Non-paleo foods that are "not so bad"

KBGirts

Do any of you consider some of the evil foods to be over varying degrees of evil?

For example, I think wheat and corn are absolutely terrible and I make every attempt to keep them out of my diet. But, I feel like white potatoes and possibly even rice may not be as bad as wheat or corn and if I slip up and have a small portion every once in a while, I'm okay with it.

What do you guys think about the different "bad" foods..... namely corn, wheat, beans, rice, and white potatoes? I realize they are not Paleo, and I try with all my might to avoid them, but are there varying degrees of evilness?

impyimpyaj

I don't frankly understand why white potatoes aren't considered "paleo." I understand you might not want to have a lot of them if you'er trying to lose weight, but from purely a health and paleo standpoint, I don't get it.

KBGirts

I don't frankly understand why white potatoes aren't considered "paleo." I understand you might not want to have a lot of them if you'er trying to lose weight, but from purely a health and paleo standpoint, I don't get it.

The arguement against white potatoes is that they contain toxins and other compounds.... But I have seen a lot of debate over it and I read that these are in the skin. I don't normally eat the skins when I do eat them. And I certainly don't eat fries. Another thing is the starchy carb load.... but sometimes I need an energy boost for my workouts. I'm not really sure about potatoes, but I do eat them.... sparingly.

NeneThom

I have heard that potato farmers in Idaho won't eat the potatoes they grow for mass market because of the chemicals in them. I eat potatoes occasionally with salt and pepper and sometimes a little flavored vinegar but only organic.

KBGirts

I have heard that potato farmers in Idaho won't eat the potatoes they grow for mass market because of the chemicals in them. I eat potatoes occasionally with salt and pepper and sometimes a little flavored vinegar but only organic.

Interesting.... and scary.

caribougal

I love how Mark's Daily Apple treats these questions.

Rice: It depends.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/is-rice-unhealthy/#axzz21YYUY6mB

White Potatoes: Not if you want to lose weight
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/paleo-potatoes/#axzz21ZhIuese

Beans: It depends
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/beans-legumes-carbs/#axzz21ZhdTV6V

I personally am avoiding all of that, except small doses of sweet potatoes, rarely. Mostly because my weight loss is agonizingly slow.

007bondage

I personally am avoiding all of that, except small doses of sweet potatoes, rarely. Mostly because my weight loss is agonizingly slow.

I'm with you on that. I follow the Paleo for Athlete's guidelines and I do have some sweet potato (that's how we spell potatoes here) and some rice immediately after exercise. The key word for me here is "guidelines"...

lbaileyjohannsen

If I am craving potatoes, I try to eat new or baby ones, because they are less starchy. But, in general I don't cut out any "whole" food that I enjoy, like rice or homemade bread. I like them too much and I have found that I can still lose weight eating them.

chrisdavey

<<<loses weight eating sweet potatoes, white potatoes, rice, beans, ice cream, pop tarts etc. etc. that fit into my macro goals.

Pebble321

Well, you're going to get a different answer from everyone, because we all have our own point of view.

Mine is that no food is good or evil, they are all just food. I'm not a fan of highly processed food-like substances that masquerade as food... but I can't see how the humble potato, eaten in a relatively unprocessed state (i.e. baked with butter and salt, not processed into tater tots) would be a problem as part of a varied diet.

Guess that's why I'm don't follow "paleo" or any other restrictive diet. To be honest, you might get more helpful answers in a paleo forum.

Pilotgirl86

I believe in everything in moderation. In my mind there are "more evil" foods (such as pop, chips, any think from McDisgusting etc), whereas I feel that the potatoes I grow in my garden are definitely way less evil.

I eat within my own health & calorie guidelines, because I understand that it isn't just about calories or fat, but about all around diet. I like rice (although we mostly eat brown) and I see nothing wrong with corn. I'd rather have corn than refined starches such as store bought breads.

We make most of the bread we eat, and I supplement that with crackers/melba toast a bit as snacks, but stay away from white breads, salty crackers etc.

I don't necessarily buy 100% into paleo, but we try to eat naturally as best we can by staying away from refined sugars, processed foods and salts.

bathsheba_c

I don't get the whole paleo thing, but:

Of course potatoes contain toxins. They are part of the nightshade family, along with tomatoes. That's why you don't eat the green part. But most of a potato's nutrition is in the skin, so I'm not clear what the purpose of eating a potato without skin is.

I guess the question is how anti-processing you are. For example, steamed corn on the cob should theoretically be okay, but polenta isn't?

alleycat88

I could follow the paleodiet but I'd have to have my potatoes. I love them boiled and then mash them on my plate. usually with a lot of the skin removed. Not a big rice eater or pasta so having mah taters once a week is fine in my book.

and if you look at the theory behind paleo potatoes should be allowed, especially the homegrown kind. dont know about mass produced ones..

TheVimFuego

I too like the whole idea of eating unprocessed foods closest to their natural state and minimising sugars.

I do, however, like cheese and a few peas occasionally so this is not Paleo. I tolerate them OK so it's all good.

I had some ice cream tonight, not Paleo but very tasty and it fits in with my day nutrition-wise.

Hell, I had takeaway fish and chips last night, it's all about guidelines as another poster mentioned.

I do think the whole 'Is it Paleo?' thing takes away from the key message.

But ...
I do think grains and legumes are inherently bad for me and will avoid them, never mind about the "Can lose weight eating them?" angle, the question is, are they any good for me? I have come to the conclusion that they are not.

tjradd73

I eat em all!! I usually will have rice, pasta, bread, or potatoes with every dinner!! prepacked and all!!! technically a calorie is a calorie...if you want diff "effects" from your food...then watch your protein vs carbs vs fats....simple enough! IMO of course

athensguy

I'd say potatoes are the thing at the supermarket that is most like something a pre-human would have eaten. There were no cows or pigs or chickens in their modern form, so those things are not paleo. Processed food such as chips obviously isn't paleo. Most fruit and veggies are cultivated to a pretty different state than what they would be in nature, so they're not paleo.

lbaileyjohannsen

I'd say potatoes are the thing at the supermarket that is most like something a pre-human would have eaten. There were no cows or pigs or chickens in their modern form, so those things are not paleo. Processed food such as chips obviously isn't paleo. Most fruit and veggies are cultivated to a pretty different state than what they would be in nature, so they're not paleo.

Except most tubers have been cultivated away from their natural states by humans for centuries...the Mayans actually were able to change potatoes from poisonous to edible. Before that, nobody ate them. (potatoes are members of the nightshade family) just goes to show... Nothing we eat is really "paleo" because food is so drastically different.

alleycat88

I'd say potatoes are the thing at the supermarket that is most like something a pre-human would have eaten. There were no cows or pigs or chickens in their modern form, so those things are not paleo. Processed food such as chips obviously isn't paleo. Most fruit and veggies are cultivated to a pretty different state than what they would be in nature, so they're not paleo.

Except most tubers have been cultivated away from their natural states by humans for centuries...the Mayans actually were able to change potatoes from poisonous to edible. Before that, nobody ate them. (potatoes are members of the nightshade family) just goes to show... Nothing we eat is really "paleo" because food is so drastically different.

The mayans were good peeps.

lbaileyjohannsen

I'd say potatoes are the thing at the supermarket that is most like something a pre-human would have eaten. There were no cows or pigs or chickens in their modern form, so those things are not paleo. Processed food such as chips obviously isn't paleo. Most fruit and veggies are cultivated to a pretty different state than what they would be in nature, so they're not paleo.

Except most tubers have been cultivated away from their natural states by humans for centuries...the Mayans actually were able to change potatoes from poisonous to edible. Before that, nobody ate them. (potatoes are members of the nightshade family) just goes to show... Nothing we eat is really "paleo" because food is so drastically different.

The mayans were good peeps.

Totes.

tjradd73

Except most tubers have been cultivated away from their natural states by humans for centuries...the Mayans actually were able to change potatoes from poisonous to edible. Before that, nobody ate them. (potatoes are members of the nightshade family) just goes to show... Nothing we eat is really "paleo" because food is so drastically different.

^^^this is it...NOTHING we it is truly paleo.....well stated

Smuterella

Real paleo would be charred meat and berries right? Tasty.

rml_16

Except most tubers have been cultivated away from their natural states by humans for centuries...the Mayans actually were able to change potatoes from poisonous to edible. Before that, nobody ate them. (potatoes are members of the nightshade family) just goes to show... Nothing we eat is really "paleo" because food is so drastically different.

^^^this is it...NOTHING we it is truly paleo.....well stated

So true. Humans have also been eating wheat, corn and other grains for thousands of years.

As for the "sweet potato (that's how we spell potatoes in the States)" guy -- huh? We spell singular potato and plural potatoes.

sjohnny

Except most tubers have been cultivated away from their natural states by humans for centuries...the Mayans actually were able to change potatoes from poisonous to edible. Before that, nobody ate them. (potatoes are members of the nightshade family) just goes to show... Nothing we eat is really "paleo" because food is so drastically different.

^^^this is it...NOTHING we it is truly paleo.....well stated

I try to eat as much free range mammoth as I can.

sjohnny

Real paleo would be charred meat and berries right? Tasty.

And grubs. Don't forget the grubs.

Loulady

Ditto caribougal - I think Mark's Daily Apple has a pretty level-headed take on these things.

taylor5877

Pre history humans were lucky to make 30...why are we so intent on assuming they had it right?

Acg67

Lol at this thread

Basically every food, other than ones containing moderate to large amounts of synthetic trans fats are not so bad. Only in the silly paleo world do they demonize perfectly healthy foods

odusgolp

You just called potatoes and beans evil. I don't like you.

taso42

Is this a joke? Time to get over this food demonization complex and move on with your life.

doorki

You just called potatoes and beans evil. I don't like you.

But think of the reduction in global warming if everyone stopped eating these gassy foods!!

cannonsky

You just called potatoes and beans evil. I don't like you.

But think of the reduction in global warming if everyone stopped eating these gassy foods!!

by this logic men are more to blame for global warming than women... you know... since we never fart