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Should you be able to pronounce the names of product ingredients?
Replies
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Tacklewasher wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
This is the one I think the stores have caught onto. They've put bulk candy, bacon and all kinds of sweets around the perimeter of some of the stores here. Yes the veggies are there, but the put pop and chips on the end of the aisles so you can grab them on a perimeter run.
Then they put the wine tasting area right in the middle of the store....
The perimeter of our grocery store includes freshly prepared takeout food (mac n cheese, pizza, wings, fried chicken, etc.), bakery (with a large fresh donut case), liquor, butter, chocolate milk and cleaning supplies. The cornerstones of a nutritious diet!7 -
I mean just a quick primer on how to pronounce "chemical-sounding" names.
Chemical names are derived from a collection of descriptive prefixes and suffixes that are often latin or greek derived. Our language is latin/greek derived so much of the pronounciation is the same. The reason chemical names look so strange is in our language latin prefixes are attached to some root where a lot of chemical names are just a bunch of prefixes and suffixes strung together.
So using your examples
ergocalciferol. Ergo-calci-fer-ol. Ergo as in...well...ergo in latin for work. Calci- as in calcium. Fer as in ferrous, as in iron, -ol as in acohol as in an -OH group.
So from the name I can guess this compound has something to do with iron and calcium and probably has an alcohol group and I know how to pronounce it it Ergo-calci-fer-ol...even though i have never seen that name before because I know how to pronounce ergo, calcium, ferrous and alcohol so I just string those together ergo-calci-fer-ol
That is the thing with chemical names, they are actually more descriptive than standard names like Apple. Apple doesn't tell you anything unless you know what an apple is already. But Ergocalciferol tells me whatever it is has something to do with iron calcium and likely has an alcohol group in it. So if i basically just interpreted the name it would be something that works with iron and calcium and is an alcohol (ie it has an -OH group on it somewhere).
cholecalciferol
Chole- as in cholesterol
Calci- as in calcium
fer- as in ferrous
ol as in alchol. So if you can say cholesterol, calcium, ferrous and alcohol you can say chole-calci-fer-ol
nicotinamide riboside
Nicotin- as in nicotine
-amide as in, well, amide...that one is a chemical term
Ribo- as in ribose
-ide is a chemistry suffix to name the negative ion such as chloride (Cl-) or hydroxide (OH-)
So Nicotin-amide Ribos-ide
dihydrogen monoxide
Di- as in the latin for two
Hydrogen, as in hydrogen
Mon- as in the latin for one
Ox - as in oxygen
-ide is a chemistry suffix
So Di-hydrogen Mon-ox-ide
Each of these names tells you something about either what it is made of or what it does.12 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
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I just get frustrated with the culture when the response to seeing a long word you haven't seen before is "I can't pronounce that" instead of "I wonder how you pronounce that". Then it is even worse when it gets to the point that not being able to pronounce something makes you feel like there must be something wrong with that thing and not just that it is simply a gap in your knowledge. Not trying to be judgmental, everyone has gaps in their expertise or experience....just gets to be a problem when you act like that is an issue with the world instead of an issue with you.13
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OT, but stores also place the things people "need" most in the middle of an aisle so they have to walk up and down every aisle to get a few basics.1
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Aaron_K123 wrote: »I just get frustrated with the culture when the response to seeing a long word you haven't seen before is "I can't pronounce that" instead of "I wonder how you pronounce that". Then it is even worse when it gets to the point that not being able to pronounce something makes you feel like there must be something wrong with that thing and not just that it is simply a gap in your knowledge. Not trying to be judgmental, everyone has gaps in their expertise or experience....just gets to be a problem when you act like that is an issue with the world instead of an issue with you.
ITA. And honestly if you sound them out slowly you will end up pronouncing most chemical names right, maybe just get the accent syllable wrong. I'm the type that if I see an ingredient I don't know, after eating the product and determining it's general level of yumminess, I go to google to find out what the ingredient is/does. Life long learning FTW!4 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.9 -
tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
But even if I decide to forgo the pasta sauce with added sugar, I have to go to that aisle anyway to get my canned tomatoes (or my pasta). If I decide to skip the raisin bran with sugar, I'm still going to that aisle to get my steel-cut oats. That's why the rule has never made sense to me.14 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
Our wine/beer aisle is on the perimeter of my grocery store.5 -
janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
But even if I decide to forgo the pasta sauce with added sugar, I have to go to that aisle anyway to get my canned tomatoes (or my pasta). If I decide to skip the raisin bran with sugar, I'm still going to that aisle to get my steel-cut oats. That's why the rule has never made sense to me.
I don't think the rule is NEVER go down those aisles. I've taken it to mean limit your trips down those aisles, or be careful in those aisles.
I'm a firm believer in your can eat almost anything, save those who have true diagnosed medical issues. (I.E. we would be breaking out the Epi-Pen if my wife had shellfish.)
Heck, I ate 6 full sized donuts in the local Tour de Donut bike race. But I was pretty sure I was going to burn the 1800 calories up in the 34 miles of the race, so it was a net zero.
I just don't do that every day, or even every month. But I did check with my Dr. and he said I was good for 6 donuts on that day.
So I just take it as not a NEVER, but rather a beware when you are going down these aisles. The box may suggest that Raisin Bran is "healthy" but do I really need 46g of carbs and 18g of sugar for breakfast? Maybe I would be better off with the oats and adding my own fruit to the bowl.
I'm certainly not Keto at 203g carbs/day, so I'm not suggesting that sort of woo.
Just saying be careful in the center of the store Not everything that says "Healthy" or "High Fiber" or "Natural" on the label is what it says it is.6 -
tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
@janejellyroll already responded to your comment and with a lot of common sense. I will not make an additional comment because I know that I would start a very heated discussion that could derail the original posting.
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The_Enginerd wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
Our wine/beer aisle is on the perimeter of my grocery store.
Seems like a green light to me
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janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
But even if I decide to forgo the pasta sauce with added sugar, I have to go to that aisle anyway to get my canned tomatoes (or my pasta). If I decide to skip the raisin bran with sugar, I'm still going to that aisle to get my steel-cut oats. That's why the rule has never made sense to me.
Because you have self control!3 -
tbright1965 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
But even if I decide to forgo the pasta sauce with added sugar, I have to go to that aisle anyway to get my canned tomatoes (or my pasta). If I decide to skip the raisin bran with sugar, I'm still going to that aisle to get my steel-cut oats. That's why the rule has never made sense to me.
I don't think the rule is NEVER go down those aisles. I've taken it to mean limit your trips down those aisles, or be careful in those aisles.
I'm a firm believer in your can eat almost anything, save those who have true diagnosed medical issues. (I.E. we would be breaking out the Epi-Pen if my wife had shellfish.)
Heck, I ate 6 full sized donuts in the local Tour de Donut bike race. But I was pretty sure I was going to burn the 1800 calories up in the 34 miles of the race, so it was a net zero.
I just don't do that every day, or even every month. But I did check with my Dr. and he said I was good for 6 donuts on that day.
So I just take it as not a NEVER, but rather a beware when you are going down these aisles. The box may suggest that Raisin Bran is "healthy" but do I really need 46g of carbs and 18g of sugar for breakfast? Maybe I would be better off with the oats and adding my own fruit to the bowl.
I'm certainly not Keto at 203g carbs/day, so I'm not suggesting that sort of woo.
Just saying be careful in the center of the store Not everything that says "Healthy" or "High Fiber" or "Natural" on the label is what it says it is.
It would probably be helpful to be careful (I would say "mindful") in all aisles. I mean, produce is generally considered to be key to a healthy diet, but when I'm in the produce aisle in my particular grocery store I also see foods like caramel dip, pre-made mashed potatoes, full-fat salad dressings, and hummus. Nothing wrong with these foods, but they're calorie-dense and it would be ridiculous to say I can be less mindful of that because of the particular location of the store I'm standing in.
Why wouldn't it be a better rule of thumb to be mindful in all aisles instead of just in the middle of the store?5 -
janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
But even if I decide to forgo the pasta sauce with added sugar, I have to go to that aisle anyway to get my canned tomatoes (or my pasta). If I decide to skip the raisin bran with sugar, I'm still going to that aisle to get my steel-cut oats. That's why the rule has never made sense to me.
I don't think the rule is NEVER go down those aisles. I've taken it to mean limit your trips down those aisles, or be careful in those aisles.
I'm a firm believer in your can eat almost anything, save those who have true diagnosed medical issues. (I.E. we would be breaking out the Epi-Pen if my wife had shellfish.)
Heck, I ate 6 full sized donuts in the local Tour de Donut bike race. But I was pretty sure I was going to burn the 1800 calories up in the 34 miles of the race, so it was a net zero.
I just don't do that every day, or even every month. But I did check with my Dr. and he said I was good for 6 donuts on that day.
So I just take it as not a NEVER, but rather a beware when you are going down these aisles. The box may suggest that Raisin Bran is "healthy" but do I really need 46g of carbs and 18g of sugar for breakfast? Maybe I would be better off with the oats and adding my own fruit to the bowl.
I'm certainly not Keto at 203g carbs/day, so I'm not suggesting that sort of woo.
Just saying be careful in the center of the store Not everything that says "Healthy" or "High Fiber" or "Natural" on the label is what it says it is.
It would probably be helpful to be careful (I would say "mindful") in all aisles. I mean, produce is generally considered to be key to a healthy diet, but when I'm in the produce aisle in my particular grocery store I also see foods like caramel dip, pre-made mashed potatoes, full-fat salad dressings, and hummus. Nothing wrong with these foods, but they're calorie-dense and it would be ridiculous to say I can be less mindful of that because of the particular location of the store I'm standing in.
Why wouldn't it be a better rule of thumb to be mindful in all aisles instead of just in the middle of the store?
Oh, I don't disagree. The facts on the ground are as you say. There is all sorts of "danger" in the store.
I would hope that people are not taking the rule that because the caramel apple wrappers are in the perimeter, they are "good to go."
You know, the spirit of the rule sort of thing.
Heck, I'm Libertarian, you do you. That's why I say if what I do helps you, use it. If not, do your own thing.
What works for me is a cart full of fresh meat, poultry, eggs, a bit of dairy, fresh fruits or veggies. Lots of color in the cart. Less stuff in boxes or cans. I'll pick the frozen fajita veggies out of convenience for my omelette. But I'm not going to grab the pre-sauced veggie steamables. But I will get the 100 calorie pre-measured ice cream cups
But that's what, 5% of my 2000 calories/day?
I don't need a bag of corn chips to mindlessly munch in front of the TV or at my desk at home.
It's just a starting point. Really not much different from something like the food pyramid or other visualization tool that starts the conversation or thought process about what the fork we eat.
One will find the bulk of their colorful diet in the perimeter of the store. That doesn't mean there will not be unhealthy things there too, or that they should never sally forth in the center of the market.2 -
tbright1965 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »janejellyroll wrote: »tbright1965 wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
I agree, and I always ask people if they never buy toilet tissue or cleaning products?
In my recent remodeled supermarket, the wine, alcohol and beers are now located on the left side of one of the entrances and very close to the vegetables and fruit stands. There is a lot of traffic in that area, that is for sure!
Well, I mostly adhere to the perimeter rule.
I don't get my tissues and cleaning products at the market. I get those at the warehouse club
At least my intent is to steer myself, and anyone who wishes to emulate what I'm doing, to buy meat, fish, chicken, dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc and steer clear of the meal kits, cereals, and other things that are more processed. I realize all food is processed to a certain extent, unless one is eating it raw. However, do I really need a pasta sauce that has added sugar? Do I really need my Raisin Bran to have sugar as one of the ingredients? Do I really need little chocolate donuts, Twinkies and Doritos? (No, but I don't always say no to them either, just have them much less frequently.)
But I will buy bread, pasta, etc. But I try to fill my cart with fresh proteins and vegetables as much as possible and leave out the potato chips, snack cakes, sugary cereals, and their cousins that often lurk in the middle of the store.
I don't use the rule because I fear chemistry. (Better living through modern chemistry.) I do it because the foods in the middle seem to be more calorie dense and that doesn't work well with T2Dm and limiting my calorie and carb intake as per my dietitian/diabetes coaches guidance and plan for my eating.
As much as I'd love a pack of little chocolate donuts, I'm better off using the same 420 calories (420, coincidence?) having a two or three egg omelette with two slices of center cut bacon, peppers, onions and maybe a banana depending on if my BG was above or below 100 when I woke that morning.
If this works for you, use it. If not, take anything that is worthwhile and leave what isn't.
But even if I decide to forgo the pasta sauce with added sugar, I have to go to that aisle anyway to get my canned tomatoes (or my pasta). If I decide to skip the raisin bran with sugar, I'm still going to that aisle to get my steel-cut oats. That's why the rule has never made sense to me.
I don't think the rule is NEVER go down those aisles. I've taken it to mean limit your trips down those aisles, or be careful in those aisles.
I'm a firm believer in your can eat almost anything, save those who have true diagnosed medical issues. (I.E. we would be breaking out the Epi-Pen if my wife had shellfish.)
Heck, I ate 6 full sized donuts in the local Tour de Donut bike race. But I was pretty sure I was going to burn the 1800 calories up in the 34 miles of the race, so it was a net zero.
I just don't do that every day, or even every month. But I did check with my Dr. and he said I was good for 6 donuts on that day.
So I just take it as not a NEVER, but rather a beware when you are going down these aisles. The box may suggest that Raisin Bran is "healthy" but do I really need 46g of carbs and 18g of sugar for breakfast? Maybe I would be better off with the oats and adding my own fruit to the bowl.
I'm certainly not Keto at 203g carbs/day, so I'm not suggesting that sort of woo.
Just saying be careful in the center of the store Not everything that says "Healthy" or "High Fiber" or "Natural" on the label is what it says it is.
It would probably be helpful to be careful (I would say "mindful") in all aisles. I mean, produce is generally considered to be key to a healthy diet, but when I'm in the produce aisle in my particular grocery store I also see foods like caramel dip, pre-made mashed potatoes, full-fat salad dressings, and hummus. Nothing wrong with these foods, but they're calorie-dense and it would be ridiculous to say I can be less mindful of that because of the particular location of the store I'm standing in.
Why wouldn't it be a better rule of thumb to be mindful in all aisles instead of just in the middle of the store?
Oh, I don't disagree. The facts on the ground are as you say. There is all sorts of "danger" in the store.
I would hope that people are not taking the rule that because the caramel apple wrappers are in the perimeter, they are "good to go."
You know, the spirit of the rule sort of thing.
Heck, I'm Libertarian, you do you. That's why I say if what I do helps you, use it. If not, do your own thing.
What works for me is a cart full of fresh meat, poultry, eggs, a bit of dairy, fresh fruits or veggies. Lots of color in the cart. Less stuff in boxes or cans. I'll pick the frozen fajita veggies out of convenience for my omelette. But I'm not going to grab the pre-sauced veggie steamables. But I will get the 100 calorie pre-measured ice cream cups
But that's what, 5% of my 2000 calories/day?
I don't need a bag of corn chips to mindlessly munch in front of the TV or at my desk at home.
It's just a starting point. Really not much different from something like the food pyramid or other visualization tool that starts the conversation or thought process about what the fork we eat.
One will find the bulk of their colorful diet in the perimeter of the store. That doesn't mean there will not be unhealthy things there too, or that they should never sally forth in the center of the market.
Sounds like you've put some thought into this and come up with an overall balanced diet that focuses primarily on nutrition and satiety without completely restricting foods you enjoy on occasion, and in the context of the rest of the nutrient focused diet. I'm not sure why we wouldn't just encourage more people to do the same, and really consider the benefits and their individual priorities and tradeoffs with what they choose to eat, rather than encouraging people to focus on overly simplistic rules like "only shop on the perimeter of the store" or "don't eat foods where you can't pronounce the ingredients" or "processed foods are bad".
Also what you are describing is how most people here who advocate all things in moderation, or flexible dieting, tend to eat. Well except for me, I eat Hamburger Helper and frozen presauced veggies.9 -
As far as the perimeter rule goes it is basically an oversimplification of saying eat whole foods over processed foods. Honestly, if you can afford to do that then I think it probably is the better way to go. Not because I think processed foods are full of deadly toxins or other such nonsense but just because of their nature they tend to have a very limited ingredient set being full of refined things rather than having the thousands of different ingredients that are found in whole foods and are likely at some level part of your nutrition. Sure, you can get by eating apple jack cereal but if you could instead eat an apple and some whole oats it probably is better for you in the long run.
I just don't go into the hyperbole of the woo-merchants which act like whole foods will make you live forever and processed foods will make you sick and kill you in 10 years. It isn't that big of a difference and I certainly put no judgements on those who choose processed foods especially if it is due to financial reasons.
As for organic, grass-fed blah blah can go that route and make an ethical or personal argument for it, but I don't think there is any nutritional benefit there.8 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »It's almost as dumb as "Only shop on the perimeter of the grocery store".
The perimeter of my local store is produce, deli, bakery (bread, cake), packaged snack cakes (twinkies) and brownies, raw meat, frozen prepared chicken strips and burger patties, lunchables, lunchmeat, cheese, bagels, milk, juice, usually snack food like crackers, chips, cookies or cereal that they want to push, eggs, other dairy products, water, alcohol, cookie dough, bread dough, and again chips and snack food, seasonal baking items, holiday cupcakes or cookies.
Every non-perishable basic ingredient is located on an inner aisle in my store. There are no bulk bins along a wall. Flour, rice, beans, lentils, oatmeal, olive oil, spices, nuts, vinegar, shelf stable milk substitutes, etc are not on the perimeter. It is like this in most every grocery store I have been in. Some stores have a special "health food" section but the perimeter rule would skip most of that stuff too.
I think these rules just confuse people about what is a healthy diet because taken at face value they have nothing to do with meeting your nutritional needs at all. You can't say only eat things you can pronounce or only shop the perimeter of the store and then come back when someone says what about dried lentils or oats and say well, obviously we all understood that I meant just be mindful in the whole store and buy food with less carbs/sugar, salt, food colorings or whatever you particularly think is a bad ingredient. If you want to encourage people to eat a less processed diet why not just say try to eat a mostly whole foods/fresh foods diet? It seems simple enough to fit any food buying situation.3 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »Should you be able to pronounce the names of product ingredients?
Yes adults should be able to pronounce words...learn some damn chemistry already general population, geez.
I always appreciate and chuckle at your occasional bluntness.3 -
Completely off the point, but I often take pleasure mispronouncing words deliberately, when talking to subject experts. It’s a habit I picked up from my Dad, who once asked a Dr for his “hobgoblin count”.14
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