One of the things I stress out about at work is blog writing. Blogging seems like a simple thing to do, but when you realize you have readers, the pressure is on. I’m always trying to decide what’s really compelling about nutrition right now, and how I can frame it up to be helpful to you. I also stress about whether I’m blogging enough. I don’t want to spout off about absolutely everything, overwhelming you with constant emails and information. So I try and write when I have something to say. But this end of it stresses me out too.
As we come to the end of 2011, I am pleasantly surprised to realize I have written 58 blogs this year. That’s more than one a week, more than I realized I had written. Topics have ranged from chewing to raw milk to trans fat in our food supply to going vegan to balance and moderation to the truth about sugars and low-calorie sweeteners to raising kids with healthy eating habits to food labels to pantry clean outs. Together, we have covered a lot of territory in the area of nutrition.
As we move into the new year, this is an open invitation to you to tell me what you think of this blog. Is it helpful? Has it had impact in your life? What would you like to hear more of? Less of? I’m intrigued to hear what you think.
Enjoy the holidays!
Watching headlines and what comes into our email inboxes from media sources is a fascinating way to watch trends. I’m amazed right now with all the chatter about sodium. It’s everywhere. It’s the evil nutrient once again.
But what strikes me is why the press and public health officials are obsessed with sodium, when it isn’t the “big issue.” The “big issue” by far is weight. Many people are overweight or obese. Kids carrying too much weight for their ages; adults carrying too much weight for good health.
I wonder if the reason there is so much focus on sodium and not all that much focus on weight is picking on sodium is easier. A finger can be pointed at food manufacturers and restaurants – it’s their fault that we eat too much salt.
But weight is personal. It can lead to uncomfortable discussions. It can make people feel guilty. Talking about overweight kids is even more touchy, as it suggests parents aren’t doing their jobs. We are overfeeding and under-exercising our kids. Every parent wants the best for their kids, and suggesting that we’re doing a poor job of raising them is tricky territory to venture into.
But weight is the “big issue” in our country today. We need to have the discussion. And we need to have it again and again and again. Even if it’s uncomfortable, we have to step up to the plate and talk about it.
Visit www.nuval.com to see a system where the calories per gram of food impacts the food’s score.
When asked, I will admit that I am more of a baker than a cook. The day-to-day drudgery of putting meals on the table gets to me. I have a cabinet filled with cookbooks and look at them periodically for inspiration, but on a typically day I’m scrambling to put dinner on the table. My mother will probably be disappointed as she reads this, because she raised me with the skills to cook. Yes, I know how to cook; I just don’t love to cook.
Which leads me to the topic of today’s blog – processed foods. There is definitely an anti-processed foods movement out in the public these days. In fact, a study done by the International Food Information Council found that 43% of consumers have a negative view of processed foods. Only 18% of consumers viewed processed foods favorably. I find this data fascinating, as I know few households that have no processed foods in them.
But it raises the point of how processed foods are defined. Are frozen strawberries processed because they have been cleaned, de-stemmed and flash frozen? Is marinating a pork loin at home different than purchasing one that has been pre-marinated? All breads are made with flour that has been ground, cleaned and handled, which is mixed with leavenings and salt. This is true whether they are made commercially or at home. So is the store-bought bread processed but the homemade version isn’t?
It is true that some processed foods contribute significant amounts of saturated and trans fat, sodium and sugar to our eating habits. But this isn’t all processed foods.
As a person who doesn’t love to cook, I try and think through a day of using no processed foods. Would I have to make homemade cereals or granola for my son to eat before school every day? Would I bake bread and whole turkeys (slicing and storing the meat) to send sandwiches to school with Jack every day? For dinner, I would prepare the night before and marinade my meat and clean all my vegetables in preparation for the next day?
My point is that it shouldn’t be a discussion about processed vs. not-processed but more about the nutritional value and contributions to healthy eating habits that foods bring. Agreed, frozen pizza isn’t the best choice every day. But a rotisserie chicken and pre-cut stir-fry vegetables with instant brown rice is a solid meal consistent with healthy eating habits despite the fact that these foods might be considered processed. And, as someone who doesn’t love to cook, it helps me get a healthy meal on the table for my family.
Visit www.nuval.com to evaluate the nutrition quality of unprocessed and processed foods.
I know. It’s December. The season of office parties and cookie bakes and holiday cocktails. It is not the time of year that any of us really want to think about losing (or even maintaining) weight. But I’m asking you to, and here’s why.
Come January 1st, we all think about healthy behaviors we want to adopt and changes in our lifestyle we want to make. Of course we do it on that day, after having eating all the cookies we baked, enjoyed all those family meals and holiday parties. But I would contend that starting now, on December 1st will help you in the long run. It will help you avoid overindulging over this next month, and on January 1, you can wake up feeling pretty dang good about yourself.
The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) follows 10,000 individuals who have lost an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for 5.5 years. The NWCR has learned the primary ways these people have kept this weight off:
- 78% eat breakfast every day
- 75% weigh themselves at least one a week
- 62% watch less than 10 hours of television per week
- 90% exercise about an hour a day
- Most continue to follow a low calorie, low fat eating plan
These tips aren’t necessarily just for those who are interested in losing weight, but can work for any of us as we work through the next four weeks of indulgence. Follow these now, and wake up ahead of the resolution game on January 1st, 2012.
Visit www.nuval.com to choose nutritious breakfast foods to eat every day.
