Do You use "diet" foods?

2

Replies

  • darleyschroeder
    darleyschroeder Posts: 322
    I think eating "real" foods is a very, very good idea. However, I do like to buy lighter versions of Italian dressing and ranch for salads and pastas. Once or twice a year I will buy a pack of protein shakes or protein powder for quick meals and snacks, that's it though.
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    i use real food. Not diet.. I typically avoid anything that is labeled diet, or fat free or low fat or whatever.. usually they are filled wtih chemcials and those are more unhealthy then real food with all teh fat and calories..

    however different strokes for different folks.

    diet food = bad (in my world)

    my boyfriend eats those lean cusine dinner things.. i don't know how he stomachs them.. i just watch him put them in the cart and move on. LOL
  • Bobbie8786
    Bobbie8786 Posts: 202 Member
    I use low fat versions of pretty much all dairy products and I still drink a diet soda a couple of times a week. Other than that I try to just make everything from scratch to eliminate all of the preservatives and additives, which I think are potentially far more harmful than any "real" food. Besides, packaged "diet" foods are full of sugar and the aforementioned ton of chemicals.
  • Amerielle
    Amerielle Posts: 153 Member
    No "diet" foods for me. Just regular food in decent servings.
  • KAS0917
    KAS0917 Posts: 172 Member
    I probably eat a mixture, but not necessarily just for 'dieting' purposes.

    For example:
    - I eat low fat cottage cheese and 1% milk and fat free plain yogurt, but I LIKE it.
    - I drink diet soda because I haven't kicked the habit yet - I did switch to that from the regular. I don't pretend diet soda is healthy.
    - I think fat free ranch dressing tastes like manure. It's disgusting, and I don't care how many calories I could save, I won't bother.
    - Fat free cheese doesn't melt so I never buy it. Reduced fat cheese tastes fine to me. Full fat cheese is always good.
    - Turkey bacon = pointless. Regular bacon = YUM. Center Cut Bacon = fewer calories & a good compromise.
  • 1der_Nana
    1der_Nana Posts: 41
    I used to eat "diet" anything. Now I try to eat clean and non processed food. My palate, and body thanks me for it! I just need to consistently practice proper portion, and incorporate exercise! ^_^
    Xx
  • dandelyon
    dandelyon Posts: 620 Member
    No. If you looked in my cupboards and fridge you'd think I was trying to get fat. Whole milk, full fat yogurt, a box of cookies squirreled away, Ben and Jerry's in the freezer... But I spend a week eating that pint and well the cookies have been there a month. You wouldn't see any produce because it goes so fast with my fruit and veggie addicted kids.

    I am all about portion control and eating stuff that makes me feel full.
  • xoemmytee
    xoemmytee Posts: 162 Member
    My mom and sister are vegetarians who don't count calories, but feel like the lower the fat, the better. So sometimes I use low fat versions of things if they are in the fridge. It means I can eat more of it when I'm really hungry, but generally it's just full-fat for me. Fat is not your foe, even on a diet, as long as you track your calories.

    That said, my favorite "diet" food is coke zero vanilla. It is the nectar of the gods.
  • tinylightsbelow
    tinylightsbelow Posts: 85 Member
    I only use nature's diet foods - i.e. fruits and veggies :) Otherwise I use 'the real deal'.
  • RunningForeverMama
    RunningForeverMama Posts: 261 Member
    I agree.

    My reasoning: diet, low fat, sugar free, etc. typically have things put in them to make up for what they claim to lack. Usually it's added sodium, sugars, and almost always chemicals.

    I'll pass and eat the real deal.

    ^^^This. I actually avoid diet foods.
  • PepperWorm
    PepperWorm Posts: 1,206
    I include *some* but I do eat plenty of full fat dairy or salad dressings, etc.
  • kimmymayhall
    kimmymayhall Posts: 419 Member
    I buy 2% milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese. That's about as "diet" as I go.
  • Mslmesq
    Mslmesq Posts: 1,000 Member
    The diet or light versions often have other chemicals or replacements inside which are more difficult for our body to handle. Sometimes you're better off with the full fat versions as your body can use and knows what to do with fat. Just have them in moderation.

    Yea that!

    I'm more scared of the chemicals than the fat. I read labels religiously (although most things I buy don't need a label...fruits, vegetables) and if there is anything in there that I cannot pronounce or that is soy (non organic) or high fructose corn syrup, I don't buy it. That pretty much leaves me with real food.
  • MercuryBlue
    MercuryBlue Posts: 886 Member
    It really depends on the food, I guess. I almost never drink pop (maybe once in a month or two), but when I do, it's Diet Pepsi because, for whatever reason, I prefer it to regular Pepsi. I get skim milk (or buy the 2% milk my family prefers and water it down) because full-fat milk gives me bad stomach ache. That's really true for most full-fat dairy products, in my case- it's hard for me to digest for some reason.

    For the most part, I just eat regular foods and count calories. But I will pick up "diet" foods from time to time, read the labels, and decide based on that if it's something I'm interested in.
  • addean1
    addean1 Posts: 119 Member
    In the minority i guess- I do use a few "light" versions- miracle whip light- simply because its what I've always eaten, light cream cheese- because its softer and spreads better, light sour cream, I Love the frigo light string cheese- it saves like 30 calories per cheese stick- and I can't taste a difference. Tried a few light salad dressings :/
  • ki4yxo
    ki4yxo Posts: 709 Member
    Does the Delite crust count at Papa Murphy's?
  • 43932452
    43932452 Posts: 7,246 Member
    I never eat 'diet' labled foods/drinks. In fact I will still
    eat foods deemed offensive to other weight losers with
    one exclusion .. the amount/occurances. I will allow
    something in my 'cheat' window. A lot of diet foods have
    other things added to them when sugar/fat is removed.
    Therfore they really are no healthier an option. IMHO. :)
  • shezzzzz
    shezzzzz Posts: 119 Member
    I use reduced fat dairy (milk, yogurt etc), and "light" mayo. I buy leaner cuts of meant, or cut the fat off.

    Cheese has to be the real deal.

    Generally I eat very few pre-made or processed foods, and I haven't found low fat avocados yet. lol
  • rainbow198
    rainbow198 Posts: 2,245 Member
    I have not used diet food this time around. I wanted to make sure everything I did was sustainable and I knew I wasn't going to be eating diet foods for the rest of my life so I had to teach myself how to incorporate regular things by reading labels, working things into my calories/macros and reducing my portions.
  • Bel0602
    Bel0602 Posts: 135 Member
    I love eating the Special K snacks through out the day. Its just easier to eat them vs anything else since its made for dieting. I'd rather eat them than count my food portions myself.
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    I do eat diet foods, although usually only for work because it is less costly and I've learned it is more reliable to have something at the ready instead of forgetting to put away and bring leftovers, or cook meals in advance.

    For dinner though, you bet I'm cooking food with real ingredients, I just make sure to portion those.

    And on the weekends? Eggs and bacon for breakfast with coffee and cream and sugar. Yum!
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,304 Member
    I drink diet coke or Pepsi max (when I drink soft drink at all - a few glasses a week) low fat milk and cheeses - and sometimes a weight watchers frozen meal.


    I think these are sustainable long term - they are not part of a diet plan but things I buy at regular supermarket - and diet coke is just as available as real coke in restaruants etc.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I mostly eat regular food, but I sometimes buy light Ranch or alfredo sauce. Plus diet sodas, because I love soda and don't want to spend 150 calories a can.

    And Wegmans' lowfat chocolate milk is the BEST tasting chocolate milk I've ever had. So many of them taste more like chalk-olate. This tastes like melted ice cream. So good.
  • ClareWantsProgress
    ClareWantsProgress Posts: 173 Member
    I drink diet soda because I cannot stomach the taste of regular soda. Same with skim milk. Full-fat milk is slimy and gross tasting to me. Other than that . . . well, I have no problem with low fat cheese. I get plenty of the "real" stuff every time we go out for pizza. To each her own. I go with what tastes good and fits within my calorie goals.
  • CindaWhite
    CindaWhite Posts: 104 Member
    If you consider pop tarts, ice cream, corn bread, pizza, etc... diet food, then yes I do.

    Thanks! I needed that! :P
  • JenSD6
    JenSD6 Posts: 454 Member
    I was well trained to go for the low cal this and low fat that, so it's what I still initially reach for. Though there are things I gave up on quickly such as fat-free sour cream or cream cheese. It was just too awful to eat, and I love my sour cream. I've been slowly breaking the habit of low cal/fat and going for the real thing, like butter instead of margarine. And it does make a difference in how long I stay full. Plus the taste... butter.... mmmmmm...

    But things like Lean Cuisines have always been just a waste of money for me. I'm ravenous enough to eat the box it came in almost as soon as I finish eating that tiny meal.
  • CindaWhite
    CindaWhite Posts: 104 Member
    I probably eat a mixture, but not necessarily just for 'dieting' purposes.

    For example:
    - I eat low fat cottage cheese and 1% milk and fat free plain yogurt, but I LIKE it.
    - I drink diet soda because I haven't kicked the habit yet - I did switch to that from the regular. I don't pretend diet soda is healthy.
    - I think fat free ranch dressing tastes like manure. It's disgusting, and I don't care how many calories I could save, I won't bother.
    - Fat free cheese doesn't melt so I never buy it. Reduced fat cheese tastes fine to me. Full fat cheese is always good.
    - Turkey bacon = pointless. Regular bacon = YUM.


    Center Cut Bacon = fewer calories & a good compromise.

    Center cut bacon...good to know! Thanks!
  • CindaWhite
    CindaWhite Posts: 104 Member
    I have not used diet food this time around. I wanted to make sure everything I did was sustainable and I knew I wasn't going to be eating diet foods for the rest of my life so I had to teach myself how to incorporate regular things by reading labels, working things into my calories/macros and reducing my portions.

    Excellent point! Thanks so much...um..what's macros...sorry newbie.
  • sanndandi
    sanndandi Posts: 300 Member
    I like to compromise. 1% milk is what i've always had so i don't mind the taste. And I like the low-fat cream cheese and sour cream, 2% cottage cheese, etc. Low fat seems to work for me as opposed to non-fat/fat free. I do use real butter though and hate light string cheese. And I love the 100 calorie snack packs for convenience as well as because they are tasty ( Walkers real butter shortbread makes snack packs!!! Yumm!) A Lean Cuisine has found it's way into my grocery cart on occasion but I don't rely on them. So, yeah. moderation.
  • ♥xenawarriorprincess♥
    ♥xenawarriorprincess♥ Posts: 440 Member
    I mostly eat regular food, but I sometimes buy light Ranch or alfredo sauce. Plus diet sodas, because I love soda and don't want to spend 150 calories a can.

    And Wegmans' lowfat chocolate milk is the BEST tasting chocolate milk I've ever had. So many of them taste more like chalk-olate. This tastes like melted ice cream. So good.

    Agree, mostly regular food but do like some things like diet soda every once in awhile...or low fat yogurt...

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