Your microwave dinner is making you obese...
gerrielips
Posts: 180 Member
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/19/your_microwave_dinner_is_making_you_obese_what_the_food_industry_doesnt_want_you_to_know_partner/?source=newsletter
Just saw this interesting article this morning in Salon with "food for thought" for all of us pressed for time and in need of convenience. It's definitely something to think about, as I always search for less processed, whole foods.
I look at MFP message boards every morning as I start my day to learn something new from successful, as well as struggling MFP'ers. I decided in late February that I was going to try to eliminate (as much as possible) highly processed foods and to lower my carb intake (on the advice of 2 of my doctors) - so no more potatoes, rice, bread, cookies, starchy veggies (OK -occasionally for the latter) and to add exercise. So far I've lost almost 20 pounds...with about 30-35 more to go. It's a slow process and I don't make myself crazy if some days I'm less behaved than others. Feel free to "friend" me, especially if you're over 60 (or any age), insulin-resistant, and seeking better health for yourself, but trying not to obsess about everything. This is a way of life...
Just saw this interesting article this morning in Salon with "food for thought" for all of us pressed for time and in need of convenience. It's definitely something to think about, as I always search for less processed, whole foods.
I look at MFP message boards every morning as I start my day to learn something new from successful, as well as struggling MFP'ers. I decided in late February that I was going to try to eliminate (as much as possible) highly processed foods and to lower my carb intake (on the advice of 2 of my doctors) - so no more potatoes, rice, bread, cookies, starchy veggies (OK -occasionally for the latter) and to add exercise. So far I've lost almost 20 pounds...with about 30-35 more to go. It's a slow process and I don't make myself crazy if some days I'm less behaved than others. Feel free to "friend" me, especially if you're over 60 (or any age), insulin-resistant, and seeking better health for yourself, but trying not to obsess about everything. This is a way of life...
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Replies
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And I always thought too many calories made people obese.
When can we stop pointing fingers at the food?0 -
I would hesitate about getting my health/nutrition info from Salon. There's lots of sodium in microwave meals, but they don't make you obese.0
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Funny, I lost 55lbs eating primarily microwave meals.0
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I previously felt that microwavable, pre-prepared foods were great because they have a set amount of calories and that helped me with portion control. But now, I don't think of them as especially healthy as they are more "chemical" than I like to have now. Not making a judgement on those that need this convenience where time is an issue, just sayin' that I'm trying to prepare my own foods that have minimal processing.0
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I could see microwaves contributing to weight gain because those things NEVER fill me up. I'm trying to figure out where all the calories go because the portions are tiny (and it's not like they taste that good). I'd much rather batch cook and then freeze my own foods.0
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Unless they're pumping an extra thousand calories into them, no they aren't. And for some, it's the most convenient option.0
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gerrielips wrote: »I previously felt that microwavable, pre-prepared foods were great because they have a set amount of calories and that helped me with portion control. But now, I don't think of them as especially healthy as they are more "chemical" than I like to have now. Not making a judgement on those that need this convenience where time is an issue, just sayin' that I'm trying to prepare my own foods that have minimal processing.
Name the chemical.0 -
DemoraFairy wrote: »Funny, I lost 55lbs eating primarily microwave meals.
Amen.
The high sodium in microwave meals might make you retain water, but its definitely not the only factor in weight gain. Your word of the day is: deficit.0 -
Microwave meals only make you obese if you eat them while drinking diet soda!
On a more reasonable note, are there healthier choices than microwave meals? Most definitely, but for some, microwave meals are an easy way to stay within a calorie target. Processed foods themselves do not make people obese. Consuming more calories than you burn make people obese.
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Nutritional value from whole foods make them a better choice, but the reality is that people are obese from over consumption and not any particular type of food, additive or drink.
Basically everything we consume has calories. NOT caring of how much one is eating in calories is why we have an obesity issue.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Whatever worked/works for you...but I also never felt satisfied after eating these meals and I felt that they were also too high in sodium for me.DemoraFairy wrote: »Funny, I lost 55lbs eating primarily microwave meals.
Congrats on your weight loss!!
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gerrielips wrote: »
Whatever worked/works for you...but I also never felt satisfied after eating these meals and I felt that they were also too high in sodium for me.DemoraFairy wrote: »Funny, I lost 55lbs eating primarily microwave meals.
Congrats on your weight loss!!
Absolutely whatever works for the individual is best, not saying microwave meals every day would be good for everyone, but they certainly wouldn't stop you losing weight. I always felt way more satisfied eating microwave meals than if I ate anything I made, and they tasted so much nicer, too. I've now moved house since then and I'm gutted that the shop near me doesn't stock the one I used to have lol.0 -
GuitarJerry wrote: »There's a big difference between weight loss and health. You absolutely, undoubtedly could lose weight eating nothing but frozen meals. But, it wouldn't be healthful if that's all you ate.
Why not? What if I had frozen vegetables with a frozen entree every day that hit all of my calorie and macro goals? Would that be unhealthy? Why?0 -
I drink a diet soda at lunch every day, and eat a microwave meal a couple of times per week, yet I still continue to lose weight.
I guess that I'm a medical anomaly, or something.0 -
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Nutrisystem is gonna be pissed...0
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blame it on the microwave, sure....
Thread should go places.0 -
Probably the same for a lot of people, but the article is disingenuous with it's conclusion since a lot of the "studies" were on mice and no mention of actual dosage used in the emulsifiers was displayed. I would urge you to look more at peer reviewed clinical studies, then just ones that are biased towards a certain "lifestyle" (I recall NATURE being one of the study sources).gerrielips wrote: »
Whatever worked/works for you...but I also never felt satisfied after eating these meals and I felt that they were also too high in sodium for me.DemoraFairy wrote: »Funny, I lost 55lbs eating primarily microwave meals.
Congrats on your weight loss!!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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So you decided in late February to eliminate carbs and "processed" foods and you've lost 20 pounds since? How large is your deficit, currently?0
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Probably the same for a lot of people, but the article is disingenuous with it's conclusion since a lot of the "studies" were on mice and no mention of actual dosage used in the emulsifiers was displayed. I would urge you to look more at peer reviewed clinical studies, then just ones that are biased towards a certain "lifestyle" (I recall NATURE being one of the study sources).gerrielips wrote: »
Whatever worked/works for you...but I also never felt satisfied after eating these meals and I felt that they were also too high in sodium for me.DemoraFairy wrote: »Funny, I lost 55lbs eating primarily microwave meals.
Congrats on your weight loss!!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Do you think NATURE is biased towards a lifestyle?
Is science now a lifestyle?0 -
GuitarJerry wrote: »GuitarJerry wrote: »There's a big difference between weight loss and health. You absolutely, undoubtedly could lose weight eating nothing but frozen meals. But, it wouldn't be healthful if that's all you ate.
Why not? What if I had frozen vegetables with a frozen entree every day that hit all of my calorie and macro goals? Would that be unhealthy? Why?
dont take my words out of context. I said if that's all you ate everyday.
OVERGENERALISATION ALERT!
Not all microwave meals are high calorie/high sodium. Some are balanced with veg and nutrients. So it's completely possible to be healthy whilst eating only microwave meals.0 -
My only concern with them is whats in them, especually high salt content. the second aspect is that they just dont contain enough food to give me satiety. I prefer to cook my own, but I cna see how they are handy assuming the calorie counts are accurate and ofc convenient. Each to their own, but I dont demonise food. No problem eating a good quality chilled/ microwaveable meal.0
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gerrielips wrote: »http://www.salon.com/2015/03/19/your_microwave_dinner_is_making_you_obese_what_the_food_industry_doesnt_want_you_to_know_partner/?source=newsletter
Just saw this interesting article this morning in Salon with "food for thought" for all of us pressed for time and in need of convenience. It's definitely something to think about, as I always search for less processed, whole foods.
I look at MFP message boards every morning as I start my day to learn something new from successful, as well as struggling MFP'ers. I decided in late February that I was going to try to eliminate (as much as possible) highly processed foods and to lower my carb intake (on the advice of 2 of my doctors) - so no more potatoes, rice, bread, cookies, starchy veggies (OK -occasionally for the latter) and to add exercise. So far I've lost almost 20 pounds...with about 30-35 more to go. It's a slow process and I don't make myself crazy if some days I'm less behaved than others. Feel free to "friend" me, especially if you're over 60 (or any age), insulin-resistant, and seeking better health for yourself, but trying not to obsess about everything. This is a way of life...
OP, I'm really glad you have found a lifestyle that is working for you, and congrats on the weight you have lost so far! I hope you keep getting lighter and healthier
But articles like this make my brain explode. People are eating 1,000 calorie fast food lunches every day. They are drinking 500 calorie coffee drinks every morning. They are eating tubs of take-away pasta that are actually 4 or 5 servings worth. They are eating bags of cookies in front of the TV. They will leave their car idling at the curb in front of the store, because walking from a parking space is too much effort for them. They watch 4 hours of TV a day and yet say they have no time to exercise. In other words they are eating too much and not moving enough, and they either don't realize it or don't want to hear about it. That is why there is an obesity epidemic. Not because we are eating low-cal microwave dinners. Not because we are eating too many bananas and apples that contain sugar. Not because there is pesticide on the spinach. Those issues may affect health. But I would bet dollars to doughnuts that obese people would be healthier if they ate microwave dinners with preservatives, and pesticide laced apples and spinach, and lost the weight.
Sorry for the rant! But we are so desperate to find some secret evil ingredient that is making everyone heavy, when their are way more prevalent issues we need to tackle first - sedentary lifestyles, huge portions, and the general disconnect between the general population and the basic science of food, nutrition, and how the body uses it. I hope we can get to the point where we have resolved those issues and can move onto understanding the effects of preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and the like but I don't think we're there yet...0 -
Funny... I thought it was an over consumption of calories that made one obese. Who would have thought obesity was lurking in the microwave with frozen meals. Color me shocked!0
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But articles like this make my brain explode. People are eating 1,000 calorie fast food lunches every day. They are drinking 500 calorie coffee drinks every morning. They are eating tubs of take-away pasta that are actually 4 or 5 servings worth. They are eating bags of cookies in front of the TV. They will leave their car idling at the curb in front of the store, because walking from a parking space is too much effort for them. They watch 4 hours of TV a day and yet say they have no time to exercise. In other words they are eating too much and not moving enough, and they either don't realize it or don't want to hear about it. That is why there is an obesity epidemic. ..[/quote]
I agree with you...but still thought the article was worth the read, sensational or not.
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And if you eat your microwave meal with a diet soda, you'll get SUPER fat.0
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AngryViking1970 wrote: »And if you eat your microwave meal with a diet soda, you'll get SUPER fat.
Ha...LOL! It's always something...
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LOL my thoughts exactly.EvgeniZyntx wrote: »blame it on the microwave, sure....
Thread should go places.
Stop finger pointing. Most people are obese because they can't put the fork down.
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