Am I really committing a crime against humanity?

glovepuppet wrote: »

lemurcat2 wrote: »

Processed and ultra processed are not the same. Frozen spinach is processed. Whole grain bread is processed, rolled oats are processed, canned tomatoes are processed, cottage cheese is processed, smoked salmon is processed, boneless, skinless chicken breast is processed.

Ironically, the link defines ultraprocessed as microwavable and ready to eat, so would not include the oh so evil homemade pie.

But again not the topic of this thread.

It's a tangent, true.

Articles tend to oversimplify studies, giving the gist rather than the detail. I think that anything containing off the shelf white flour would probably fall foul.

You are saying that you think consuming white bread or pasta would shorten life, no matter what else you eat? Or occasional pie?

The link you gave (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/eating-more-ultra-processed-foods-may-shorten-life-span) certainly does not support that. If you want to talk about it, please start another thread, as I will not respond further here, it's utterly off topic and not responsive to my comments in this thread (as I've never said OP should consume pie), but I couldn't let that extreme claim just sit there without comment.

Re: the link supposedly about flour -- no, you are taking it out of context. If you read it sensibly it means that overall diet matter and diets that are nutrient dense, full of healthier and less processed sources of fat and protein (and not lots of processed meat), and more fiber, more fruit and veg is better than, basically, the so-called SAD with lots of ultraprocessed food and high cal low nutrient foods with high amounts of added fat and sugar, etc. To take from that that white flour (in the context of, say, a pasta dish with a serving of pasta, lots of veg, some shrimp, some olive oil, and some pinenuts = unhealthy ultraprocessed meal that will give you cancer is kind of wild). One problem a lot of people have is that they focus on specific inputs (X,Y,Z ingredients are inherently bad and must be avoided at all costs) and fail to have a broad understanding of nutrition (which is more about what is in the diet than not).

Re:

glovepuppet wrote: »

And someone said, "I also am curious how avoiding processed food leads to health improvement." so the information seemed appropriate.

Personally, I don't eat flour based foods unless it's a special occasion. I'm not rampantly anti junk, I'm not preaching that you're poisoning your bodies, but I feel it's a reasonable health precaution that people shouldn't be criticised for making.

Again, no one is criticising OP for making any choices. You are totally taking what has been said out of context. My own view is that she said she can't control herself with certain foods or feels bad when she eats them, so of course she shouldn't eat them (although she may want to also work on the all or nothing thing or it will continue to be a problem).

My only comment about "avoiding processed foods" was that getting into it with others about "you know I don't eat processed foods" or "you know processed foods are unhealthy" is needlessly challenging and confusing. People (probably including OP) use the term processed in many different ways (including very weirdly), which was the point (and it's weird to think that just because they are both processed that plain greek yogurt, canned black beans, some tofu, and a bag of sugar all have the same properties and nutritional profile, which is why I said it was wrong to talk about processed foods as if they were all the same, but that was about something YOU said, not OP. OP can avoid whatever foods she wants, whether I personally think they are healthy or not (and I have not really paid attention to what she avoids other than sweets, which I sometimes avoid too, personally, not that it matters).

Again, if you want to talk about studies you think show flour is evil, new thread! I would like to respond more meaningfully, but won't do it in the wrong thread.

The issue here is how OP can best avoid the problems she is having with people supposedly continuing to offer her food she does not want and her unable to avoid temptation (I think that's what she said).

OP, see, it's way easier if you just say "no thanks" about the food and don't try to explain that processed foods are evil or what not, and will be way less confusing for people. Others offering you food should not be a tempting thing if you are solid in your reasons for what you choose and don't choose to eat. ;-)

lemurcat2 wrote: »

Processed and ultra processed are not the same. Frozen spinach is processed. Whole grain bread is processed, rolled oats are processed, canned tomatoes are processed, cottage cheese is processed, smoked salmon is processed, boneless, skinless chicken breast is processed.

Ironically, the link defines ultraprocessed as microwavable and ready to eat, so would not include the oh so evil homemade pie.

But again not the topic of this thread.

While you are correct that processed and ultra processed are not the same, everyone I know IRL, along with most new posters on MFP, say "processed" when they mean "ultra processed".

kshama2001 wrote: »

sam33a wrote: »

rheddmobile wrote: »

Your parents sound similar to my mother - huge portions (my husband was shocked the first time he ate at their house), and socializes mainly through food. It doesn’t make life easy. I’m a type 2 diabetic so I have health reasons for not wanting to eat crap. And before I get a bunch of woos for “demonizing foods” I define crap as food that spikes my blood glucose. It may be fine for someone. It’s not fine for me. You don’t have to bend to the woo-givers. If you don’t want to eat certain foods, it is no one else’s business to force you to eat them, moderately, or otherwise.

Some remarks I have had to deal with: “So-and-so is diabetic and she eats all these things. She just takes more insulin.” (That’s not an option for me. My diabetes is controlled through diet and exercise. I don’t have a prescription for insulin. Also, So-and-So is literally dead now, from complications of diabetes.) “It’s your birthday, you can have high blood sugar for one day, it won’t kill you.” (Probably not - although if it’s high enough it might - but having very high blood sugar doesn’t feel nice. It’s my birthday. I don’t want to spend it feeling ill.)

My solution took a while, but I finally got the hang of it. I grew the heck up and stopped relating to my mom as a child. That means I don’t pretend to be polite and I don’t make excuses and I don’t let myself be bullied. No, “thanks for the cake, it looks delicious,” I just put it right into the trash. No going out to restaurants without diabetic friendly options, instead I say “If you’re going there I can’t come, would you rather go here or shall we do something another time?” I no longer eat at her house except on major holidays when I bring enough of my own food to get by. When the discussion turns to critiquing my eating habits and comments such as “You can’t keep this up,” or, “It sounds sad to live like that,” I say, “This is a decision I am making, I prefer my food and enjoy it, and being healthy means I am much happier today than when I was morbidly obese.” Then change the subject.

In order to maintain a relationship with my mother, I have made an effort to do new things with her that don’t involve food, such as seeing movies. We took a road trip to see the house where she grew up. We talk a lot on the phone instead of sitting at restaurants. I went with her to a dance contest and a horse show. It took a while, but I believe our relationship is actually bettter than it was when all we did was eat. And lately instead of insulting me she has been bragging about me and complimenting me.

Stand your ground. It will (probably) get better. But even if it doesn’t if you don’t eat the food they are trying to force on you, you will be happier and healthier.

Throwing out food on purpose when there are starving people out there? Disgusting. Couldn't you just have said no, I won't eating it and I'm not taking it? People are pathetic. I think people are just far too easily offended nowadays.

Sounds to me like he started off being polite but it wasn't until he started employing strategies like putting the unwanted food in the trash that his mother got the message.

Look, I agree that food waste is a huge problem in this country, but so is obesity. I see nothing wrong with his short-term solution.

Personally, I compost and do other things to avoid food waste, but I respect people here with the attitude "I throw it in the trash; my body is not a garbage disposal."

...and like often happens in these forums, this thread has gone off the rails.


I tend to agree that some people will not stop and that the easier softer way may be to take some of the food, and throw it out later. I haven't tried that, but I haven't had to. "No thanks," means no way in my world.

In First World countries, if someone is going hungry my piece of cake in the garbage isn't going to make a difference to that person. I give money to Food Banks, my conscience would be clear. Cake isn't really nutritious food anyway. Nice try sam33a, not buying into your rant.

sam33a wrote: »

rheddmobile wrote: »

Your parents sound similar to my mother - huge portions (my husband was shocked the first time he ate at their house), and socializes mainly through food. It doesn’t make life easy. I’m a type 2 diabetic so I have health reasons for not wanting to eat crap. And before I get a bunch of woos for “demonizing foods” I define crap as food that spikes my blood glucose. It may be fine for someone. It’s not fine for me. You don’t have to bend to the woo-givers. If you don’t want to eat certain foods, it is no one else’s business to force you to eat them, moderately, or otherwise.

Some remarks I have had to deal with: “So-and-so is diabetic and she eats all these things. She just takes more insulin.” (That’s not an option for me. My diabetes is controlled through diet and exercise. I don’t have a prescription for insulin. Also, So-and-So is literally dead now, from complications of diabetes.) “It’s your birthday, you can have high blood sugar for one day, it won’t kill you.” (Probably not - although if it’s high enough it might - but having very high blood sugar doesn’t feel nice. It’s my birthday. I don’t want to spend it feeling ill.)

My solution took a while, but I finally got the hang of it. I grew the heck up and stopped relating to my mom as a child. That means I don’t pretend to be polite and I don’t make excuses and I don’t let myself be bullied. No, “thanks for the cake, it looks delicious,” I just put it right into the trash. No going out to restaurants without diabetic friendly options, instead I say “If you’re going there I can’t come, would you rather go here or shall we do something another time?” I no longer eat at her house except on major holidays when I bring enough of my own food to get by. When the discussion turns to critiquing my eating habits and comments such as “You can’t keep this up,” or, “It sounds sad to live like that,” I say, “This is a decision I am making, I prefer my food and enjoy it, and being healthy means I am much happier today than when I was morbidly obese.” Then change the subject.

In order to maintain a relationship with my mother, I have made an effort to do new things with her that don’t involve food, such as seeing movies. We took a road trip to see the house where she grew up. We talk a lot on the phone instead of sitting at restaurants. I went with her to a dance contest and a horse show. It took a while, but I believe our relationship is actually bettter than it was when all we did was eat. And lately instead of insulting me she has been bragging about me and complimenting me.

Stand your ground. It will (probably) get better. But even if it doesn’t if you don’t eat the food they are trying to force on you, you will be happier and healthier.

Throwing out food on purpose when there are starving people out there? Disgusting. Couldn't you just have said no, I won't eating it and I'm not taking it? People are pathetic. I think people are just far too easily offended nowadays.

Would you have given the food you didn't eat to said starving people? Would the parents and/or other people offering the food have given it to starving people? If the answer to those questions is no, then why would throwing away the food be bad?

lemurcat2 wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

lemurcat2 wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

lemurcat2 wrote: »

Processed and ultra processed are not the same. Frozen spinach is processed. Whole grain bread is processed, rolled oats are processed, canned tomatoes are processed, cottage cheese is processed, smoked salmon is processed, boneless, skinless chicken breast is processed.

Ironically, the link defines ultraprocessed as microwavable and ready to eat, so would not include the oh so evil homemade pie.

But again not the topic of this thread.

While you are correct that processed and ultra processed are not the same, everyone I know IRL, along with most new posters on MFP, say "processed" when they mean "ultra processed".

If you go back, that was kind of my point. As I understood it, OP was mad that someone thought a homemade pie was not processed and offered it to her when she had told them she doesn't eat processed foods. I pointed out that people use processed in different ways, so you have to realize they might not know you consider a homemade pie processed (even though I think it obviously is). Then some other poster (not OP) commented that it was reasonable to consider a pie processed, and I said I totally agree, it obviously is, but people use the term in different ways so expecting others to know what you mean by the term is hopeless. Then the other poster--who had expressed a definition of processed that is identical to my own (and different from ultraprocessed) posted a link re specific types of ultraprocessed foods to support a claim that all processed foods are supposedly bad and unhealthy. That's when I pointed out that the link was not referring to all processed foods as the poster had defined them. So please don't suggest that I was misunderstanding the poster's usage.

I should stop responding to this tangent, but you seemed to be misunderstanding the context and assuming the other poster did not share my definition of processed. IMO, the post about the evils of processed foods was off-topic and I was trying to bring it back to the focus on it being an issue of communication.

To add to that, focusing on processed or ultraprocessed or whatnot as categories is kind of hopeless since no one agrees on what they mean and they are so varied. Easier to just to tell people what you eat and don't using other terms or, as I said before, just say "no thanks" and don't assume anyone else will remember anything.

And again, you may think it's obvious that people mean ultraprocessed when they say processed, but that clearly was not the case with the poster I was responding to, and personally I was on a "nothing processed" kick myself for a period of time before I was on MFP, and I absolutely meant processed (however impossible that is) vs. ultraprocessed and avoided things like canned beans and canned tomatoes, among other things, and basically made my life difficult. That's why I think it is important to try to understand what people mean by the term and not to assume they mean whatever you think is colloquially meant. Even with "ultraprocessed" people have quite different understandings of what that means.

But we should probably be careful not to take this off-topic, as what processed/ultraprocessed is doesn't matter. OP can not eat whatever she prefers to not eat, that's the main point.

The OP clarified on page 3 "The pie I was referring to was shop bought, it was not homemade"

So that's the only thing you are going to respond to in my post?

But okay, so maybe someone thought a bakery pie made from whole ingredients was not processed?

My point is not to defend the usage, you know my own understanding of "processed" is a broad one (you just took me to task for that), but to point out that OBVIOUSLY people have different understandings of processed (I am amazed by how many people think protein powder is unprocessed), so getting mad that someone did not GET your own meaning and then complaining about that on the internet is rather hopeless. I'd say accept that lots of people think "processed" means "bad junk with lots of fishy additives" (as I said way upthread) and so will defend foods they think don't fit that category. (I think many of the so called fishy additives really are more about not being able to understand the terms on the label, but I also think packaged baked goods are rarely good and I'd not eat some mass produced store bought pie because I'm a snob and reserve my pie calories for only the best pies. I might well eat a piece from a good bakery, thinking it was basically like a homemade one. In that OP is in the UK, I think, I have no clue what the pie she is talking about might be like.

That aside, as I understand it, the REAL reason she's not eating the pie has 0 to do with it being processed or not, and all to do with her having issues with dessert-type foods (including not feeling good after she eats them). So why even introduce the "processed" thing unless to try to tell the person the food is obviously unfit for consumption by anyone? Or just to make things more confusing?

Instead: "No thank you!"

Maybe: "No thanks, I tend to feel bad after eating baked goods lately, so I'm taking a break." <--- only if you really don't feel comfortable just saying "no thanks" or "way too full after everything else I ate!" is another option.

Easy-peasy.

I was respecting what I thought was your desire to not take the thread off tangent

Plus, I am trying to leave the house.

But you make a good point above, which is indeed on topic - people do have different understandings of "processed" so it's best to just say "No thank you" or "No thanks, I tend to feel bad after eating baked goods lately, so I'm taking a break" rather than getting into it.

aokoye wrote: »

sam33a wrote: »

rheddmobile wrote: »

Your parents sound similar to my mother - huge portions (my husband was shocked the first time he ate at their house), and socializes mainly through food. It doesn’t make life easy. I’m a type 2 diabetic so I have health reasons for not wanting to eat crap. And before I get a bunch of woos for “demonizing foods” I define crap as food that spikes my blood glucose. It may be fine for someone. It’s not fine for me. You don’t have to bend to the woo-givers. If you don’t want to eat certain foods, it is no one else’s business to force you to eat them, moderately, or otherwise.

Some remarks I have had to deal with: “So-and-so is diabetic and she eats all these things. She just takes more insulin.” (That’s not an option for me. My diabetes is controlled through diet and exercise. I don’t have a prescription for insulin. Also, So-and-So is literally dead now, from complications of diabetes.) “It’s your birthday, you can have high blood sugar for one day, it won’t kill you.” (Probably not - although if it’s high enough it might - but having very high blood sugar doesn’t feel nice. It’s my birthday. I don’t want to spend it feeling ill.)

My solution took a while, but I finally got the hang of it. I grew the heck up and stopped relating to my mom as a child. That means I don’t pretend to be polite and I don’t make excuses and I don’t let myself be bullied. No, “thanks for the cake, it looks delicious,” I just put it right into the trash. No going out to restaurants without diabetic friendly options, instead I say “If you’re going there I can’t come, would you rather go here or shall we do something another time?” I no longer eat at her house except on major holidays when I bring enough of my own food to get by. When the discussion turns to critiquing my eating habits and comments such as “You can’t keep this up,” or, “It sounds sad to live like that,” I say, “This is a decision I am making, I prefer my food and enjoy it, and being healthy means I am much happier today than when I was morbidly obese.” Then change the subject.

In order to maintain a relationship with my mother, I have made an effort to do new things with her that don’t involve food, such as seeing movies. We took a road trip to see the house where she grew up. We talk a lot on the phone instead of sitting at restaurants. I went with her to a dance contest and a horse show. It took a while, but I believe our relationship is actually bettter than it was when all we did was eat. And lately instead of insulting me she has been bragging about me and complimenting me.

Stand your ground. It will (probably) get better. But even if it doesn’t if you don’t eat the food they are trying to force on you, you will be happier and healthier.

Throwing out food on purpose when there are starving people out there? Disgusting. Couldn't you just have said no, I won't eating it and I'm not taking it? People are pathetic. I think people are just far too easily offended nowadays.

Would you have given the food you didn't eat to said starving people? Would the parents and/or other people offering the food have given it to starving people? If the answer to those questions is no, then why would throwing away the food be bad?

This reminds me of my mom getting me to eat stuff I hated when I was a kid. "Don't you know that there are starving kids in the world?" Always wanted to say, "Well, then mail this to them!" but I knew I would've gotten a smack or ten for that.

ythannah wrote: »

Perhaps OP simply lacks the vocabulary to adequately differentiate those groups of foods she wishes to avoid for successful (for her) weight loss.

It's quite common on these forums to get jumped on for using terms like "junk food" or "unhealthy" food -- there is no "unhealthy" food blah blah -- yet I'm fairly certain we all have an equally common understanding of what sort of food is encompassed by those terms. And we'd all probably agree that higher-calorie, lower-nutrition foods should probably be the first things to eat less of on a calorie controlled diet.

I agree that to avoid a battle of semantics the OP should just politely refuse with a simple "no thank you" and not justify her choice by explaining it, since it's the explanation that is proving contentious.

This is a good point.

I dont think of foods as 'good or bad', or 'naughty' (which is my pet peeve), but I will say that I have eaten 'badly' since Thursday this week.

So why would I use a word like that to describe my intake? Because Ive eaten things that have made me feel physically 'bad'. Tired, lethargic, my joints are inflamed, Im headachy. I notice that I react fairly badly to bready things, pastry things, I overeat on them, find it difficult to control myself, then I feel ill, then I want some more. So from a buffet lunch on Thursday when I went mad with sausage rolls (marks and spencer, irresistible), Ive eaten similar in the days following. Ive gone over my calorie allowance but that doesnt make it 'bad' for me, its the fact that I feel sleepy, hungry, tired, heavy the whole thing. However those foods arent 'bad' foods, they're just foods, but that they are not good for me personally.

So Im not sure it matters what OP means by 'unhealthy' or bad or processed or junk or whatever, she knows what it means for her and thats whats important.

Personally I use the term junk food and consider it pretty neutral and know what I mean by it, but I don't assume others would know what I meant and I see no value in calling out what someone else is eating and I am not as "junk."

For me, eating badly is eating in a way that does not match my personal nutrition goals or exceeds my cals. It's 100% my responsibility and no one else's (and okay once in a while for me).

Again, I don't think people are criticizing OP's vocabulary, but pointing out that if you use vague terms you can't expect everyone get exactly what you mean.

Re the little tangent of not throwing out food because people are starving somewhere else.

My husband, who is over weight, has this thing about eating all the food on his plate, eating the last peice of cake etc so it doesnt get wasted because when he was a child they were hammered with this Eat it all, think of starving children in Africa/India/China/Somewhere

Although rationally, whether he eats the above or throws it out or gives it to the dog make zero difference to anyone else in the world.

If he wanted to do something planned, like not buy packets of biscuits or make some other cost saving change to his diet and donate that money to Savethechildren or similar, that would make sense.

Just not eating or not eating random excess food does not.

as does having a dog

NovusDies wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

lemurcat2 wrote: »

Processed and ultra processed are not the same. Frozen spinach is processed. Whole grain bread is processed, rolled oats are processed, canned tomatoes are processed, cottage cheese is processed, smoked salmon is processed, boneless, skinless chicken breast is processed.

Ironically, the link defines ultraprocessed as microwavable and ready to eat, so would not include the oh so evil homemade pie.

But again not the topic of this thread.

While you are correct that processed and ultra processed are not the same, everyone I know IRL, along with most new posters on MFP, say "processed" when they mean "ultra processed".

This is the first I time I remember seeing the term ultra processed used. The subject was confusing as it was so adding this layer just makes my head hurt.

Is that like, the super saiyan version of processed?



ULTRA PROCESSEDDDDDDDD IT'S OVER 9000 CALORIESSSSSSS

Hmm I hope this doesn't come off rude or insensitive but unless your under 18 then honestly you are responsible for you. So if you are wanting to have a healthy life then cut anything and anyone who isn't supporting that. I know that seems rather rough and but as someone who is embarking an alternative lifestyle and moving back down in weight, I don't seek support as it's fickle. I really believe society pushes the unhealthy due to addiction mind and its away of escape. When you become better you then alter their reality and people will do anything to ensure that doesn't happen.

Focus on your goals and be very grounded in not needing people for support as support is a foreign concept to me and can cause a hindrance as everything you need is within.