Paleo vs Ramen - Oh, the humanity!

caribougal

I started eating Paleo (ok, Primal, whatever) last June. I lost 26 lbs. Yay for me. I don't force it on my kids, who are 5.5 and 4 years old, but they see how I eat, and they know exactly which foods are healthy and which foods are not (aka "Daddy desserts").

Most of the time, they eat really well. We get most of our produce and meat through CSAs, they like almost everything, and aside from the last month of takeout extravagance since we're in house-moving mode, I cook some pretty awesome paleo meals (thank you, nomnompaleo.com!)

But... on days when I travel, or go out with the girls, and Dad is in charge of feeding the boys, they sometimes eat some... less than healthy foods. Like Ramen.

My boys are CRAZY for RAMEN!

And really, who isn't? I get it. I was a total Ramen aficionado too. In high school, my mom would serve chicken and broccoli for dinner and I would eat Ramen instead, claiming I was "carbo-loading" for lacrosse. In college, I ate Ramen almost daily. It's a wonderful hangover cure.

Truth be told, I still love Ramen, with it's curly sit-in-your-belly-like-a-brick salty goodness. I just choose not to eat it anymore. It's a gateway food for me. If I eat Ramen, then it's not long before I'm mainlining pretzels and saltines and oreos and bagels and once I hit the bagels, I'm ready to be admitted to carb rehab. There are those who can moderate, and those who can't, and I'm in the latter camp.

But the other night, we came home from eating a picnic at the park. Of course, the boys barely ate their dinner because they were too busy playing. The BEGGED for Ramen before they went for bath and bed. I mean, BEGGED!!!!

So I gave in, and "cooked" them some.

My oldest, the five year old, is slurping it up with extreme pleasure. And then he says, "Mom, on Christmas Eve, way, way, way, way, WAY before Santa comes, can we eat Ramen before we go to bed?"

Yes, my son is planning his Ramen menu five months in advance.

I mean, the good thing is, he realizes that Ramen is a food to be eaten rarely. And yet, it's become a special food, reserved for special occasions like when Mom is gone and Santa is coming.

Is that a Paleo Mom success story? Or nightmare?

Sigh. I'm not crazy. Ramen is damned fine stuff, and it was my comfort food growing up, and now it's the same for my kids. Ain't no way a zucchini noodle can change that.

/Ramen rant/ode

Kymmu

Everybody Loves Ramen. - Great name for a t.v. show.

I think a little of what makes you happy is good.

Achrya

OP, I want to tell you the true story of what happened after I read this.

Me: Hmm. Ramen. It's been a while. *head to kitchen, get water on. Break ramen block in half, weigh it to be sure. Ramen enters pot*

Husband: You cooking?

Me: Ramen. You want?

Husband: No.

*three minutes later*

Husband: Actually yes.

And now here we are, both of us, eating Ramen. I put tuna and cheese in mine in an attempt to make it fit my macros, because Ramen is that serious.

BeachIron

I miss long runs followed by quality ramen and beer.

billsica

Just stuff some bacon in a Styrofoam cup full of water and salt. Tell them its what cavemen ate in college.

shutupandlift13

Zucchini noodles and spaghetti squash will never replace a real noodle, even most gluten free products are a stretch... if your kid isn't gluten sensitive then what's the issue?

If he's active and eats fairly well and balanced, well he's ahead of most children in this country.

Santa loves Ramen, btw. Even more than cookies... at least I like to think so because I have way more of a savory tooth than a sweet one.

caribougal

OP, I want to tell you the true story of what happened after I read this.

Me: Hmm. Ramen. It's been a while. *head to kitchen, get water on. Break ramen block in half, weigh it to be sure. Ramen enters pot*

Husband: You cooking?

Me: Ramen. You want?

Husband: No.

*three minutes later*

Husband: Actually yes.

And now here we are, both of us, eating Ramen. I put tuna and cheese in mine in an attempt to make it fit my macros, because Ramen is that serious.

Say it isn't so! Tuna and Ramen? Tuna and CHEESE and Ramen? Are there Ramen police, because this is a serious offense to humanity. Adding chicken or shrimp or beef... Ok. But tuna and cheese? Noooooooooo.

caribougal

Just stuff some bacon in a Styrofoam cup full of water and salt. Tell them its what cavemen ate in college.

My kids would probably like that.

caribougal

Zucchini noodles and spaghetti squash will never replace a real noodle, even most gluten free products are a stretch... if your kid isn't gluten sensitive then what's the issue?

If he's active and eats fairly well and balanced, well he's ahead of most children in this country.

Santa loves Ramen, btw. Even more than cookies... at least I like to think so because I have way more of a savory tooth than a sweet one.

I haven't had gluten free noodles, but I actually prefer zucchini noodles over pasta now. But I give my kids regular noodles. I offer them zoodles, and figure some day they might actually try them.

We did discuss giving Santa some Ramen, but the kids insisted that he only wants ginger snaps and milk. Can't break some traditions.

sukiwabi

i was going to respond until i read tuna and cheese in ramen. i'm now scarred for life and will never enter another nutrition thread as long as i live. :noway:

caribougal

I miss long runs followed by quality ramen and beer.

Forget protein drinks and sweet potatoes. Quality carb loading right there.

cadaverousbones

I think ramen is okay every once in awhile. You can try using less of the seasoning to make it less sodium-y... I like to add veggies and eggs and stuff to make mine "healthier" and jazz it up. Its better to split a block than eat the whole package.

RunningSwede

Ramen? Paleo? Not sure, but I do know an Alaskan Grizzly Bear can pack on enough fat to survive a winter siesta on an uber-paleo diet of nothing but fresh river salmon sashimi and mountain grown organic blueberries and huckleberries fresh off the bush…

BeachIron

I miss long runs followed by quality ramen and beer.

Forget protein drinks and sweet potatoes. Quality carb loading right there.

Hey, I always ordered double pork with mine! :drinker:

taso42

Katsu Curry Ramen FTW

Ldbg289

It's been a long time since I've eaten ramen, mostly because I usually put the whole flavor packet in and I'm really trying to cut back on my sodium so until I figure out how to control myself with the flavor packet, no ramen except rarely. I think since December(ish) I've had ramen noodles maybe three times and that's probably being generous. When I do make ramen I usually put either eggs or veggies in it. The first time someone mentioned putting eggs in it, I wasn't sure I'd even like it, let alone try it, but now, I've decided I do in fact like eggs in my ramen.

BeachIron

Katsu Curry Ramen FTW

Pure evil here. I'm incredibly jealous.

skinnymalinkyscot

Truth be told, I still love Ramen, with it's curly sit-in-your-belly-like-a-brick salty goodness. I just choose not to eat it anymore. It's a gateway food for me. If I eat Ramen, then it's not long before I'm mainlining pretzels and saltines and oreos and bagels and once I hit the bagels, I'm ready to be admitted to carb rehab.

Dont diss bagels! there is nothing wrong with carbs especially wholemeal varieties of pasta, rice and bread.

I eat wholemeal bagels and cream cheese every morning for breakfast and am losing weight, one whole new York fruit & oat bagel and one triangle of laughing cow lite cream cheese is a total of 260 calories but more importantly has 9g of protein and 4g of fibre in the bagel alone.

Wholemeal varieties of carbs are also satisfying foods on the glycaemic index and I think eating from all the food groups and not excluding food groups is the best approach to healthy living

Achrya

i was going to respond until i read tuna and cheese in ramen. i'm now scarred for life and will never enter another nutrition thread as long as i live. :noway:

Haters stay hating. Oriental flavored ramen with a little sesame oil and tuna is amazeballs, as far as prepackaged ramen goes. Beyond that the the fresh noodle houses around here will put anything you ask for in your ramen. I like egg and fish in a fish broth, yum

Nix143

I had this yesterday for lunch - 600+ calories but 50g of protein - ramen heaven. Every now and then only salty noodles will do......

sukiwabi

i was going to respond until i read tuna and cheese in ramen. i'm now scarred for life and will never enter another nutrition thread as long as i live. :noway:

Haters stay hating. Oriental flavored ramen with a little sesame oil and tuna is amazeballs, as far as prepackaged ramen goes. Beyond that the the fresh noodle houses around here will put anything you ask for in your ramen. I like egg and fish in a fish broth, yum

yeah, that's kinda different than tuna and cheese, lol.

Achrya

i was going to respond until i read tuna and cheese in ramen. i'm now scarred for life and will never enter another nutrition thread as long as i live. :noway:

Haters stay hating. Oriental flavored ramen with a little sesame oil and tuna is amazeballs, as far as prepackaged ramen goes. Beyond that the the fresh noodle houses around here will put anything you ask for in your ramen. I like egg and fish in a fish broth, yum

yeah, that's kinda different than tuna and cheese, lol.

Ramen with tuna and cheese is essentially a quickie/poor man's tuna casserole. Do you have some issues with tuna casserole, or are you just letting some manner of preconceived notion get in the way of noodles+tuna+cheese=a fairly common meal combo?

pittbullgirl

I haven't had Ramen in FOREVER but now I want to walk my son to the store for some. DAMNNNN YOU!!

and no, I don't have the macro's for it. Screw it.

WenHurley

One of kids favorite things when they were little was ramen with some mixed vegetables in it.

caribougal

i was going to respond until i read tuna and cheese in ramen. i'm now scarred for life and will never enter another nutrition thread as long as i live. :noway:

Haters stay hating. Oriental flavored ramen with a little sesame oil and tuna is amazeballs, as far as prepackaged ramen goes. Beyond that the the fresh noodle houses around here will put anything you ask for in your ramen. I like egg and fish in a fish broth, yum

yeah, that's kinda different than tuna and cheese, lol.

Ramen with tuna and cheese is essentially a quickie/poor man's tuna casserole. Do you have some issues with tuna casserole, or are you just letting some manner of preconceived notion get in the way of noodles+tuna+cheese=a fairly common meal combo?

Actually, I never did like tuna noodle casserole. Even as a kid, it seemed wrong to me.

caribougal

Truth be told, I still love Ramen, with it's curly sit-in-your-belly-like-a-brick salty goodness. I just choose not to eat it anymore. It's a gateway food for me. If I eat Ramen, then it's not long before I'm mainlining pretzels and saltines and oreos and bagels and once I hit the bagels, I'm ready to be admitted to carb rehab.

Dont diss bagels! there is nothing wrong with carbs especially wholemeal varieties of pasta, rice and bread.

I eat wholemeal bagels and cream cheese every morning for breakfast and am losing weight, one whole new York fruit & oat bagel and one triangle of laughing cow lite cream cheese is a total of 260 calories but more importantly has 9g of protein and 4g of fibre in the bagel alone.

Wholemeal varieties of carbs are also satisfying foods on the glycaemic index and I think eating from all the food groups and not excluding food groups is the best approach to healthy living

I must diss bagels... Not for you or anyone else, but for me, they're on the shiz list. I'm Jewish, and I've been eating bagels my whole life. Almost every day for forty-some-odd years. Giving them up was part of my personal choice to revamp my diet, especially since they're a breakfast food and that sets the tone for the day. They're banned from my lifestyle 98% of the time. I actually fast through breakfast most days anyway now, so there's little place for them anyway.

Eating lots of carbs may work for you. I prefer how I feel on a low carb lifestyle. I'm at very high risk of diabetes and keeping my sugar intake low and my blood sugar stable is a priority for me. Now that I'm on maintenance, I make exceptions for breads when they're worth it, but it's not an every day part of my life anymore.

sukiwabi

i was going to respond until i read tuna and cheese in ramen. i'm now scarred for life and will never enter another nutrition thread as long as i live. :noway:

Haters stay hating. Oriental flavored ramen with a little sesame oil and tuna is amazeballs, as far as prepackaged ramen goes. Beyond that the the fresh noodle houses around here will put anything you ask for in your ramen. I like egg and fish in a fish broth, yum

yeah, that's kinda different than tuna and cheese, lol.

Ramen with tuna and cheese is essentially a quickie/poor man's tuna casserole. Do you have some issues with tuna casserole, or are you just letting some manner of preconceived notion get in the way of noodles+tuna+cheese=a fairly common meal combo?

i think i've been to the east italian coast one too many, lol. asking for cheese on your fish pasta dish will practically get you slapped. they take it v. v. seriously. as i see you do as well, just in the opposite direction.
i'm no snob. i have and will eat most anything, but that particular combo offends my sensibilities, mkay? :laugh:

KuroNyankoSensei

Eating a package of ramen is more like a snack for me. It isn't filling at all XD. Ramen from an authentic, Japanese ramen shop on the other hand...



One enormous, heaping bowl of kotteri miso ramen with soft boiled egg, yess...

When I eat ramen now, I do it right ;P.

madmiya

forget cakes and cookies
ramyun is my weakness
i eat one shincup a month
(ladies- you know when!)
totally screws up my gf