Should I eat this?

Now, that I've started this. I've been eating better and healthier foods. Most of my foods are from B or higher. However, I sometimes find it hard to fill in the extra calories in the day without compeletly going over it.  However, I found the Zone Perfect bars, and they're supposed to be healthy for you and Calorie Count gave them an A. Same thing for a Rice Krispy Treat, which was graded a B.

Are these snacks consider cheating on my diet? Even if I stay within my calories per day?

Personally I think it's not a healthy attitude to treat certain foods as "cheat" foods. It just leads to problems. So you are not "cheating". That being said there are better choices out there for snacks: fruits, veggies, nuts, etc.

UD

Ok, this is the first diet plan I have ever really suck with. The biggest reason is I can still eat things in moderation, as long as they fit in my allotted calories for the day. So, I say eat the protein bar or the rice crispy treat if it fits in your calorie number. (Make sure you are eating the right portion size for the calorie amount given.) This will help you stay away for binge eating junk food. I have been following this program for a month and I do not feel as if I have cheated once. This is because everything I have eaten has been with in my calorie number. Stay strong and do what works best for you.

Best Regards,

Janeen

I agree with Janeen.  I don't think it's helpful to think of any specific food as "good" or "bad".  That said, you try to make healthy choices as often as you can, but it's OK to fulfill a craving or having a treat in a small portion, within your calorie limits.  As she said, that has made this eating plan more successful for me than any "diet" I have ever tried.

Good Luck!

Neva

ZonePerfect Classic Chocolate Mint = 210 calories for a measly 50 gram bar which is 1.8 ounces which is NOTHING! ha ha! The ingredients aren't exactly top notch either...Soy Protein Nuggets (Isolated Soy Protein, Tapioca Starch, Salt), Corn Syrup, Chocolate Flavored Coating (Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel And Palm Oils, Cocoa Powder [Processed With Alkali], Nonfat Milk, Sorbitan Monostearate, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor), Milk Protein Isolate, Cocoa Butter, Oat Fiber, Glycerine, Chocolate Cookie Pieces (Wheat Flour, Cane Juice Crystals, Canola Oil, Cocoa [Processed With Alkali], Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate). Less Than 2% Of The Following: Fructooligosaccharides, Natural Flavors, Corn Syrup Solids, Guar Gum, Soy Lecithin.

*Corn Syrup = Sugar

*Fractionated Palm Kernel & Palm Oils = Trans Fat (yup it's HIDING!)

*And well I could rip to shreds the other ingredients but they are debated on a constant basis so I'll keep my mouth shut! ha ha!

-- So over all... I think these bars are a no go and you should eat some fresh produce... bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, plums, blueberries, strawberries, etc - super delicious and super easy! Plus you know EXACTLY what's in them! ha ha.

Oh boy... should I even get started on rice crispy treats? Oh ok, since you insist!

Plain Rice Crispy Treat = 90 calories per 22 grams which is a measly .77 ounces!!! Ugh, I would have to eat like 50 of those to make me full! And check out these ingredients:TOASTED RICE CEREAL (RICE, SUGAR, SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, MALT FLAVORING, NIACINAMIDE, REDUCED IRON, RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), MARSHMALLOW (CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, GELATIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), FRUCTOSE, MARGARINE (VEGETABLE OIL [SOYBEAN, PALM, AND PALM KERNEL OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS], WATER, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BUTTER FLAVOR [CONTAINS MILK], DATEM, ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDES, BHT [PRESERVATIVE], VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D), CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF DEXTROSE, GLYCERIN, SALT, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), SOY LECITHIN.

*Sugar galore and some other weird stuff! Man I do remember when I used to eat these things though - Oh the days when I was completely clueless! ha ha!

*OH and there is... NO FIBER what-so-ever!

I seriously don't suggest going by the grades here on CC. :/ It would give an A to a can of sugar if it was fortified with 50 vitamins.

I used to fill the extra cals with a protein bar, they come in 150 up to 350 cals per bar, various types and flavours, I get mine in a bodybuilding supplements store. The ones in supermarkets are more like candy than food supplements.

Hey Akirakun,

Congrats on starting to eat better!  I changed the entire way I used to eat about six weeks ago, cutting out all soda, candy, and most white flour/sugars.  I've introduced lots of nuts fresh fruits and vegetables into my daily diet, drink at least 40 oz of H20/day (love the SOBE 0 fruit water), and 16 oz of 1% milk.  I'm a 5'3" male and started out at 180lbs.  I've consistantly dropped weight every week (I only weigh myself once/week- don't have a scale at home, and don't want one), leaving me at 164lbs as of yesterday.   

I know how important it is to exercise, but I have to admit that the only thing I've really been exercising is portion control, and staying within my 1500 calorie range at least 5 days a week.  Once or twice a week I might go over or under 150 calories.  I also make sure that I allow myself a treat a few times a week.  I work in an office, and sometimes someone will bring in donuts...  Instead of depriving myself, I will eat the donut, count it in my calories, and eat well for the rest of the day... 

I've decided that the point of eating well is so that I can enjoy a serving of pizza or french fries on the weekend, perhaps a hard cider or a mixed drink...  In 6 weeks I've never had a daily food analysis lower than a B-, and I've only had about 2 of those.  Even a C or D mixed in throughout a day of A and Bs seems fine in my opinion.  Sometimes I like a bit of cheese in my salad or egg-whites.  I'm also crazy about all of the "no-added sugar" ice cream on the market.  Maybe it doesn't garner an A, but for under 100 calories, it hits the spot...  The overall grade seems to be based more on appropriate distribution of calories (fats, proteins, carbs)...  I digress, I think you should treat yourself to just about anything in moderation, just try and stay away from that trans fat!   

Original Post by cherry_:

I seriously don't suggest going by the grades here on CC. :/ It would give an A to a can of sugar if it was fortified with 50 vitamins.

HAHA!  So true!

Treat yourself.  Reward yourself for doing well.  There should be room for discetionary calories in your diet - use them to eat foods you enjoy.  Just do so in moderation and don't go over your calorie limits.

Rewarding yourself will keep you feeling positive about your goals.  Eating the foods you like will prevent you from binging on them after going for too long without them.  Again, moderation is the key.

These cravings fade.  After time, you'll find yourself craving bad foods less and less.  And, when you eat them, you will start to find them disgusting.  Fatty foods will make you feel lethargic.  Sugary foods will start to taste overly sugary, and truly can't compete with the natural sweetness of fruit.  Also, you can gradually replace these treats with healthier alternatives, that still feel like treats.

Let your body adjust to your new diet by reminding it that you can still eat foods you enjoy.  Over time, you will start to enjoy different, healthier foods.

--J

There's something drasically wrong when those foods are given high marks on any kind of nutritional basis........