Friends oblivious to nutrition?

Does it ever amaze you how little some people know about nutriton/calories of stuff (especially the ones who think they know stuff)? At lunch today myself and a group of friends had some chips and salsa out and one of them said, "Did you know that chips and salsa are like one of the healthiest snacks you can eat? They are because the salsa is only like 20 calories and 20 calories for like 10 chips." I so wanted to tell her how off she was, but I didn't feel like starting a big discussion about it, so I just blew it off. But it caught me off guard. I guess some people underestimate the amount of calories in stuff to justify eating more of it or not feeling guilty about eating it? Or maybe they just don't have a clue? Anyway, it just caught me off guard and I didn't know if anyone else felt the same way or had a similar experience. What did you do?

Original Post by susiecue:

Some people don't want to know either. 

I think this is key... a lot of people don't want to change their habits, so they'd just rather be oblivious than do anything about it.

The fat in melon remark made me laugh, though. :)

haha, this is so true! 

just yesterday my friend was eating a fiber one bar, and she was saying how good they are but how you have to watch it because 140 calories is a lot. that's a valid argument, although i don't really think 140 is that much. but then she said how teenage girls are supposed to eat around 1000 calories a day, or more like 1200 if they're really active. what the heck??!!! so not true!!!

and yes, i've also heard people say how fattening watermelon is. it made me laugh, although it's sad.

i started to have an argument with a friend last week (then realized how pointless it was) that it is possible to be "healthy" and eat carbs other than fresh fruit and vegetables. (not only that, but you have to to be healthy!) and get this: she doesn't eat any sugar at all (except in fruit), and except for eating eggs she's vegan. this girl lives off of eggs, carrot sticks, soy yogurt, and the occasional apple. and she thinks it's healthy.

also heard two girls talking in the hall about how filling water is. apparently there's no point in eating food when water is so satisfying and so healthy for you. ha. 

blueberry_lips your friend is not vegan. She has an eating disorder and uses Veganism to cover it.

UD

lol i used to be like that! I thought that the nutrition facts were for the whole container, or just as much as you ate (for example, it says a serving of cereal is 120 calories. if i ate 2 servings it would still be 120 calories, and even if i ate the whole box it would only be 120 calories). and I thought drinks had no calories. Now, this is back when I was around 13/14, but to see adults still being this deluded is kind of sad.

Back then I just knew what was "good" and "bad," "healthy" and "unhealthy," and what would make you "fat" or not. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that. Not the complete ignorance to nutrition, but just having the basic idea of 'This is healthy, I should eat it. This is not healthy, I shouldn't eat it as much.' My outlook on food has become too complicated.

Some people don't want to know either. We were having a pot roast that some of us noticed was very salty. So, my dad checks the label and tells us how much sodium per serving. My sister than pipes up with "It's annoying when people read labels out loud" and bitches about me supposedly doing it all the time. (I don't. I read the labels but not out loud. She is really annoyed/aggressive about me eating healthier and makes negative remarks about it whenever she sees the opportunity. She also thinks all the fat in eggs is in the whites.)

that is hillarious. You should tell her to ride the "get a clue" train and let her know that egg whites are basically the most healthy part - the yolks contain all the fat and cholesterol.

Still, eggs in moderation aren't bad. They're actually a good source of protein.

and yes, i've also heard people say how fattening watermelon is. it made me laugh, although it's sad.

Watermelons, like the name implies contain mostly water. If anything, they're high in sugar, but they are also naturally sweet anyway.

WHERE DO THESE PEOPLE GET THESE INSANE MISINFORMED BITS OF INSANITY?

My bf is not all that oblivious to nutrition, he just chooses to live in ignorance.  He eats no vegetables or fruit.  He eats whole potatoes, usually making mashed from them, and if he has a baked potato he doesn't eat the skin.  His diet consists of red meat, pork ribs, lunch meat, white bread, cheese, salt&vinegar chips, crescent rolls, frozen pizzas, tacos, reeses pb cups and soda (MtDew or pepsi).  Sometimes he invites me over for dinner and I bring my own veggies to cook.  He also uses a lot of margarine.

We've talked about nutrition before and I've said, "You know, with all the salt and fat you eat and the lack of fruits and veggies, you're going to drop dead of a heart attack or get hypertension."  He says, "Well I'm healthy now."  He also eats at bizarre times.  And he doesn't eat breakfast.  He had gained weight last winter and spring when he was on co-op so to lose weight he cut out meals.  I told him that was stupid and he said it was working.  *shrug* Can't teach them if they don't want to learn.

Oh and he has commented on the fact that I remain as thin as I am with how much I eat.  He's said, "I don't know why you're so skinny.  You eat a ton more than I do."  I was previously 30 lb heavier and do look significantly different.  More svelte than rubanesque.

Yup, it sure is amazing how little people know about nutrition. A little information is dangerous it seems.

To tell the truth, I didn't know that much or care until my uncle got diabetes.  I still don't nitpick like crazy though.  However, one of my friends (who is overweight, though not as much as she claims), will not eat for 1-2 days (no joke) and then she'll consume a massive Eli's cheesecake, by herself...so...

icecream, your friend has an eating disorder. please encourage her to seek help.

i work in an office where my bosses bring in bagels or donuts a few mornings a week to "keep morale up", last friday there were both. my cubicle-mate came to his desk with a plate of 4 donuts & made the comment whist shoveling them down that he'd actually rather have had a bagel, but he heard they weren't good for you..

haha 20 calories for 10 chips? I wish!! But really, if I had friends that oblivious about food and calories I'd let them stay that oblivious. I wouldn't correct them. I wish I never lost my "food innocence". Somehow life was much better when I didn't care about my body or food.

Original Post by icecream18:

To tell the truth, I didn't know that much or care until my uncle got diabetes.  I still don't nitpick like crazy though.  However, one of my friends (who is overweight, though not as much as she claims), will not eat for 1-2 days (no joke) and then she'll consume a massive Eli's cheesecake, by herself...so...

that sounds like non-purging bulimia. Please talk to her about this. Maybe she doesn't know what is doing is an eating disorder. She needs help.

I had a friend that said she loved mexican food because tortillas only had like 30 or 40 calories. 

I have tried before...she is convinced that she will lose weight by doing this...I think that she breaks even???  She has literally nothing and then makes up for the 6 mixed meals in one sitting...so, I guess she think it will even out??? I don't know, but I think her mother is the same way, so...

ice cream - she is sort of breaking even in terms of calorie counts, but she is damaging her body and her mind enormously by doing so. it is REALLY REALLY harmful for anybody to starve for two days, no matter their weight, and equally harmful to take in so many calories in one sitting.

the emotional effects are equally bad. she has an eating disorder now - i think this would be classified as non-purging bulimia, like an above poster said (binging & fasting), and it will probably get worse unless she gets help - what if she starts purging or using laxatives?

since your friend isn't listening to your concern, i hope you can find a trusted adult to talk to - maybe a teacher or counselor at school? (i'm assuming you're in highschool or college because of your friend's behavior, sorry if i'm wrong). i have an eating disorder - i'm recovering, going backing in to the hospital next week, and believe me i WISH someone had stepped in sooner before it got bad enough for me to seek help on my own.