also on food stamps and by the end of the month it is also really hard for them to make it.

Of course people in military bases have a few other issues as well, if they decide to shop outside the gate... but that is a whole different discussion.

[madville]

132. I used to love living near a commissary

The ones in Jacksonville always had good choices and prices. The military pays pretty well these days, with BAH, BAS and base pay I used to take home $1550 every two weeks as an E-5. I don't take home that much now and make almost $50k a year as a civilian. We joked one time we were going to apply for foodstamps for an E-4 at our unit because he was always broke from blowing his money at bars several nights a week, when we checked into it his income was to high to qualify and you can't have more than $2000 in assets/savings if I remember right.

[timtom]

118. For most of my adult life

I have made it a point, when traveling, or if I am in a strange location, to seek out a "mom-and-pop" looking place and dine there. Sometimes, the greasier, the better.

My fast food consumption averages about once a year at the most.

But I totally agree with you.

The answer, of course, as always, is corporatism and greed.

[L0oniX]

121. When in doubt ...add cheese and bacon ...the industries moto and golden rule.

Everything is salt, sugar and fat because it's cheap and the industry makes more profit.

[nadinbrzezinski]

134. Don't forget the food smells essenses, and other

substances to add flavor that are much cheaper...

:-)

Yep, we have gone there now.

Why use cheese when you can use cheese flavoring?

[otohara]

135. My Road Trip Across America Observation

I live in Colorado - we have many, many choices when it comes to eating healthy.

In 06 we drove our son to NY for college and finding lettuce was virtually impossible.

I saw the weight gain go up starting in Kansas and not declining until we hit Massachusetts.

Much of America is swimming in a sea of fast food joints...and overweight people.