I called oatmeal cookies unhealthy and I got blasted - why?

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Replies

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Caitwn wrote: »
    It's just a teensy bit dramatic to say that the responses in that thread "blasted" you. I'm still looking for evidence of that. Maybe the abusive posts were deleted...

    In the meantime, putting foods like oatmeal cookies into "good"/"bad" boxes within the context of a balanced diet doesn't make sense to me. But no cookie-type item, regardless of whether it's made like a traditional oatmeal cookie or the unspeakable aberrations made with bananas is something that would be a reasonable snack item for a person who identifies as a volume eater.

    As another poster pointed out, oatmeal cookie recipes and the question of how to deal with snacks that may be appropriate for volume eaters are two different things. Maybe look for oatmeal recipes that emphasize savory rather than sweet?

    I shudder at the thought of desecrating a oatmeal cookie with bananas, but since the thread already was established with an overload of drama, I shall keep my utter horror to myself. I make mine with a lot of brown sugar, butter, and vanilla..and occasionally include coconut flakes instead of raisins (so moist!) and bake them with a tablespoon of apricot preserves in the center. But they're not the kind of thing I'd keep handy as a regular snack.

    If you wrote a blog, I'd subscribe ;)

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    RodaRose wrote: »
    I stated they had butter, white sugar, flour, chocolate chips, ect.
    I consider all these things unhealthy.
    But a couple of people say everything is healthy.
    Is my wording wrong?
    What would be unhealthy to those people in a cookie?

    BTW - I like to eat in volumes.
    I have never been able to do portion control in my entire life.
    Oatmeal is a food I can eat and be full and be happy without guilt.

    ...Here is a low calorie recipe for Baked Oatmeal.
    http://www.jillianskitchen.com/2011/11/14/baked-oatmeal/

    Ooooo! I'm going to try that when it cools down enough to use the oven again!

  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I stated they had butter, white sugar, flour, chocolate chips, ect.
    I consider all these things unhealthy.
    But a couple of people say everything is healthy.
    Is my wording wrong?
    What would be unhealthy to those people in a cookie?

    BTW - I like to eat in volumes.
    I have never been able to do portion control in my entire life.
    Oatmeal is a food I can eat and be full and be happy without guilt.

    As you add things to oatmeal to make it cookie-like, it will become less feasible to eat it in volume.

    Nevertheless, here are two recipes for portable treats that I enjoy which contain oats, but not butter, white sugar, or flour, and you could replace the chocolate chips in the second recipe with raisins.

    https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/no-bake-peanut-butter-granola-bars/
    https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-bites/

    If you want to eat oats in volume without guilt, how about oatmeal with strawberries? Of course, this is less portable.

    There are things I like to eat in volume, but I am finding myself with some questions regarding oatmeal and the idea of it as a choice as a volume food. Oatmeal is a dense food, and tends to fill up most people fairly quickly. Especially as it tends to expand as it takes on liquid. Whatever is added to it can be what makes it more calorie laden.
    Oatmeal cookies are delicious, but cookies are something I don't eat in volume because desserts are eaten in small portions to fit them into the calorie goal for the day.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    techgal128 wrote: »
    The only way cookies are "unhealthy" is if you eat 5 pounds of them.

    "Challenge accepted!"

    AND GO!!









    Done.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Caitwn wrote: »
    It's just a teensy bit dramatic to say that the responses in that thread "blasted" you. I'm still looking for evidence of that. Maybe the abusive posts were deleted...

    In the meantime, putting foods like oatmeal cookies into "good"/"bad" boxes within the context of a balanced diet doesn't make sense to me. But no cookie-type item, regardless of whether it's made like a traditional oatmeal cookie or the unspeakable aberrations made with bananas is something that would be a reasonable snack item for a person who identifies as a volume eater.

    As another poster pointed out, oatmeal cookie recipes and the question of how to deal with snacks that may be appropriate for volume eaters are two different things. Maybe look for oatmeal recipes that emphasize savory rather than sweet?

    I shudder at the thought of desecrating a oatmeal cookie with bananas, but since the thread already was established with an overload of drama, I shall keep my utter horror to myself. I make mine with a lot of brown sugar, butter, and vanilla...and occasionally include coconut flakes instead of raisins (so moist!) and bake them with a tablespoon of apricot preserves in the center. But they're not the kind of thing I'd keep handy as a regular snack.

    Nothing was deleted from her other thread. Its exactly as it was.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I'm not going to pretend it's *healthy* AKA high in nutrients, because it isn't!

    People don't say it is. They ask why not being nutrient dense makes something "unhealthy" -- i.e., something that harms you or does not belong in a healthy diet.
    Folks will equate the "processing" of placing fruit or vegetables in a bag with the processing of mashing things to a pulp, adding a ton of preservatives, artificial flavors and salt, and frying it.

    This is an interesting misunderstanding. Speaking for myself, the reason I make the point that dried pasta or greek yogurt or canned tomatoes are processed is NOT because I think all processed foods are the same, but because they are not. It makes no sense to me to blanket condemn all "processed" foods or say that a healthy diet should generally avoid them. Are there processed foods that I avoid or eat in small quantities? Sure, and same for non processed foods. I just don't think "processed" should be used as if it meant "bad." There are many, many processed foods that can be quite helpful to people.

    I have no idea what the fried mashed thing is. Most of that could probably be done at home, though, and wouldn't make the item more nutrient dense or lower calorie or avoid the issues one might have with the oils commonly used for frying.
  • ohmscheeks
    ohmscheeks Posts: 840 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    MFP has a... thing about this. I have never seen a diet and fitness site like this before. People get criticized for avoiding excess sugar, junk food, highly processed items, etc. I may very occasionally permit myself such an item, but I'm not going to pretend it's *healthy* AKA high in nutrients, because it isn't! Folks will equate the "processing" of placing fruit or vegetables in a bag with the processing of mashing things to a pulp, adding a ton of preservatives, artificial flavors and salt, and frying it. To avoid criticism, the only thing to do is to eat healthy for your own sake but never mention it anywhere but on your own home page. *smh*
    +1
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited August 2015
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    If you want to eat oats in volume without guilt, how about oatmeal with strawberries? Of course, this is less portable.

    Oats just aren't that low in calories, depending on the volume she means. I have it for breakfast (steel cut with berries, no sugar) quite often. If I were into volume it would be more caloric than is appropriate for my liking. (Of course, I eat other things with it since I need my breakfast to have protein and vegetables.)
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    There is protein , carbs , and fat in this cookie, right? And it's different from the protein, fat , and carbs in some organic something or other? Or am I mistaken? Or do I just believe something that is wrong?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    It's not unhealthy because I have a balanced diet and don't eat cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So if I'm going to get a bit of protein, carbs, and fat from a cookie here or there-that's healthy. And it's a healthy lifestyle and relationship with food.
  • Pinnacle_IAO
    Pinnacle_IAO Posts: 608 Member
    I stated they had butter, white sugar, flour, chocolate chips, ect.
    I consider all these things unhealthy.
    But a couple of people say everything is healthy.
    Is my wording wrong?
    What would be unhealthy to those people in a cookie?

    BTW - I like to eat in volumes.
    I have never been able to do portion control in my entire life.
    Oatmeal is a food I can eat and be full and be happy without guilt.
    People get offended when their food religion is challenged.

    Of course cookies are not the healthiest food to eat, but remember, life is also to be lived.
    Could you go the rest of your life off tofu wrapped in seaweed and thrice dipped in carrot juice?
    :s
    We make cookies using various recipes that shift the health odds a bit. We use raw butter, brown sugar and whole grain flour...and still, cookies are not swimming in nutrition.
    That's reality.
    They're a treat, so fit them into your calorie goals and eat them with eyes wide open...and enjoy!
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  • Pinnacle_IAO
    Pinnacle_IAO Posts: 608 Member
    Caitwn wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Caitwn wrote: »
    It's just a teensy bit dramatic to say that the responses in that thread "blasted" you. I'm still looking for evidence of that. Maybe the abusive posts were deleted...

    In the meantime, putting foods like oatmeal cookies into "good"/"bad" boxes within the context of a balanced diet doesn't make sense to me. But no cookie-type item, regardless of whether it's made like a traditional oatmeal cookie, or the unspeakable aberrations made with bananas, is something that would be a reasonable snack item for a person who identifies as a volume eater.

    As another poster pointed out, oatmeal cookie recipes and the question of how to deal with snacks that may be appropriate for volume eaters are two different things. Maybe look for oatmeal recipes that emphasize savory rather than sweet?

    I shudder at the thought of desecrating a oatmeal cookie with bananas, but since the thread already was established with an overload of drama, I shall keep my utter horror to myself. I make mine with a lot of brown sugar, butter, and vanilla..and occasionally include coconut flakes instead of raisins (so moist!) and bake them with a tablespoon of apricot preserves in the center. But they're not the kind of thing I'd keep handy as a regular snack.

    If you wrote a blog, I'd subscribe ;)

    Aw! Thank you (I think). I'd never be a good blogger, though, because I'd just fill it with youtubes of cats trying to fit into boxes, off-color jokes, and cookie recipes.
    haha - sign me up!
    :D
  • coco_bee
    coco_bee Posts: 173 Member
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    lolz
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    Who is 'they'? That's not how a well-balanced diet works. As long as you eat in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight, that's true. That is completely separate from losing weight the healthy way, which is eating a good balance of macronutrients, along with fruits and vegetables. While doing this, you can still eat other foods you like that fit into those macros, like cookies and ice cream, and chips, etc, as long as they fit into your calorie deficit. That's how it works.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    Excuse you.

    I have never seen anyone say that. Only this.
    mccindy72 wrote: »
    Who is 'they'? That's not how a well-balanced diet works. As long as you eat in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight, that's true. That is completely separate from losing weight the healthy way, which is eating a good balance of macronutrients, along with fruits and vegetables. While doing this, you can still eat other foods you like that fit into those macros, like cookies and ice cream, and chips, etc, as long as they fit into your calorie deficit. That's how it works.

  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    If you call moderation and eating foods you like whilst fitting them and your goals together (maintaining, gaining, cutting) stuffing your Face with junk food Then I do it daily.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,982 Member
    If the cookies were you daily meals....................well yeah, not nutritionally balanced and would impede having good health.
    One cookie a day that fits into your calorie limit all the while you've met your macro/micronutrient needs? Probably would do little to nothing to affect your health.

    Dosage matters.

    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

    9285851.png

  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Among other things, it's not possible to "stuff your face with all kinds of junk food" and stay within your calorie limit. A food plan that is composed primarily of nutrient dense food and treats in moderation will sustain health and well-being for a lifetime. Nothing wrong at all with nice oatmeal cookie (or ice cream, or whatever).
  • Pinnacle_IAO
    Pinnacle_IAO Posts: 608 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes
    "They" are pure wicked...just like in the movie!
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  • coco_bee
    coco_bee Posts: 173 Member
    OP asked why she got blasted and this is why, because some people think there is no such thing as unhealthy food
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  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    OP did You ever specify in either thread what you feel is unhealthy about an oatmeal cookie?

    What if I eat oatmeal with blueberries, sweetened with brown sugar, 2 eggs, and toast with butter for breakfast. Is that unhealthy?

    Last weekend I made a cast iron skillet blueberry crumble that included fresh blueberries, sugar, butter, oatmeal, and flour. Unhealthy? Because sugar, butter and flour?
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    Can you please provide a link to any thread where a poster advised someone to "stuff their face with all sorts of junk food" to no consequence? I have been here 2.5 years and must have missed that one. Sorry.
  • coco_bee
    coco_bee Posts: 173 Member
    See what I mean? lol, toodle pip
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,224 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    I have never seen anyone say anything like that, except for when people are drumming up a straw man argument. Just because people say that you can have cookies, pizza or poptarts as a part of a healthy diet doesn't mean they are advocating eating nothing but cookies, pizza or poptarts, and it is disingenuous for you to suggest otherwise.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,982 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    OP asked why she got blasted and this is why, because some people think there is no such thing as unhealthy food
    But there really isn't. There are foods that are nutrient deficient, but that doesn't mean it's unhealthy. Look at water. Zero nutrients, but required for the body to operate efficiently. The problem here is that many people who are considered unhealthy, eat nutrient deficient food that's calorie dense the majority of the time. So the correlation is that the food is the issue they are unhealthy.
    But take someone who consumes the needed macro/micronutrients, stays within a calorie limit WHILE still having that nutrient deficient food and I doubt their health is impacted that much.
    Personally I have ice cream almost every night. For years. I don't stuff my face, I just have like a 1/4 cup. Hasn't affected my physical health, but it's kept my mental health (happy) intact.

    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

    9285851.png




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  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    jafa_bunz wrote: »
    They are like that in here. They think as long as u don't go over ur calorie limit, u can stuff ur face with all sorts of junkfood and never suffer any consequences ,even tho millions of people die everyday from heart attack or type 2 diabetes

    Who has said this? Please cite and quote, or it will seem you are just making things up to insult people.