Calorie counting vs. Limiting certain foods?

sixxpoint

tennisdude2004 wrote: »

And limiting processed food makes your diet a food group restricted diet - kinda like low carb.

Limiting processed food is not restricting a food group. I don't know anyone who would label processed food like Lean Cuisines or Hot Pockets as a "food group", but maybe there are others out there who think this way.

The issue is that people have become so used to buying pre-made, pre-packaged, frozen, ready to eat, highly processed foods with an ingredient list as long as a paragraph - that we don't even think twice about it and we should.

Making meals has become so convenient that you technically don't have to bake, grill, or roast anymore. You just zap it in the microwave and then 3 minutes later all of that high sodium, high sugar, high calorie, preservative-rich food is ready to go in your belly. Now, you just have to peel of that plastic film and enjoy!!

WBB55

sixxpoint wrote: »

tennisdude2004 wrote: »

And limiting processed food makes your diet a food group restricted diet - kinda like low carb.

Limiting processed food is not restricting a food group. I don't know anyone who would label processed food like Lean Cuisines or Hot Pockets as a "food group", but maybe there are others out there who think this way.

The issue is that people have become so used to buying pre-made, pre-packaged, frozen, ready to eat, highly processed foods with an ingredient list as long as a paragraph - that we don't even think twice about it and we should.

Making meals has become so convenient that you technically don't have to bake, grill, or roast anymore. You just zap it in the microwave and then 3 minutes later all of that high sodium, high sugar, high calorie, preservative-rich food is ready to go in your belly. Now, you just have to peel of that plastic film and enjoy!!

I'd say there's a slight risk of orthorexia or possibly some nutritional deficiencies if you avoid as much food seen as "processed" as you possibly can. Manufactured flours, cereals, milk, etc. have those added vitamins and minerals for a reason. To prevent a large population from things like rickets and goiters. Granted, you don't have to eat a diet solely of Lean Cuisines to get your RDA of Vitamin D and iodine...

sixxpoint

WBB55 wrote: »

sixxpoint wrote: »

tennisdude2004 wrote: »

And limiting processed food makes your diet a food group restricted diet - kinda like low carb.

Limiting processed food is not restricting a food group. I don't know anyone who would label processed food like Lean Cuisines or Hot Pockets as a "food group", but maybe there are others out there who think this way.

The issue is that people have become so used to buying pre-made, pre-packaged, frozen, ready to eat, highly processed foods with an ingredient list as long as a paragraph - that we don't even think twice about it and we should.

Making meals has become so convenient that you technically don't have to bake, grill, or roast anymore. You just zap it in the microwave and then 3 minutes later all of that high sodium, high sugar, high calorie, preservative-rich food is ready to go in your belly. Now, you just have to peel of that plastic film and enjoy!!

I'd say there's a slight risk of orthorexia or possibly some nutritional deficiencies if you avoid as much food seen as "processed" as you possibly can. Manufactured flours, cereals, milk, etc. have those added vitamins and minerals for a reason. To prevent a large population from things like rickets and goiters. Granted, you don't have to eat a diet solely of Lean Cuisines to get your RDA of Vitamin D and iodine...

Let's be clear here... just because flour is processed from wheat doesn't mean it needs to be lumped into the same category as a Hungry Man microwaveable dinner.

A person doesn't need to be so nitpicky and literal with the word "processed" to avoid natural foods like milk and peanut butter just because they are processed to some extent.

kommodevaran

I found that counting calories made me aware of both portion sizes and what foods I like that I can eat comfortably to satiety; to such an extent that after a couple months of fine tuning and not counting calories, I can maintain my weight just by planning and cooking balanced meals from mostly whole/natural foods, and from there go by appetite. I think your plan sounds great.

Gianfranco_R

sixxpoint wrote: »

WBB55 wrote: »

sixxpoint wrote: »

tennisdude2004 wrote: »

And limiting processed food makes your diet a food group restricted diet - kinda like low carb.

Limiting processed food is not restricting a food group. I don't know anyone who would label processed food like Lean Cuisines or Hot Pockets as a "food group", but maybe there are others out there who think this way.

The issue is that people have become so used to buying pre-made, pre-packaged, frozen, ready to eat, highly processed foods with an ingredient list as long as a paragraph - that we don't even think twice about it and we should.

Making meals has become so convenient that you technically don't have to bake, grill, or roast anymore. You just zap it in the microwave and then 3 minutes later all of that high sodium, high sugar, high calorie, preservative-rich food is ready to go in your belly. Now, you just have to peel of that plastic film and enjoy!!

I'd say there's a slight risk of orthorexia or possibly some nutritional deficiencies if you avoid as much food seen as "processed" as you possibly can. Manufactured flours, cereals, milk, etc. have those added vitamins and minerals for a reason. To prevent a large population from things like rickets and goiters. Granted, you don't have to eat a diet solely of Lean Cuisines to get your RDA of Vitamin D and iodine...

Let's be clear here... just because flour is processed from wheat doesn't mean it needs to be lumped into the same category as a Hungry Man microwaveable dinner.

A person doesn't need to be so nitpicky and literal with the word "processed" to avoid natural foods like milk and peanut butter just because they are processed to some extent.

It is possible to be more precise on the general category of "processed food":


(picture from this paper: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21180977 )

sixxpoint

^ Minimally processed is what I was going for, although some breads, ice creams, cereals, chocolates, etc. are rather natural. They don't all have an ingredient list a mile long.