Eating Whole Foods

LoraF83

Is anyone else out there only eating whole foods? I gave up fast food, processed food that contained ingredients I couldn't pronounce, soda, and most forms of sugar. Yes, it's restrictive and it's been a little tough, but I am finally at the point that junk food doesn't taste good anymore. I am dropping weight quickly, my skin looks great and my hair is super-shiny! I watch the portions of what I eat, and log everything here, but I don't deny myself anything. I eat when I'm hungry.
Anyone else out there eating like this? I had to switch after starting to read "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan. Has anyone else read this?

UponThisRock

I eat mostly whole foods. I don't have a reason to completely restrict any food I enjoy.

AmandaBroun

Yeah, that was an eye opening read.

I try to eat unprocessed foods as much as possible, but I'm an 'everything in moderation' type.

grapenutSF

Yes, I eat that way, and read/enjoyed In Defense of Food. I also like his basic advice: "Eat [real] food. Not too much. Mostly vegetables."

OK, I like the 1st 2 sentences there the most, but felt it fair to provide his full quote.

vs1023

Yup prefer whole foods here too.

nyctraveler

for me - eating clean definitely makes a difference in weight loss. I know some people can lose even if they eat 1200 cals in crap all day but for me that's not the case.

My meals need to be pretty clean for me to lose (especially dinner). If i make my chicken breast and sweet potatoes or some other veggie instead of eating out at a restaurant (even if i try to get lower cal options or eat smaller portions) - my weight moves. As soon as I add chips or more carbs as snacks, things definitely slow down.

With that said, I can still have diet coke, vitamin water zero, splenda, etc and be ok. It's seems to be the processed SUGAR AND CARBS that causes me to stall

stormieweather

I eat mostly whole foods, although I'm ok with limited processed foods. When I do eat processed foods, I try to avoid added sugar, chemicals, preservatives, nitrites, artificial coloring or flavoring, HFCS and MSG. No fast food for me. This is what works for me..

sharon4219

Yes I feel great when I am eating whole/clean food! Also loved the book Eat To Live by Dr Fuhrman:happy:

androidgal

I try to do this also but finding it harder in the winter or if I am stressed, but if I give in to temptation and eat fast food I always feel sluggish and sleepy after and less energised. I am reading "The China Study" which explains a lot about nutrition and the best forms of protein etc to eat as well as how certain types of food help the immune system whilst others fight cancer...:flowerforyou:

shellyt1

I have started to try but don't have many around me who eats that way and when I say what I have ate I get weird comments.

grapenutSF

When I do eat processed foods, I try to avoid added sugar, chemicals, preservatives, nitrites, artificial coloring or flavoring, HFCS and MSG.

Just curious, then what's left to make it "processed"? Do you just mean multi-ingredient, not prepared in your home?

tjalred

I'm a whole foodie!

1968LisaG

I eat clean just about every day, except on cheat night but it's still good. I buy most of my food at Trader Joe's because it is less expensive and there's a lot of good stuff there. I also like it because their products have less ingredients in them - and still cheaper than my local grocery store.

I have oatmeal for breakfast 5 days a week and then a bowl of Os on the weekend. I make spaghetti squash tomato for my lunches everyday and don't seem to tire of them. I put all fresh ingredients in and just learned that tomatoes are excellent. I buy my sauce at Trader Joe's and there's about 5 ingredients - none of them sugar.

I don't eat a whole lot of sugary products. I put agave syrup on my oatmeal for a little sweetness and I like to eat vegan sweets that I get at Whole Foods and another natural foods store. They make the yummiest blueberry bars. And Whole Foods has vegan chocolate chip cookies that have 175 calories - a lot better than the vegan scone of 470 calories!

I have basically revamped my condiments and everything. I no longer buy kraft products - but opt for organic and less ingredients.

Also, I don't drink soda, juice, or rich coffee drinks anymore. It's tea, plain coffee (with 1 cream), and water.:laugh:

Syreeta6

Absolutely!!

itgeekwoman

I prefer to eat food that I prepare from scratch. The only exceptions I will make is canned tomatoes for Chili and stews. I just can't merit the expense, but I do try and buy the organic from the healthfood store.

I will buy prepared organic or 100% pure foods in order to maintain consistency in my diet. I feel better when I eat like this.

Joskinnyminnie

I've been doing my best to stick to whole foods and cut out the processed stuff for the last few weeks and must say I've felt a whole lot better for it - less bloating, clearer skin and healthy hair. I found myself craving a raw salad on Saturday after a few too many glasses of wine on Friday night - don't know why?

perrybucsdad

What is considered "whole foods"? I get the processed part, but is steak or fish considered a whole food?

pdworkman

Add me to the list for mostly whole foods, cooking from scratch.

LoraF83

Basically a whole food is anything that is an ingredient.........if something has multiple ingredients, it is considered a processed food. So, yes, steak and fish are whole foods. Fruits, vegetables, grains, rice, milk, etc, are all whole foods.

It's not always possible to stay away from processed foods, so I stick to this rule: if it has ingredients I can't pronounce, I won't buy it or eat it. I don't need/want chemicals in my food!

LisaDunn01

YES!!! I eat whole food and LOVE IT! I don't feel restricted in any way, shape or form. Raw food restaurants have a lot of great versions of desserts, sandwiches ("bread" made out of onions or lettuce or flax), pizza, you name it. Only, they're food is made out of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs/spices... that's it! As for protein, I love an organic, grass-fed steak! Another great book to read is "Back to the Basics of Human Health" by Mary Frost. www.westonaprice.org is a fantastic website to visit.

ShapeUpSidney

We love to cook, so we end up eating mostly whole foods anyhow. I still have easy mac when I feel like it.

I really hate the "ingredients I can't pronounce" comment though. There are plenty of natural things that will kill you (amagdylan in apple seeds, hemlock, several species of mushrooms, large quantities of nutmeg, mountain lions) and plenty of natural things with names you cannot pronounce. It just seems like a really shallow way to think about food.

scapez

I eat mostly whole foods, although I'm ok with limited processed foods. When I do eat processed foods, I try to avoid added sugar, chemicals, preservatives, nitrites, artificial coloring or flavoring, HFCS and MSG. No fast food for me. This is what works for me..

^ This for me as well.

ShapeUpSidney

so I stick to this rule: if it has ingredients I can't pronounce, I won't buy it or eat it. I don't need/want chemicals in my food!

So much ignorance in living that way...

kbw414

I eat whole foods and no processed foods except for the brown rice noodles I'm guilty of eating from time to time (I eat gluten free). I'm also an organic "locavore" (I try to get most of my foods from my own community which is a great place to live in that regard). This has been the best way for me to lose weight. I lose ten lbs here and there and forgo dieting for awhile, but I never, never gain my weight back.

simplyeater

<raises hand> Me! I try to eat mostly whole foods, although I have processed foods in moderation occasionally. Probably average 80% whole (depending on your definition). Glad you are enjoying your new lifestyle!

ShapeUpSidney

It's really laughable seeing how many people have bought into the "organic" hype. You guys need to google "cyanogenic glucosides" and get real.

Sad to know that so many people are forking over 4x the amount of money for "organic" mac and cheese, when there are "toxins" in so many plain normal foods, like potatoes, lima beans, and cherry pits. It just doesn't make any sense.

fisherlassie

Yes! I haven't read the book but whole foods work for me.

BeesKnees181

I try to be as whole foodie as much as is possible.

TheMrsFitnessGeek

I have been eating "clean" for almost two years. It works for me and I love it!

calabrdm

Yes... I began eating completely clean on the first of this year. (Except for this past weekend). I am losing my love handles that have been the bane of my existence forever as a result. I feel like I was spinning my wheels for years and now my working out shows more. I also feel like I am no longer feelig hungry all the time. Eating 5 to 6 meals a day is really working for me. My husband has really noticed a change in what I deem "my trouble" areas. He noticed a marked change without asking.

bcattoes

Never read or heard of the book, but yes, most of my meals start out as whole foods.

I almost never eat fast food, sometimes eat processed foods (such as the Kashi steam meal I'm eating right now), don't like soda and eat processed sugary foods (cookies, cakes etc.) every now and then I mostly eat foods I prepare from scratch because I love to cook and think my food tastes awesome. I do sometimes use canned beans or tomatoes in my cooking.