North Carolina (southern food as a special challenge)
MrCourter
Posts: 12 Member
When I was a child my parents moved our family from the Northeastern United States to the Southeastern United States.
At the time, I was a budding photographer and took my Kodak 110 camera with me everywhere. Knowing that we would return to the North at some point, I wanted to photograph businesses and restaurants that I had never seen before to show off to my old friends. I created an album that I still possess today filled with pictures of restaurants like: Bojangles, Hardee's, Biscuitville, Sonny's BBQ, Po Folks, Cracker Barrel, Churchs' Chicken, etc...
I LOVED Southern food and became addicted to country-fried steak, biscuits and cream gravy, Pork BBQ, fried chicken, etc..etc...etc.. Even vegetables in the South tasted better because they all swim in butter and salt.
Now, at the age of 40, I am 6'2" and weighs 270 pounds. I desperately wish to weigh around 210 pounds and have come here to accomplish that goal.
I have found that living in the South makes weight-loss an especially painful chore. Every time I take a vacation ANYWHERE else in the country, I am always astounded by the vegetarian and low-fat choices available...then...I return home and feel that much more unhealthy. It's not that there are not vegetarian and low-fat options available in the South...it's that they aren't very good. There always seems to be the token item for the "health nut" at every restaurant and it is generally tasteless and bland.
I am trying to eat at home as much as possible and have found our new Trader Joe's grocery store to be my ally. However, working in the film industry I find myself dining out quite often and always struggle with temptations.
If you live in the South and face the same challenges I do...I feel for you! Perhaps we should be friends on here...
At the time, I was a budding photographer and took my Kodak 110 camera with me everywhere. Knowing that we would return to the North at some point, I wanted to photograph businesses and restaurants that I had never seen before to show off to my old friends. I created an album that I still possess today filled with pictures of restaurants like: Bojangles, Hardee's, Biscuitville, Sonny's BBQ, Po Folks, Cracker Barrel, Churchs' Chicken, etc...
I LOVED Southern food and became addicted to country-fried steak, biscuits and cream gravy, Pork BBQ, fried chicken, etc..etc...etc.. Even vegetables in the South tasted better because they all swim in butter and salt.
Now, at the age of 40, I am 6'2" and weighs 270 pounds. I desperately wish to weigh around 210 pounds and have come here to accomplish that goal.
I have found that living in the South makes weight-loss an especially painful chore. Every time I take a vacation ANYWHERE else in the country, I am always astounded by the vegetarian and low-fat choices available...then...I return home and feel that much more unhealthy. It's not that there are not vegetarian and low-fat options available in the South...it's that they aren't very good. There always seems to be the token item for the "health nut" at every restaurant and it is generally tasteless and bland.
I am trying to eat at home as much as possible and have found our new Trader Joe's grocery store to be my ally. However, working in the film industry I find myself dining out quite often and always struggle with temptations.
If you live in the South and face the same challenges I do...I feel for you! Perhaps we should be friends on here...
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Replies
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Might I suggest trying out a more paleo/primal lifestyle as a possible solution for you?
Look at some of the following sites for information. This lifestyle may be what you need. There are more helpful sites than this, but it's a start:
1.) Primal Blueprint creator and formulator of the P90X supplement line Mark Sisson has a truly awesome website. His version of Paleo is a little more liberal than others. Take a look at his physique at 50+ years old and you can only conclude that either his genes are a blessing from God or this guy knows his stuff!
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/#axzz2UEeJi6Nb
2.) Chris Kressner has a fantastic website on health and wellness. His articles are purely science based and he references a lot of studies in them. If you like the details of the info you are getting, Chris will give it to you. He is always reviewing medical studies to make sure he is on the leading edge of fact based nutrition science.
http://chriskresser.com/beyondpaleo0 -
I find the opposite...Not sure where you are in NC. I live in Charlotte. Though in other parts of the country there are more vegetarian/vegan options/restaurants. Though Boone and Asheville are VERY veggie friendly.
Yes, the south likes to put a ton of butter in everything!
I go out and find lots of good food (mainly at Mexican restaurants though...or Italian...).
Now I'm hungry! Ha!0 -
*Scratches head*
Funny, I've never had a problem finding 'healthy' food in the southern states. I used to regularly visit North Carolina, vacationed in South Carolina, just got back from Kentucky and live in Texas (which isn't really Southern, but we've got all the Southern foods). I admit my choices in Kentucky were lousy, but that was because I was purposefully eating old favorites at the state fair. And finding they're not favorites any more.0 -
I'm in North Carolina too—and I agree, the food options are AMAZING (...ly awful for you...I'm looking at you, chicken and waffles... :noway: ). And, like you, I am a transplant here (from the Midwest). I definitely agree with eating at home as much as possible—I find that if eating out is a treat, then I don't feel as bad about splurging once in a long while. (Trader Joe's does make eating at home a whole lot easier!) For other, less avoidable times, I try to keep healthy out-to-eat options in my head. I have figured out a few restaurants that are nearby that have some healthier options, so that when someone says "Where should we go?" I have a few answers ready. And most towns in the south (including yours...I'm guessing W-S?) have some options. It also helps to know what you're going to order before you walk in the door—this often prevents me from making impulsive decisions. Oh, and skip the sweet tea!! Good luck!!0
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I live in Charlotte, and there are plenty of options here. Are you in a more rural area of NC?0
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I've lived in Kentucky all of my life. I've had to learn how to eat all over again. I raise most of my own veggies so I make sure to have a lot in my diet.0
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I've never been a place that doesn't offer a salad, that's healthy. Most greasy spoons aren't known for health but if you asked for food to be prepped differently I'm sure they'd accommodate. If you like the food so well learn to cook it at home a healthier way.
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Bumping this for the selfish goal of meeting more North Carolinians 0
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Southern girl born and raised.....
Sorry though, I live in NW Florida, close to the Alabama/Ga line. I love Southern food. When I had to live up in Maine for a few months, I had my parents ship me boxes of grits LOL. In my neck of the South, we pretty much grow everything. Our main staple during the Fall are greens: turnips, mustard, and collards. Normally they are cooked and seasoned with bacon grease, but I can eat them other ways. I find that is true of a lot of southern dishes and while they may not taste as great as their bad counterparts, they are still good.
My town has a lot of Northern transplants and they've opened a few restaurants around town trying to blend the difference in cuisine. Amusingly enough though, give or take a few years, they start serving more southern food or go out of business.
I second that low carb/paleo is easy to follow in the South. I live in redneck central and can stay stocked in venison and wild boar all year if I want LOL. (Not really a fan of gamey meat though.) And there is plenty of year round fresh produce. I also agree that most restaurants have a lighter menu. i'm not on a low carb diet currently, but have tried them in the past.
I understand what you mean though about the differences here and the rest of the country, especially out west. I spent half a year in Washington State/Oregon, and wow....... The mental difference in the way we look at food is pretty eye opening.0 -
Living in SE NC here on the coast - I haven't had a hard time at all finding healthy options - the Farmer's market on the Weekends is always a great place to find great options for home cooking...
But like the others said, finding that healthy option on the menu is probably your best choice!0 -
I am with you on this and then im not with you on it. Im from South Carolina and here around Charleston it has become the tourist destination of the world. With that said our hot food tax has risen to 11% tax. Add that to the other hand full of taxes and dinner out can quickly add up. There is literally food on every street or corner. I was just pointing it out to my husband the other day. Its a restaurant explosion around here. Southern food is Mmmm Mmmm Delicious and like you said can be horrible for you. You did really only mention the fast food joints though. Perhaps where you are that's all that's around, but here there are restaurants of all kinds. They offer foods of all kinds and tastes. Seafood is a biggie here as we are a coastal state. Perhaps eat smaller portions or ask for them to leave the butter off or out of your food. Even if it is a fast food joint of sorts. Look for baked not fried foods on the menu. A lot of places around here have added healthy menu items to the menu and they taste just fine to me. Some places if its a bbq restaurant ask them for the sauce on the side if they don't offer it in a bottle ready to use for the customers. A few places around here are like that also. Like Dukes or Bessingers BBQ buffet. They offer up the meat and the different signature sauces are in containers on the tables. You put as much or as little as you like. Like I said though I completely understand where you are coming from. I've traveled to a few other states and they don't compare to here. There may be 5 or 6 restaurants per town compared to the hundred or more per town around here. It all comes down to choosing to go there or not and choosing healthy menu option versus the not soo.0
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I was born and raise in Fayetteville, NC I grew up on fried chicken and fresh grown veggies from my grandparents garden... Everything was yummy.. Now I live in Texas and yes I can get good fried food here and bbq (which isn't the same as back home) but I don't go out to eat as much since I started to lose weight... I cook at home more and don't use butter as much. Don't get me wrong I so know what you mean bout the veggies tasteing differant but I either grill/bake/steam mine now with a seasioning that I like and some olive oil...0
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Hi There another "Carolina Guy". Grew up thinking that all Hamburgers had cole slaw, chili, onions, and mustard on them! :drinker:
Trying to get fitter and healthier down here in the South. Trader Joe's is great and there are Panera Breads all over the place (I travel a lot)
Feel free to friend!0 -
Are you in a more rural part of NC? I'm in the RTP/Triangle area and don't have any trouble finding vegetarian (although I never eat vegetarian), cuisine from all sorts of ethnicities, and plenty of healthy things if you know where to look and how to eat it in moderation. I've eaten bbq, fried chicken, etc. But no matter where you are, yes eating at home is healthier and tends to be less expensive.0
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Kentucky girl here! There is nothing as awesome as Southern food, lol. Unfortunately, that awesomeness comes with a lot of calories. Biscuits and gravy is one of my favorite foods. One way to make it a little less calorific is to use skim milk, turkey sausage, and tomato slices instead of biscuits.0
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:drinker: hi! Omg, years ago went to a small town in NC and everything on the menus went through breading and the fryer. I kid you not. Except for breakfast biscuits and gravy. But I guess because everyone had room to grow whatever they wanted in that wonderful soil? I learned to make biscuits and gravy, cheese grits from scratch, all the southern delicacies, and then I learned I had the food allergies.
I will definitely try me-proof sausage gravy on grilled sliced tomatoes!
Learned why sweet corn really is different grown north vs south, due to night time temperatures effect on plants dinural metabolism.0 -
I'm a transplant from NY who now lives in Greensboro and have no trouble finding any type of food with a wide variety on the healthiness scale. I eat at bbq joints and get fries, hushpuppies, and chicken or hot dogs all the way once every week or two, but I always find ways to fit it into my calorie goal. Most of the restaurants here have very good options for healthy dishes, unless you're only eating at fast food joints.
But I really don't understand the issue. Back in NY we also had a ton of unhealthy food available. I was addicted to pizza and Buffalo wings, which I'd eat at least twice a week. I loved chicken tender subs and wraps swimming in ranch peppercorn dressing. And back home we even had something called a garbage plate, which is typically a plate with a base of mac salad and home fries, and topped with hot dogs and/or burgers (and sometimes chicken fingers or other creative things), with hot meat sauce spread over the whole thing.
You can see why I gained weight! Unhealthy choices are available pretty much everywhere you go, not just the south. It's more about self control and planning. If you know you're going to have to eat out, look up restaurants and pick ones that have good reviews and yummy options on the menu. If you eat something unhealthy, shift some calories around so it fits within your goal. If you get it into your head that you're eating unhealthy just because you're in the south and there are unhealthy choices, then you're already defeated. It's really just an excuse.
Track your calories and fit your daily intake within your goals.
Allow for some unhealthy meals occasionally, but in moderation (I find that only eating half and saving the other half when I eat out teaches me self-control, gives me a second meal, and allows the tastiness to last longer than scarfing it down in one sitting).0 -
I'm about an hour East of Raleigh! You are right! Southern food is THE best!0
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I just moved to NC from Alaska... Gotta say I am loving the amount of actual fresh produce! By the time veggies got to the stores up there they went bad in a day or two. I just restared my logging on here but have tried to maintain my activity when I wasn't on here. I'm looking forward to being able to run, walk and jog all year round.0
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Oh, how I love NC. I can't wait to move there! We bought a house there and are currently renting it out. When we cleaned the fan-thing above the stove the grease was just dripping out. It was so gross. We live in PA now and although there is plenty of fried food here too. We only eat fried if we go out. We rarely fry anything at home and when we do we just stri fry in olive oil. We have oven fried chicken and french fries baked in the oven with a bit of oil. Tastes great and not drippin in grease. When we visit NC we eat alot of seafood - baked or broiled with some butter and it's great. I've never had chicken & walfles, but I would like to. Oh yeah when I move there...I'm going to learn how to make hush puppies.
That garbage plate looks wonderful, I might try making that at home...once!0 -
Hi There another "Carolina Guy". Grew up thinking that all Hamburgers had cole slaw, chili, onions, and mustard on them! :drinker:
Trying to get fitter and healthier down here in the South. Trader Joe's is great and there are Panera Breads all over the place (I travel a lot)
Feel free to friend!
the order is wrong. mustard, onions, hot chili to soften the onions, slaw on top 0 -
Never been to the southeast, but one day I'll go and try real southern food. There will be no portion control then.0
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@comalua1 :: does secret "carolina" handshake" - Authentic! Hi There another "Carolina Guy". Grew up thinking that all Hamburgers had cole slaw, chili, onions, and mustard on them! :drinker:
Trying to get fitter and healthier down here in the South. Trader Joe's is great and there are Panera Breads all over the place (I travel a lot)
Feel free to friend!
the order is wrong. mustard, onions, hot chili to soften the onions, slaw on top0 -
I am originally from Austin, TX but I'm now living in the SC upstate (near Greenville) and I have to agree that there are waaaaay less healthy choices around here than there were in Austin. That being said, if you want to lose weight I HIGHLY recommend preparing your own meals -- especially if you plan on logging your food. Even the healthier options at restaurants have large portions and there is no way for your to weigh your food, etc. Good luck in your weight loss! 0
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1. Portion control at home and eating out is the key to success. Get a food scale and eat the food you want in the portion that you are allowed by calorie goals.
2. Cook at home more often, and leave out as much of the butter and other fats as you can.
3. Portion control, portion control, and more portion control. (I've said this before.) Before you eat out find out the calorie totals for various choices and when you get to the restaurant order what you like to be served with a takeout box. Divide the food at the table before you start eating. Take the rest home and eat it for subsequent meals.
4. Watch Bobby Dean's cooking show, "Not My Mama's Meals." He'll show you ways to get the flavor you love with less calories. I have no connection to the Dean family other than watching the food network and cooking channel.
BTW, I'm from the Pacific NW.0 -
Your pains, I feel. I live right near St Louis, home of Krispy Kremes, Imo's Pizza, St Paul sammiches, Ted Drew's frozen custard and fried ravioli :smooched:0
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I'm in TN and half my family is in NC and I know what you mean by the infamous southern food, however you have to learn how to clean it up that you still have the flavor without the calories. I find chicken to be easy to clean up as well as veggies. Once you get all the butter and salt out of your system it is so much easier, or at least it is for me. I still have my cravings, but I get creative to help the binges to not happen as often.0
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@comalua1 :: does secret "carolina" handshake" - Authentic! Hi There another "Carolina Guy". Grew up thinking that all Hamburgers had cole slaw, chili, onions, and mustard on them! :drinker:
Trying to get fitter and healthier down here in the South. Trader Joe's is great and there are Panera Breads all over the place (I travel a lot)
Feel free to friend!
the order is wrong. mustard, onions, hot chili to soften the onions, slaw on top
lol ain't skeered.
you and i both know the secret carolina handshake is one hand on the wheel, raising 4 fingers to passersby.0 -
@comalua1 - And my cooler is filled with Cheerwine! :drinker:@comalua1 :: does secret "carolina" handshake" - Authentic! Hi There another "Carolina Guy". Grew up thinking that all Hamburgers had cole slaw, chili, onions, and mustard on them! :drinker:
Trying to get fitter and healthier down here in the South. Trader Joe's is great and there are Panera Breads all over the place (I travel a lot)
Feel free to friend!
the order is wrong. mustard, onions, hot chili to soften the onions, slaw on top
lol ain't skeered.
you and i both know the secret carolina handshake is one hand on the wheel, raising 4 fingers to passersby.0
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