Eating Whole Foods

bcattoes

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.

What do you eat that they think is weird? I mostly eat whole foods, but my diet is still pretty normal.

bcattoes

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

I would consider those whole foods. Ground meat, probably not. Cured, certainly not. But steaks, filets, chops, etc., yes.

bcattoes

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.

I find your post confusing. I read through all the posts but didn't see organic mentioned anywhere. Is that a reference to something in the book?

Organic mac and cheese would not be "whole". It would be a processed food.

sn0wd0gg

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...

I dunno - I think it's a fairly good rule of thumb for the most part.

LoraF83

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...

In living what way? Eating processed/chemical foods or not?

LoraF83

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.

It's not really a shallow way to think about food......it's more of a way to weed out the bad when I'm shopping at the grocery store. Look, if there are 2 different types of yogurt on the shelf and one has added chemicals and preservatives and one doesn't......why not go with the one that doesn't? Then I can be sure I'm not getting anything that isn't good for my body.

I am very aware that there are things in nature that are dangerous and not good for my body. I just use that general rule to cut down on the stuff the food processing companies want me to buy.

*Edit - I love to cook and I consider myself a pretty good cook at that. I like to experiment, try new food, new flavors, etc. I read about food all the time.......not just cookbooks, but articles about food, books about food history, food processing, and the food/human relationship. I am not ignorant about food. It's a subject that I am passionate about and I take pride in the food I buy, cook, and serve to the people I love. Sorry, just needed to clarify that!

ShapeUpSidney

In living what way? Eating processed/chemical foods or not?

In using a completely irrational, nonsensical way to determine what foods are good for you or not...

ShapeUpSidney

I find your post confusing. I read through all the posts but didn't see organic mentioned anywhere. Is that a reference to something in the book?

Organic mac and cheese would not be "whole". It would be a processed food.

you can demonize food that isnt organic or food that is processed, and it's all part of the same fearmongering mindset that is based on marketing, and not grounded in fact

There are many toxins in perfectly normal, natural whole foods. Nutmeg is a toxin. Apple seeds contain toxins. Potatoes contain alkali poisons, especially when they start to green.

I don't disagree with the lifestyle of using local, whole, fresh produce and meats...I just find the rationale that some people use to be completely silly.

melsinct

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.

Same here. I eat mainly home cooked foods made from scratch 95% of the time. However, I am only human

bcattoes

I find your post confusing. I read through all the posts but didn't see organic mentioned anywhere. Is that a reference to something in the book?

Organic mac and cheese would not be "whole". It would be a processed food.

you can demonize food that isnt organic or food that is processed, and it's all part of the same fearmongering mindset that is based on marketing, and not grounded in fact

There are many toxins in perfectly normal, natural whole foods. Nutmeg is a toxin. Apple seeds contain toxins. Potatoes contain alkali poisons, especially when they start to green.

I don't disagree with the lifestyle of using local, whole, fresh produce and meats...I just find the rationale that some people use to be completely silly.

Okay. But I still don't see what that has to do with this thread.

babynew

Another WHOLE FOODIE Gal here!!:flowerforyou:

bkorman

I watched "Food, Inc." a 2008 American documentary film by Robert Kenner and it changed my life. I knew our food was getting contaminated in more ways than one! So, now I'm a whole food person too! I cook everything from scratch and watch the ingredients, just like the good old days on the farm. In general - If God didn't make, then I don't eat it! I switched to McCormick brand seasonings - and always read the labels looking for additives. Also, limited whites (no white diet during the week) and absolutely no sugar. I drink herbal teas, coffee and made water my best friend.

melsinct

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.

Agreed.

spoulsen82

i am not a 100% "real" food eater yet, but i am working on it.

i am reading the book now. i'm only through a couple chapters, but i already love his view and reasoning.

i also have to agree with some of the posts about "organic" on here. organic does not equal real.

secretlobster

In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma are both excellent books by Michael Pollan. Good reads.
I am a 95% whole-foods eater. The fact that I eat mainly unprocessed, or minimally-processed food (I make exceptions for things like greek yogurt), eliminates my need to be obsessive about calories, the occasional bit of chocolate, or a pasta dish once every 3 months.

I know lots of people think that counting calories is what's needed for weight loss, and that's a valid point. But it's also restrictive and it can get obsessive. Eating real food means the calories you DO eat are actually nourishing your body, not just taking up space in your diet. I don't worry about calories because my diet isn't full of high-empty calorie foods. It's very freeing.

ashfuse

I read the Eat Clean Diet Recharged by Tosca Reno. I've been eating completely clean for the past 2 weeks. However, before this I was pretty much eat clean already. How long did it take you guys to start losing weight? I am doing insanity 6 days a week and do tae bo too some of those days (because I love it). Doing tae bo for the past 2 years and counting cals hasn't really helped too much as far as weight loss goes...I'm really hoping eating completely clean along with harder workouts helps. I'm getting discouraged.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

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?

I am also a whole foods eater, via the Paleo Lifestyle. The longer I am with this lifestyle, the more I am able to entrench it within all aspects of my life.

spoulsen82

I read the Eat Clean Diet Recharged by Tosca Reno. I've been eating completely clean for the past 2 weeks. However, before this I was pretty much eat clean already. How long did it take you guys to start losing weight? I am doing insanity 6 days a week and do tae bo too some of those days (because I love it). Doing tae bo for the past 2 years and counting cals hasn't really helped too much as far as weight loss goes...I'm really hoping eating completely clean along with harder workouts helps. I'm getting discouraged.

how long have you been doing the MFP thing? and losing weight? from your awesome before/after pic it looks like you may be down to the exchanging fat for muscle stage (apologies in advance if you've heard all this before). weight itself isn't bad (muscle weighs more than fat). that's why they also have the measurements on here. you may not see the scale drop, but the measurements should look better!

LoveLivingHealthy

i went to whole foods a couple years ago and its the best thing i ever done. i feel so much better physically and mentally!

LoveLivingHealthy

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

If it has a mother or comes from the ground, its considered whole foods so.. meat, grains, beans, fruits, nuts, veggies, etc.

auntkk28

Yes I eat whole foods and organic but I also allow a treat once in awhile. Not only have I lost 65 pounds in the past 14 months (I just found this site though, I started with Weight Watchers) but I also haven't been sick at all despite being surrounded by co workers that have been fighting colds and flu. I make all of my meals at home and only go out to eat once every month or so.

Inebriated

I eat whole foods 80-90% of the time.

spoulsen82

i love seeing all the healthy eaters out there. some great stories! thanks for sharing.

renlewis170

This is a great thread. I've been moving towards the unprocessed eatiing lifestyle, and I must say the more whole/real foods I eat the better I feel. I would say I've been about 50% converted to this point, and am embarking on trying for more like 90-95%. It's nice to hear there are others out there on the same path.

spoulsen82

This is a great thread. I've been moving towards the unprocessed eatiing lifestyle, and I must say the more whole/real foods I eat the better I feel. I would say I've been about 50% converted to this point, and am embarking on trying for more like 90-95%. It's nice to hear there are others out there on the same path.

that's about where i am too! the more i try it, the more i like it!

spoulsen82

how do you all feel about eating eggs??? good, bad, "whole food" or mostly whole?

pdworkman

If you crack the shell and use the whole egg, it is a whole food. If you're getting something out of a box, it's processed, and you'll have to pay attention to whether it is whole, what has been added, and how it has been processed.

how do you all feel about eating eggs??? good, bad, "whole food" or mostly whole?

spoulsen82

definitely the eggs in a carton, cracked and cooked! only way to go!!!

LoveLivingHealthy

how do you all feel about eating eggs??? good, bad, "whole food" or mostly whole?

organic eggs are considered whole foods, yes. they're extremely good for you.. they have omega 3 fatty acids, protein and i have heard they're a really good brain food