Clean Eating Club ~ February 2009

What is everyone's take on coffee? Healthy or not?

I've really been wondering about this... I used to drink 2 cups every morning but I thought I should give it up and see if it helped with a sleep disorder I have. It didn't really seem to make a difference but I did notice that my skin felt much softer (probably from drinking more water/ tea instead of coffee!) and I felt more natural -- like, actually awake when I was awake, and sleepy when I was tired, instead of the unnatural caffeine high/crash.

I stayed off of it for a month but I read that it's actually good for you and has antioxidants and can fend off diseases. Plus I missed it -- mostly the pscyhological comfort of that warm cup of coffee sitting by my desk as I worked -- so I started drinking it, some, again. Now I have maybe a cup a day, sometimes not at all. I like to drink it with the Coffeemate creamer and I know *that* has to be a no-no as it is basically all sugar.

So I'm thinking I should go back off of it and no coffee/ strong caffeine just seems to fit a healthy/ clean lifestyle better. What do you guys think?

Why did you give up coffee, havingitall? The caffeine?

Havingitall- that's interesting, I am going to have to check out that book. I really do feel like a healthy lifestyle does not include coffee, but I'm not sure why!

Welcome ldsupergirl. I just joined too!

Thanks. I'm looking at it on Amazon and it says to cut out meat for 8 weeks first. I don't think I could do that -- I love me some chicken!!! Does it mean just red meat?

LMR, you had a really healthy day yesterday! That's what I'm aiming for. Keep it up!

Thanks! It was a good day for me - I felt great. Not everyday is that good, but that's what I'm shooting for. And, I weighed myself this morning and I was down another 2 pounds! I'm so excited and motivated right now...I just hope it keeps up! Here's to us!! :flowerforyou:

I used to list it every day but I figured since I eat pretty much the same thing I wouldn't list it all out. I don't usually eat a morning snack because it fills me up, it just depends on when I eat breakfast.

My favorite oatmeal:
1/2 c. old fashioned oatmeal (150)
1/4 c. Fiber One cereal (30) <cook the oatmeal & cereal w/ 1 1/4 c. water in micro for 2 min, make sure it doesn't boil over>
Add: 1 T. NM PB (85), 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder (60), 1 T. flax (30), 1 T. wheat germ (25),
1/2 c. cottage cheese (80)

460 cals/ 62g carb/ 18g fiber/ 16g fat/ 32g protein

So yes, a bigger breakfast but it's usually after a workout and it keeps me going all day long! When I don't eat it, I can tell a big difference. I just can't start my day off w/ 200 cals or I'll *bonk*. I tried doing only egg whites and no carbs for breakfast and I passed out! Literally, passed out in my kitchen. :sick: Anyway, it works for me! :bigsmile:

Yes, you've listed it several times. I just never noticed the calorie total before! Wow, never heard of anyone literally passing out from not eating enough, unless they were anorexic. No wonder you make sure to feed yourself well. I think the low carb idea is bad news, especially in the morning. Peanut butter and chocolate - yum. Wow, that's one packed bowl of oatmeal. It gives me some ideas, but I'm always afraid that if I eat too big a breakfast, I won't have enough calories left later in the day, when I'm usually the most hungry. So I try to spread my meals out pretty evenly.

I think I'm going to stop trying to be a perfect clean eater -- or a perfect anything, for the matter (perfectly lean, perfectly strong, etc.) -- and just eat when I'm hungry, as long as it's good food in reasonable amounts!

You say that eating low carb, especially in the morning is bad news????

You obviously know nothing about low carb lifestyle...............

On a low carb board I belong to, we have a clean eating club over there and much of what everyone here is eating, we are eating over there too..............

Clean eating (mostly coming from natual, unprocessed sources) is pretty low carb..............

I used to list it every day but I figured since I eat pretty much the same thing I wouldn't list it all out. I don't usually eat a morning snack because it fills me up, it just depends on when I eat breakfast.

My favorite oatmeal:
1/2 c. old fashioned oatmeal (150)
1/4 c. Fiber One cereal (30) <cook the oatmeal & cereal w/ 1 1/4 c. water in micro for 2 min, make sure it doesn't boil over>
Add: 1 T. NM PB (85), 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder (60), 1 T. flax (30), 1 T. wheat germ (25),
1/2 c. cottage cheese (80)

460 cals/ 62g carb/ 18g fiber/ 16g fat/ 32g protein

So yes, a bigger breakfast but it's usually after a workout and it keeps me going all day long! When I don't eat it, I can tell a big difference. I just can't start my day off w/ 200 cals or I'll *bonk*. I tried doing only egg whites and no carbs for breakfast and I passed out! Literally, passed out in my kitchen. :sick: Anyway, it works for me! :bigsmile:

Yes, you've listed it several times. I just never noticed the calorie total before! Wow, never heard of anyone literally passing out from not eating enough, unless they were anorexic. No wonder you make sure to feed yourself well. I think the low carb idea is bad news, especially in the morning. Peanut butter and chocolate - yum. Wow, that's one packed bowl of oatmeal. It gives me some ideas, but I'm always afraid that if I eat too big a breakfast, I won't have enough calories left later in the day, when I'm usually the most hungry. So I try to spread my meals out pretty evenly.

I think I'm going to stop trying to be a perfect clean eater -- or a perfect anything, for the matter (perfectly lean, perfectly strong, etc.) -- and just eat when I'm hungry, as long as it's good food in reasonable amounts!

You say that eating low carb, especially in the morning is bad news????

You obviously know nothing about low carb lifestyle...............

On a low carb board I belong to, we have a clean eating club over there and much of what everyone here is eating, we are eating over there too..............

Clean eating (mostly coming from natual, unprocessed sources) is pretty low carb..............

I believe that I said for ME, low-carb first thing in the morning is bad news. I will pass out. To each their own. I do think clean eating is lower carb than the typical American diet because it limits the white flours & sugars. If you can start your day out with only egg whites and feel great, then good for you!

I'm beginning to realize I am not smart about this clean eating stuff at all. What about lunchmeat, like sliced turkey breast? I usually eat this for lunch when I have time to make/ bring it -- on 100% whole wheat bread, with one Kraft cheese slice and some toppings like lettuce, tomatos, onion. And fat free ranch dressing.

The lunchmeat in this sandwich is probably processed and full of sodium and not the healthiest thing for me to be eating, right? Same as for the Kraft cheese slice? What is a good alternative? Should I cook real turkey at home and use that for sandwiches? Is there any "convenient"/ fast lunch meat for sandwiches that is healthy to eat?

I do eat lunchmeat on occasion, it is higher in sodium. I'm sure it would be better to cook your own turkey and chicken for sandwiches. Also, I like the tuna packed in water for a sandwich. I use a little balsamic instead of mayo (just because I hate mayo!) and some boiled egg whites. Yummy!
I also stay away from bottled salad dressing, but most of it has HFCS or MSG which I avoid. It's all in finding what works for you, don't feel like you must have every meal *perfect*. Just make better choices when you can!

Thanks jess. I use a light vinagrette salad dressing that has no artificial preservatives. So that with tuna is a great idea for lunch sandwiches. Also chicken and turkey when I have time to make them!

I use EVOO and basalmic vinagrette for salad dressing - even my 4-year old loves this.

I also avoid processed lunch meat. I usually make stews in the crockpot and freeze in batches to bring to work. If you want "clean" lunch meat - you can bake a whole organic chicken or turkey on the weekend, slice and freeze some and put some in baggies to use for the week. (Then keep the bird carcass to make broth in the crockpot.)

Pre-workout:
Banana (105)
1/2 c. Kashi GoLean (70) = 175

Then made 4 dozen cupcakes (not clean eating!) for my dd's school party. (no licking the batter either! )

Breakfast:
1/2 c. multi grain hot cereal (130)
1/4 c. Fiber one (30)
1/2 scoop choc. protein powder (60)
1 T. NM PB (85), 1 T. flax (30)
1/2 c. cottage cheese (80) = 415

Okay, good to see I'm not the only one eating turkey lunchmeat. But I do look forward to trying the real thing... last night I asked my boyfriend to help me roast a turkey this weekend. (HE is the cook in our relationship LOL).

jess, that's some willpower not to lick the cupcake batter!!! I would have crumbled.

I don't have kids but my boyfriend is good at that ha ha, also my dogs like to lick up anything that falls on the floor... they're great vacuum cleaners.

Wow Molly that sounds like a lot of work... I will have to get better at cooking, and find the time to make the turkey and chicken. I also have to buy a crockpot! It really sounds daunting to me... I work a lot and I have been so proud to squeeze in workouts almost every day... I don't know what I'll take out to fit in cooking healthy foods. But my diet has become a priority too so I will just have to find a way to do it. I guess part of my problem is that I'm so busy I have just been grabbing whatever, and now I have to stop and pay more attention and prepare.

What is EVOO?

EVOO is extra virgin olive oil - it's just easier to use acronyms than to spell it out all the time, lol.

The crockpot is the BEST timesaver - EVER, hands down! Take from me as a FT working mother of three kiddos (4 if you count hubby). CP are not expensive - I got mine from costco for $40 and it is NICE. You can find them at thrift stores for cheaper. The best thing is you can throw just about anything in there, make your own soups, stews - whatever - and you have total control over sodium, etc. The night before I'll throw in a bunch of stuff, start it before leaving for work, and ta-da - dinner is ready when we get home.

As for baking turkey/chicken - just cover it with EVOO and aluminum foil, bake 20 minutes per pound on the weekend and you will have enough meat for lunches and soups for a long time. I do this maybe once a month. After you rip off the meat you want - put the carcass in the CP, fill with water and crock it for 6-8 hours, strain the water and toss the carcass, and pour the broth into a plastic baggie and let it sit for 10 minutes. You should see the fat rise to the top. Snip the bottom corner of the bag and drain the broth into a container, stopping when you get to the fat layer - toss the fat and you have your broth. You can put it back in the crockpot and make soup or freeze it for later use.