This health and nutrition blog is for those who want to learn fun nutrition tips from an entertaining viewpoint. I'm a registered dietitian having a good time spreading the word about the joys of healthy living! If you are looking for nutrition information, healthy recipes, or just a fun story, Defending Veggies is where it's at! Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Prepackaged Deli Meat...Gross.
Why do people buy this stuff? It comes in a convenient little tupperware thing - I get that. But, its soggy, slimy and more expensive. It's a rip off! Walk over to the deli and get some quality meat for a cheaper price!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
POPTARTS....Really?
I recently got into a somewhat heated argument about Kellogg's Pop-Tarts - a well known pastry advertised as a "breakfast" food. Someone stated that they used too eat Pop-Tarts every morning for breakfast before school! Even worse, they didn't really see a problem with that! The problem is, they are one of millions that eat this food for breakfast!
Here is what is wrong with that.....
Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts (2 pastries)
400 Calories
10g fat
74g carbohydrates (with 34g of that being refined white sugar) = equal to about 8.5 packets of sugar
4g protein
First three ingredients on the label: Enriched Flour, CORN SYRUP, and HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
Not such an awesome breakfast food. But, as a desert, heck yeah!! Pop-Tarts are perfect!!!! Try to stick to just one though:)
Here is what is wrong with that.....
Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts (2 pastries)
400 Calories
10g fat
74g carbohydrates (with 34g of that being refined white sugar) = equal to about 8.5 packets of sugar
4g protein
First three ingredients on the label: Enriched Flour, CORN SYRUP, and HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
Not such an awesome breakfast food. But, as a desert, heck yeah!! Pop-Tarts are perfect!!!! Try to stick to just one though:)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Calorie Counts on Menus
Personally, I don't think it will be effective for many reasons. (Here's a few.)
1) Education is necessary for anyone to even understand the idea of 300 Calories vs. 500 Calories. So, for those that are beginners when it comes to "calorie counting" this system is useless.
2) Some people might be misled. For example, someone might see that a bagel with butter only is 300 Calories and a bagel with turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mustard is 400 Calories. Those that are uneducated when it comes to nutrients the body needs, might think it is "healthier" to eat the 300 Calorie bagel with butter only. But, in reality, one would intake a lot more crucial nutrients like protein and vitamins A, C, D and Calcium from the turkey bagel.
3) Its not just about the calories. Eating "healthy" is about the contents of those calories. It is more important for a food to be nutrient rich as opposed to low-calorie. A nutrient rich meal filled with whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables is hard to come by at most restaurants. So, the calorie count painted across the menu board seems a little wasteful to me.
4) If you are someone like me that doesn't eat out that often, then you don't generally plan on eating that healthy when you do. (For me, that is not what eating out in a restaurant is for.) So, when I go out, I don't want to see that crap on my menu. Let me eat in peace and blissful happiness when I want a huge, greasy hamburger with fries and a beer! For those of you that do like to see the calories, look it up online!!!
1) Education is necessary for anyone to even understand the idea of 300 Calories vs. 500 Calories. So, for those that are beginners when it comes to "calorie counting" this system is useless.
2) Some people might be misled. For example, someone might see that a bagel with butter only is 300 Calories and a bagel with turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mustard is 400 Calories. Those that are uneducated when it comes to nutrients the body needs, might think it is "healthier" to eat the 300 Calorie bagel with butter only. But, in reality, one would intake a lot more crucial nutrients like protein and vitamins A, C, D and Calcium from the turkey bagel.
3) Its not just about the calories. Eating "healthy" is about the contents of those calories. It is more important for a food to be nutrient rich as opposed to low-calorie. A nutrient rich meal filled with whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables is hard to come by at most restaurants. So, the calorie count painted across the menu board seems a little wasteful to me.
4) If you are someone like me that doesn't eat out that often, then you don't generally plan on eating that healthy when you do. (For me, that is not what eating out in a restaurant is for.) So, when I go out, I don't want to see that crap on my menu. Let me eat in peace and blissful happiness when I want a huge, greasy hamburger with fries and a beer! For those of you that do like to see the calories, look it up online!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Food Literacy Project
The Food Literacy Project is an experiential educational program for kids and adults that is ran in partner with Oxmoor Farm in Louisville, KY. It is an AWESOME program where groups can come in and learn all about sustainable farming, nutrition, and much, much more! Check it out at foodliteracyproject.org - link found under Helpful Links.
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