What is the "healthiest diet" to you? and why?

13

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Moderate fats and no large fat bombs at meals (it's satiating for me but I have no gallbladder)

    Moderate carbs (to help with my depression)

    More protein than I get with my usual diet (I aim for 80-100 grams)

    Plenty of veggies (I buy lots of frozen to help with cost)

    I prefer to think of what I need to add into my diet instead of what I'm cutting out of it. Concentrating on the things I struggle to hit my minimums on helps keep me from stressing about the things I choose not to have. That and a serving of ice cream most nights are good for my mental health.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    Not different foods. Just correct portion sizes. Also consider your plate - Half vegetables, Quarter Meat, Quarter Starch.
  • manther88
    manther88 Posts: 203 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    How specifically do things like boxed pasta, rice, canned beans or tomatoes, or Greek yogurt harm my health? Why, with no medical reason to limit salt or sugar, should I avoid foods with it added, in the context of an overall balanced diet.

    Everyone has their own opinions. That was mine. YOU don't have to do what I'm doing or what I'm writing lol. Just giving my own preference. To each their own. No hard feelings. Love life and take care of your temple because we only live once!
  • I like the paleo / keto diet, had pretty good results from it. Plus it's pretty close to what our ancestors ate for 1 million years so it kind of make sense.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I like the paleo / keto diet, had pretty good results from it. Plus it's pretty close to what our ancestors ate for 1 million years so it kind of make sense.

    Actually they found grains in a Paleo cave recently--so this arguement makes no sense.
  • Andyooooo
    Andyooooo Posts: 4 Member
    The "healthiest diet" in my opinion is a well balanced diet of micro/macro nutrients . After years of rollercoaster dieting (losing weight for a couple months, gaining it back the next month plus some more) I have realized no diets are healthy unless you are able to sustain them indefinitely ..which incase you would say what is the healthiest lifestyle change. I dont believe in the diets that restricted carbs.. i feel like carbs are an essential energy source.. now the type of carbs you in take are another story ie yams, sweet potatoe, potatoe, oatmeal, brown rice (even jasmine and basmati rice) are much better for you than the ones you get from processed food. I feel like everyones body reacts differently to carbs/protein/fats and that is why it is crucial to monitor that intake and weigh yourself daily so you can change those numbers accordingly. I also believe that restricting yourself to certain foods is what causes binging eating... a huge side effect to dieting... to some degree I do like the notion of IIFYM (if it fits your macros) because it allows you to be flexible with your "diet" based on the number of protein, carb and fats you set yourself up with... for example I am on a 2000 calorie diet [25%Fat 35% protein 40%carb] (currently 5'11 228lb with a target goal of 205lb- started at 270lb March 2016) I make an effort to work in something like a serving of dark chocolate or skinny cow ice cream sandwich because it makes the weight cut so much more bearable - OR if I have pizza for lunch i am now filling the day with low calorie foods such as spinach and veggies. I also plan on once a week doing a refeed day where I hit my maintenance caloric in take just to let my body know that im still here...when I hit my goal of 205lb ill change my settings in MFP to maintain weight (unless I want to cut more weight...to be decided)and figure out the food i can eat and essentially stick to that but occasionally do have that beer or mcdonalds or ice cream but just know that the next day ill have to spend that much more time in the gym... at the end of the day if you eat more calories than you burn you will gain weight and if you eat less calories than you burn you will lose weight.... dont think i answered the question and i ended up talking about myself...classic Andy.

    **Hope that everyone hits their goals!! Just know that weight loss is not linear some days you will be heavier than others so its a good idea to monitor weight daily and take the avg for the week**
  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Jakep2323 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Well yes and no - I understand processed food to be food that has preservatives added or sugar and salt added to preserve the food for longer. Processed does not mean cooking. Yes some cheeses like cheese slices or babybel is processed cheese

    Food processing is taking raw ingredients and altering them into a food product. That includes cooking and butchering. Yes, it's a quite literal take on the word "process", but that doesn't negate that cooking is a process. That's why many ask what people mean by "processed foods".
  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Yes, everybody knows that there are varying degrees of processing.
  • This content has been removed.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Yes, everybody knows that there are varying degrees of processing.

    Then how is making statements like "anything processed is bad" helpful as a rule to live by? The fact that there are so many varying definitions of a completely arbitrary rule is what many of us take issue with, when this advice is given.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited December 2016
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    No, everything else on that list falls into the poster's definition of "processed foods" (in a box, can, or package), which that poster was saying couldn't be part of a healthy diet.

    I mentioned protein powder because -- although I of course agree it's highly processed -- it often has no added sugar or salt and often few additives beyond the whey it's made of. So it seems inconsistent with the poster's argument. Which was, rather obviously, the point.

    It would be helpful if you'd try to follow the discussion before jumping in, although if you have something to say that is actually relevant to that discussion I'd be interested.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited December 2016
    Jakep2323 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Well yes and no - I understand processed food to be food that has preservatives added or sugar and salt added to preserve the food for longer. Processed does not mean cooking. Yes some cheeses like cheese slices or babybel is processed cheese

    That is not what "processed" means or what processed food is (it IS processed food, but so are many other foods, including all cheese).

    You seem to be mixing up "processed" with "preserved foods." (But as far as that goes, frozen foods are preserved, and food I can at home also are.)

    Without preserving foods, traditionally those of us (including you and me, Jake), who live in more northern climates wouldn't have much produce in the winter or early spring.
  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    edited December 2016
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Yes, everybody knows that there are varying degrees of processing.

    Then how is making statements like "anything processed is bad" helpful as a rule to live by? The fact that there are so many varying definitions of a completely arbitrary rule is what many of us take issue with, when this advice is given.

    Well, people just have to use a bit of common sense. A blanket statement like "anything processed is bad" is meaningless and inaccurate because some minimally processed foods can be perfectly healthy whereas some highly processed foods can be part of a healthy diet if kept to a minimum. The silliness begins when one considers frozen spinach a processed food.

  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    edited December 2016
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    No, everything else on that list falls into the poster's definition of "processed foods" (in a box, can, or package), which that poster was saying couldn't be part of a healthy diet.

    I mentioned protein powder because -- although I of course agree it's highly processed -- it often has no added sugar or salt and often few additives beyond the whey it's made of. So it seems inconsistent with the poster's argument. Which was, rather obviously, the point.

    It would be helpful if you'd try to follow the discussion before jumping in, although if you have something to say that is actually relevant to that discussion I'd be interested.

    I was agreeing with your response with the exception of the protein powder since she was talking about what's a whole food. Seems like a perfectly relevant response on my part.

    And a product having no additives or additional ingredients doesn't make it a whole food. Olives are a whole food. Olive oil has one single ingredient, no additives and it's still a highly processed food.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Yes, everybody knows that there are varying degrees of processing.

    Then how is making statements like "anything processed is bad" helpful as a rule to live by? The fact that there are so many varying definitions of a completely arbitrary rule is what many of us take issue with, when this advice is given.

    Well, people just have to use a bit of common sense. A blanket statement like "anything processed is bad" is meaningless and inaccurate because some minimally processed foods can be perfectly healthy whereas some highly processed foods can be part of a healthy diet if kept to a minimum. The silliness begins when one considers frozen spinach a processed food.

    Pointing out how basically all foods which are commercially available and/or processed in many of the ways a scratch home cook using primarily Whole Foods would apply to ingredients before eating them may seem silly or extreme or assume a lack of common sense to you... but it's exactly the point that needs to be made in order to demonstrate how vague and unhelpful a label of "processed" is and how arbitrary and unnecessary basing food choices on that label would be.

    Pointing out to someone that their rule of "nothing in a box, can or package" can eliminate many healthful foods by using these extreme examples may be just what that person needs to hear in order to adopt a more logical, pragmatic approach to building a sensible diet..,
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Moderate fats and no large fat bombs at meals (it's satiating for me but I have no gallbladder)

    Moderate carbs (to help with my depression)

    More protein than I get with my usual diet (I aim for 80-100 grams)

    Plenty of veggies (I buy lots of frozen to help with cost)

    I prefer to think of what I need to add into my diet instead of what I'm cutting out of it. Concentrating on the things I struggle to hit my minimums on helps keep me from stressing about the things I choose not to have. That and a serving of ice cream most nights are good for my mental health.

    Nicely put.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Yes, everybody knows that there are varying degrees of processing.

    Then how is making statements like "anything processed is bad" helpful as a rule to live by? The fact that there are so many varying definitions of a completely arbitrary rule is what many of us take issue with, when this advice is given.

    Well, people just have to use a bit of common sense. A blanket statement like "anything processed is bad" is meaningless and inaccurate because some minimally processed foods can be perfectly healthy whereas some highly processed foods can be part of a healthy diet if kept to a minimum. The silliness begins when one considers frozen spinach a processed food.

    I don't think it's silly to consider the washing, chopping, and freezing that goes into a bag of frozen spinach "processing."

    Common sense would be accepting that there are all sorts of processed foods and some of them are incredibly valuable from the POV of nutrition, accessibility, and affordability. That would lead us to conclude that "processing" isn't a great yardstick for determining whether one should eat a food and we should look at questions like "Does it fit my nutritional/calorie goals?", "Does it fit my budget?", and "Do I like the taste of it?" instead of the far less useful question "Is it processed?"

    So much this <3
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    No, everything else on that list falls into the poster's definition of "processed foods" (in a box, can, or package), which that poster was saying couldn't be part of a healthy diet.

    I mentioned protein powder because -- although I of course agree it's highly processed -- it often has no added sugar or salt and often few additives beyond the whey it's made of. So it seems inconsistent with the poster's argument. Which was, rather obviously, the point.

    It would be helpful if you'd try to follow the discussion before jumping in, although if you have something to say that is actually relevant to that discussion I'd be interested.

    I was agreeing with your response with the exception of the protein powder since she was talking about what's a whole food. Seems like a perfectly relevant response on my part.

    And a product having no additives or additional ingredients doesn't make it a whole food. Olives are a whole food. Olive oil has one single ingredient, no additives and it's still a highly processed food.

    I would just like to point out that you don't eat olives straight from the tree. They are washed and then put in a salt bath for a month (at least) and then put in jars with their brine. Olive oil, on the other hand, is washed olives run through a press--we get cold pressed--then put in containers or bottles. In my opinion, olive oil is closer to a natural olive.
  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    edited December 2016
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    No, everything else on that list falls into the poster's definition of "processed foods" (in a box, can, or package), which that poster was saying couldn't be part of a healthy diet.

    I mentioned protein powder because -- although I of course agree it's highly processed -- it often has no added sugar or salt and often few additives beyond the whey it's made of. So it seems inconsistent with the poster's argument. Which was, rather obviously, the point.

    It would be helpful if you'd try to follow the discussion before jumping in, although if you have something to say that is actually relevant to that discussion I'd be interested.

    I was agreeing with your response with the exception of the protein powder since she was talking about what's a whole food. Seems like a perfectly relevant response on my part.

    And a product having no additives or additional ingredients doesn't make it a whole food. Olives are a whole food. Olive oil has one single ingredient, no additives and it's still a highly processed food.

    I would just like to point out that you don't eat olives straight from the tree. They are washed and then put in a salt bath for a month (at least) and then put in jars with their brine. Olive oil, on the other hand, is washed olives run through a press--we get cold pressed--then put in containers or bottles. In my opinion, olive oil is closer to a natural olive.

    Closer to a natural olive than an actual olive sitting in a salt bath is? Haha..ok.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    No, everything else on that list falls into the poster's definition of "processed foods" (in a box, can, or package), which that poster was saying couldn't be part of a healthy diet.

    I mentioned protein powder because -- although I of course agree it's highly processed -- it often has no added sugar or salt and often few additives beyond the whey it's made of. So it seems inconsistent with the poster's argument. Which was, rather obviously, the point.

    It would be helpful if you'd try to follow the discussion before jumping in, although if you have something to say that is actually relevant to that discussion I'd be interested.

    I was agreeing with your response with the exception of the protein powder since she was talking about what's a whole food. Seems like a perfectly relevant response on my part.

    And a product having no additives or additional ingredients doesn't make it a whole food. Olives are a whole food. Olive oil has one single ingredient, no additives and it's still a highly processed food.

    I would just like to point out that you don't eat olives straight from the tree. They are washed and then put in a salt bath for a month (at least) and then put in jars with their brine. Olive oil, on the other hand, is washed olives run through a press--we get cold pressed--then put in containers or bottles. In my opinion, olive oil is closer to a natural olive.

    Closer to a natural olive than an actual olive sitting in a salt bath? Haha..ok.

    Yup--just like fresh squeezed orange juice is closer to an orange, than frozen, or dried.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited December 2016
    Jakep2323 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Jakep2323 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    So is cheese also a "highly processed food"? Or fruits and vegetables (most of which have been genetically modified and gas ripened)? Dairy which has been pasteurized from cows injected with hormones? What about yogurts?

    You fail to realize that all foods today are processed to some extent. Whey protein is a byproduct of the cheese making process.

    Well yes and no - I understand processed food to be food that has preservatives added or sugar and salt added to preserve the food for longer. Processed does not mean cooking. Yes some cheeses like cheese slices or babybel is processed cheese

    That is not what "processed" means or what processed food is (it IS processed food, but so are many other foods, including all cheese).

    You seem to be mixing up "processed" with "preserved foods." (But as far as that goes, frozen foods are preserved, and food I can at home also are.)

    Without preserving foods, traditionally those of us (including you and me, Jake), who live in more northern climates wouldn't have much produce in the winter or early spring.

    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/what-are-processed-foods.aspx I'm not mixing up anything. Many people here don't like the term - be it is the term used here. Sure there are probably grey areas...but raw chicken...not processed.....microwave chicken dinner - processed. There will be grey areas

    From your source: "The term 'processed food' applies to any food that has been altered from its natural state in some way, either for safety reasons or convenience."

    So all cheese then, as well as frozen spinach. I would argue that even a package of raw chicken is processed compared to its natural state (that is, on an ambulatory chicken). Butchering *is* processing, is it not?

    Yes, this.

    Further, from the same link:

    "However, even homemade food sometimes uses processed ingredients. Read on to find out how you can eat processed foods as part of a healthy diet."

    (IMO, that assumes we are idiots, but I suppose it's good for the gov't to help people who really are starting from a know nothing position.)

    "What counts as processed food?

    Most shop-bought foods will have been processed in some way.

    Examples of common processed foods include:

    breakfast cereals
    cheese
    tinned vegetables
    bread..."

    In other words, it's agreeing with what I said, not the claim that it's only "preserved" foods.
  • Savagedistraction
    Savagedistraction Posts: 312 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Primarily whole foods with to include a lot of plant based foods (not just vegetables) as well as lean sources of protein (I eat a lot of fish and chicken), and healthy fats...because, whole foods are pretty healthy.
    What is a "half food" or "quarter food"?
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  • Traveler120
    Traveler120 Posts: 712 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    manther88 wrote: »
    Whole food. Foods that aren't in a box, can or package. What do you think people were eating a long time ago? Lol.

    That's not a diet. You can eat huge range of ways without foods in a box, can, or package, some of which will be nutritionally adequate and some of which will not, even apart from whether one also has a healthy approach to food.
    Anything that is processed is bad whether it's fruit or veggies because they still add sugar or salt and other things to it.

    Numerous foods in a "box, can, or package" are without added sugar, salt, or "other things." For example, eggs in a carton (including the ones I get from a local farm). Meat in a package (same). Frozen fish. Canned beans or tomatoes, which can be purchased without any additives. Frozen veg and fruit (normally don't have additives). Most dairy. Dried beans and pasta. Oats. Rice. So on. Even plenty of protein powders.

    .....
    Protein powders are the very definition of a highly processed food. Everything else on that list is a whole food.

    No, everything else on that list falls into the poster's definition of "processed foods" (in a box, can, or package), which that poster was saying couldn't be part of a healthy diet.

    I mentioned protein powder because -- although I of course agree it's highly processed -- it often has no added sugar or salt and often few additives beyond the whey it's made of. So it seems inconsistent with the poster's argument. Which was, rather obviously, the point.

    It would be helpful if you'd try to follow the discussion before jumping in, although if you have something to say that is actually relevant to that discussion I'd be interested.

    I was agreeing with your response with the exception of the protein powder since she was talking about what's a whole food. Seems like a perfectly relevant response on my part.

    And a product having no additives or additional ingredients doesn't make it a whole food. Olives are a whole food. Olive oil has one single ingredient, no additives and it's still a highly processed food.

    I would just like to point out that you don't eat olives straight from the tree. They are washed and then put in a salt bath for a month (at least) and then put in jars with their brine. Olive oil, on the other hand, is washed olives run through a press--we get cold pressed--then put in containers or bottles. In my opinion, olive oil is closer to a natural olive.

    Closer to a natural olive than an actual olive sitting in a salt bath? Haha..ok.

    Yup--just like fresh squeezed orange juice is closer to an orange, than frozen, or dried.

    Ok...you got me....I surrender! By this logic, this means foods like olive oil, potato starch, whey isolate, soy isolate etc which are all extracted from the whole food, are in fact closer to the original whole food than if the original food has been dried, frozen, cooked, brined etc. Brilliant!
This discussion has been closed.