Are canned vegetables, tuna and instant rice ok to eat?

I'm trying to bulk up so it shouldn't really matter, right? I know that buying fresh is way better but I'm on a tight budget and these options are cheaper and easier. However if these can hinder gaining weight I will stay away from them.
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Replies

  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    They're fine to bulk on, but be careful with large tuna consumption.


    I went way overboard eating a family pack of tuna, 5 days a week, for 6 months. I got the beginning levels of mercury poisoning. If I was superman, it's how I imagine kryptonite would feel.

    Now I'm off seafood for 6 months.
  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    Just don't mix them together because that doesn't make for a happy casserole. Otherwise, these are all fine.

    ETA: I have also had elevated mercury that required medical treatment. Mine was from fresh raw tuna sushi every day.

    Watch the tuna consumption and keep it reasonable.
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    I'm not saying you'll die, I'm just saying get your affairs in order.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    I'm not saying you'll die, I'm just saying get your affairs in order.

    ^ This. Talk to a trusts and estates attorney now.
  • Lmfao! This thread is awesome!!!

    What they all mean, op, is yes, they are all fine to eat regardless of what you are doing. :heart:
  • Some_Watery_Tart
    Some_Watery_Tart Posts: 2,250 Member
    Yes, they're ok. They're not great where flavor is concerned, but they won't kill you. That's pretty much what I ate when I was broke. Throw in a few spoonfuls of cream of chicken, celery or mushroom soup. It tastes better like that.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that since they are all sold at the supermarket you should be okay.

    Just take it easy on the tuna.
  • aqualeo1
    aqualeo1 Posts: 331 Member
    Instant death. Everybody knows that.
  • SbetaK
    SbetaK Posts: 398 Member
    Just don't mix them together because that doesn't make for a happy casserole. Otherwise, these are all fine.

    ETA: I have also had elevated mercury that required medical treatment. Mine was from fresh raw tuna sushi every day.

    Watch the tuna consumption and keep it reasonable.

    Eat wild caught Alaskan salmon. (Shameless plug...)
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    I eat instant brown rice, canned tuna, and frozen veggies(that I thaw and cook/boil) all the time.

    I used to buy canned veggies, but after I found out they add extra sodium to help preserve I switched to frozen. I don't need the extra salt and I can usually find 16oz bags of frozen for $1 each.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    recipe for disaster….
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    I eat instant brown rice, canned tuna, and frozen veggies(that I thaw and cook/boil) all the time.

    I used to buy canned veggies, but after I found out they add extra sodium to help preserve I switched to frozen. I don't need the extra salt and I can usually find 16oz bags of frozen for $1 each.

    wait, they add sodium to canned goods to preserve them….?
  • SbetaK
    SbetaK Posts: 398 Member
    Also google brown rice and arsenic. Moderation.
  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
    Add some canned chicken (because of the whole mercury thing) and some dried beans - which really are easy to learn to cook - and you're golden. Good luck!
  • AsaThorsWoman
    AsaThorsWoman Posts: 2,303 Member
    Love this website.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Also google brown rice and arsenic. Moderation.

    White rice has a lot less mercury so go for white and get your fibre elsewhere.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    Have you been to college? Because that kind of stuff is a LOT of my diet right now. I don't like tuna much but I do eat chicken that comes from a can, instant brown rice, instant mashed potatoes, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soup, occasional instant noodles, etc. Just rinse the canned stuff and pick low sodium options. And moderate as much as possible, of course.
  • They're fine to bulk on, but be careful with large tuna consumption.


    I went way overboard eating a family pack of tuna, 5 days a week, for 6 months. I got the beginning levels of mercury poisoning. If I was superman, it's how I imagine kryptonite would feel.

    Now I'm off seafood for 6 months.
    How'd it feel?
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
    I eat instant brown rice, canned tuna, and frozen veggies(that I thaw and cook/boil) all the time.

    I used to buy canned veggies, but after I found out they add extra sodium to help preserve I switched to frozen. I don't need the extra salt and I can usually find 16oz bags of frozen for $1 each.

    wait, they add sodium to canned goods to preserve them….?

    its all I ate growing up, my parents always had canned everything. I never really thought about it until I started logging and watching my diet. lol
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Unless you have a medical reason for not eating those items then eat in moderation and you'll be fine.
  • rosebette
    rosebette Posts: 1,660 Member
    I'd go easy on the tuna. It's high in mercury. Twice a week is plenty. When I was pregnant with my first child 25 years ago, I ate a tuna sandwich every day at work, thinking tuna was a good protein "brain food." This was before we knew about the mercury. My child has a mild form of autism, and I always wondered years later whether that was the cause.

    I eat frozen vegetables all winter, especially broccoli. There's nothing added to it, it's cheaper than fresh, and convenient to cook. Also, they don't spoil. I think you'd have to eat a lot of brown rice to get arsenic poisoning. Most of the people in my office area vegetaraians who live on the stuff, and they're all pretty healthy.
  • KoopaSix
    KoopaSix Posts: 252 Member
    If they fit your macros/caloric requirements in accordance with your fitness goals then yes. That's a very nice dish.

    MERCURY....SODIUM.....come on guys lets be real here...both are NOTHING to be worried about. All sodium will do is make you hold water...the amount of mercury found in canned tuna has been scientifically debunked. In the year 2014 I'd be surprised if they even found "traces" of mercury.
  • They're fine to bulk on, but be careful with large tuna consumption.


    I went way overboard eating a family pack of tuna, 5 days a week, for 6 months. I got the beginning levels of mercury poisoning. If I was superman, it's how I imagine kryptonite would feel.

    Now I'm off seafood for 6 months.

    http://www.ewg.org/research/tuna-calculator

    The above is a link to a calculator for determining how much tuna you can safely consume a week (based on FDA guidelines). A 190 lbs male can consume safely consume about 3 cans a week.
  • Predat0r1502
    Predat0r1502 Posts: 45 Member
    However if these can hinder gaining weight I will stay away from them.

    Whether something is fresh or not will have no effect on fat loss.
  • If they fit your macros/caloric requirements in accordance with your fitness goals then yes. That's a very nice dish.

    MERCURY....SODIUM.....come on guys lets be real here...both are NOTHING to be worried about. All sodium will do is make you hold water...the amount of mercury found in canned tuna has been scientifically debunked. In the year 2014 I'd be surprised if they even found "traces" of mercury.

    http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/outreach/advice_index.cfm#tuna

    Canned light tuna is lower in mercury. Albacore tuna has higher levels of mercury. Levels of mercury are sufficiently high to warrant
    Government advisories especially for pregnant and nursing women (obviously does not apply to you). You do have to eat a lot of canned tuna to exceed the guidelines. I would suspect you would die of culinary boredom well before mercury poisoning.
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    They're fine! I incorporate canned beans and corn into my salads.
    If you can get fresh and can afford it, by all means go that direction. But don't get worried over the canned stuff. I often opt for lower sodium options as well.

    Fish wise, I can't help with that. The only time you'll catch me eating fish is in sushi, haha. Another option to canned tuna, though! I personally love the eel and avocado roll (with light sauce), and spicy tuna. Calorie dense, fills you up, and you can opt for light or no sauces on top.
  • KoopaSix
    KoopaSix Posts: 252 Member
    If they fit your macros/caloric requirements in accordance with your fitness goals then yes. That's a very nice dish.

    MERCURY....SODIUM.....come on guys lets be real here...both are NOTHING to be worried about. All sodium will do is make you hold water...the amount of mercury found in canned tuna has been scientifically debunked. In the year 2014 I'd be surprised if they even found "traces" of mercury.

    http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/outreach/advice_index.cfm#tuna

    Canned light tuna is lower in mercury. Albacore tuna has higher levels of mercury. Levels of mercury are sufficiently high to warrant
    Government advisories especially for pregnant and nursing women (obviously does not apply to you). You do have to eat a lot of canned tuna to exceed the guidelines. I would suspect you would die of culinary boredom well before mercury poisoning.



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l5D4oQdvWNk

    Cliffs:

    When Mercury binds with selenium, it becomes harmless
    Tuna (and most other fish) have higher levels of selenium than Mercury, meaning the Mercury will bind to the Selenium, and be excreted from the body as a harmless compound
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I prefer frozen veggies to canned- because they are actually 'fresher'- they are flash frozen to preserve the integreal quality vs a canned product that has to be adapated to live in a can.

    But either one is fine.

    Also- a big bag of rice is not more expensive than instant rice- much like instant oats- often times it's cheaper to just buy a big bag of unprepped stuff.

    Great meal when I was broke as a joke
    Beans +rice + little chopped onion- salt and pepper and a dollop of greek yogurt- filling- costs less than 20 bucks and will feed you for days- it's boring- and it's not exciting- but it' fits the bill.


    and eggs- I live off eggs- delicious- and cheap.
  • gymkoala
    gymkoala Posts: 76
    Man you lazy ! in my experience canned veggies taste like **** and are more expensive. if you buy at the street market you can have cheap stuff !!! it takes only a little time to prep and a lot less to cook than frozen
    props to the eggs !!! i eat a ton of them but i buy the free range ones
    for the canned tuna i prefer makerel has no mercury and it's cheaper (at least in my country)
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    If they fit your macros/caloric requirements in accordance with your fitness goals then yes. That's a very nice dish.

    MERCURY....SODIUM.....come on guys lets be real here...both are NOTHING to be worried about. All sodium will do is make you hold water...the amount of mercury found in canned tuna has been scientifically debunked. In the year 2014 I'd be surprised if they even found "traces" of mercury.

    http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/outreach/advice_index.cfm#tuna

    Canned light tuna is lower in mercury. Albacore tuna has higher levels of mercury. Levels of mercury are sufficiently high to warrant
    Government advisories especially for pregnant and nursing women (obviously does not apply to you). You do have to eat a lot of canned tuna to exceed the guidelines. I would suspect you would die of culinary boredom well before mercury poisoning.



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=l5D4oQdvWNk

    Cliffs:

    When Mercury binds with selenium, it becomes harmless
    Tuna (and most other fish) have higher levels of selenium than Mercury, meaning the Mercury will bind to the Selenium, and be excreted from the body as a harmless compound

    If this were true, than why would mercury be traveling up the food chain, with humans ending up with actual verified mercury poisoning after consuming large amounts of tuna?

    I'll trust the FDA vs a YouTube video when it comes to this issue.

    ETA: Lots to read on Medline regarding mercury levels correlating with fish consumption. Here is just one. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24555648