Healthy food

I have been taken kioslim for a few days. Right now I am learning which food can mit considered as healthy food because I want to change my eating habits. Therefore I was wondering how healthy meals look like. I mean what do you usually have for breakfast and what do you eat for lunch an dinner?

Healthy foods are whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean meats like chicken and fish.  O.K.-That's the generic answer.  That being said, I feel a healthy diet needs to fit your lifestyle and likes.  So, for breakfast, try to have whole grain such as Kashi cereals, wheat bread or muffins of some sort and fruit.  You could also make an Egg beaters omlet with lots of your favorite veggies. 

For me, lunch is usually a good sized salad  or turkey sandwich or wrap on whole wheat with lots of veggies and a serving of pretzels or fruit....

See what I mean-incorporate the foods you like and try to keep to the healthy stuff!

i'd like to think i eat relatively healthy...

for breakfast it's either:  morningstar soy sausage patty, slice of 2% cheese, whole wheat mini bagel (250 cals, lots of protein) or 2 packets of instant oatmeal with raisins and fruit or oj

lunch.... varies.... i try to make meals and bring leftovers.... minestrone soup, tomato basil soup, salad, vegetarian chili (bought or made, usually i just make it), peanut butter and jelly on a whole wheat, amy's frozen burrito, brown rice with veggies and beans.....

dinner.... vegetarian soy chicken patty, burger, ribs, hot dogs, anything that they make "imitation" with veggies and probably cheese.  i might make a veggie burger with a side of baked sweet potato fries, i might have "ribs" with potatos and mixed vegetables... i might make whole grain pasta with mixed steamed veggies in pesto sauce.... or i might just have "chicken" with spinach and cheese....

for snacks i like apples with peanut butter or celery and carrots with hummus, also popcorn at night, or pretzels with salsa

i dont' eat much carbs like pasta, pizza, white bread half as much as i used to. i get whole wheat/grain wherever i can and am trying to eat more fruits/veggies. i probalby get more protein than i need but...

hope that helps.

 

Original Post by ddugan:

Healthy foods are whole grains, fruits, veggies and lean meats like chicken and fish. 

And don't forget nuts and dairy! I think a healthy, well balanced meal contains at least 4 of these food groups.

Ex. Breakfast: oatmeal with slivered almonds, blueberries, and milk. or 1egg + 2 whites, with a bit of low fat cheese, broccoli and green peppers mixed into an omlette. With a side of whole grain toast.

Lunch: 2 slices whole grain bread, turkey breast, low fat cheese, and lots of veggies. With an apple and low fat yogurt. or a large salad with low fat goat cheese, nuts, raisins, prunes, and a low fat vinegarette, with a whole grain roll.

Dinner: 3-4oz steak, baked potatoe with low fat sour cream or plain yogurt, steamed green beans, and a glass of wine. or  1-2 cups whole grain pasta, pasta sauce with ground chicken or turkey, 2tbsp of low fat parmesan, and a side salad with low fat dressing.

Healthy snacks include at least 2 of the pyramid food servings.

Ex. Whole grain crackers and low fat cheese, celery sticks with peanut butter, a small serving of trailmix, fruit with yogurt, a snack bar with a glass of milk, carrot sticks with hummus, etc.

Here's an article that should help.

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site =MensHealth&channel=nutrition&categor y=abs.diet&conitem=b72a99edbbbd201099edbb bd2010cfe793cd____

Original Post by jmc1221:

i'd like to think i eat relatively healthy...

for breakfast it's either:  morningstar soy sausage patty, slice of 2% cheese, whole wheat mini bagel (250 cals, lots of protein) or 2 packets of instant oatmeal with raisins and fruit or oj

lunch.... varies.... i try to make meals and bring leftovers.... minestrone soup, tomato basil soup, salad, vegetarian chili (bought or made, usually i just make it), peanut butter and jelly on a whole wheat, amy's frozen burrito, brown rice with veggies and beans.....

dinner.... vegetarian soy chicken patty, burger, ribs, hot dogs, anything that they make "imitation" with veggies and probably cheese.  i might make a veggie burger with a side of baked sweet potato fries, i might have "ribs" with potatos and mixed vegetables... i might make whole grain pasta with mixed steamed veggies in pesto sauce.... or i might just have "chicken" with spinach and cheese....

for snacks i like apples with peanut butter or celery and carrots with hummus, also popcorn at night, or pretzels with salsa

 

I'm really trying NOT to be a giant butthole here, but your diet seems to have a lot of processed items: pretzels, Amy's, instant oatmeal, imitation foods made with soy, pasta and bagels. Of course it's also filled with fresh fruits and veggies which are perfect foods!

My point was not to single you out, but to address processed foods are NOT healthy. They may be low in calories but they are junk food. Can we always eat fresh things we prepared? Sadly, not always but that should be the goal.

Also I don't know about you guys, but dairy scares the crap out of me. I know there are a million schools of thought, but I do NOT include dairy on the list of need to haves.

Packaged foods can be healthy or not healthy. They're not all the same. You have to read the labels. We don't all have the time or money to make everything ourselves from scratch. (I say money because if you're single and only buying food for yourself then it's just not worth it to buy everything as raw ingredients to make from scratch because then you have all these foods going bad before you can finish them. Unless you eat nearly the same thing every day). My nutritionist recommended many pre-packaged and fortified foods for me.

I think it depends on what you mean by pre-packaged foods.  Pre-packaged frozen broccoli -> good, pre-packaged TV dinner -> bad.

As a general rule of wrist, the less ingredients on the list, the better.

Looks like we're going to have to agree to disagree. I think if something needs an ingredient list, it is not part of an optimal healthy diet. I feel very strongly about foods that splash the word "Healthy" across it. When was the last time you saw a big sticker on an apple or tomato bragging about how healthy it is?

I am not a single person, but I might as well be as far as food. I eat vastly different from the rest of my family and I'm normally just preparing meals for me. It's a lot of trips to the grocery store and a lot of time, but I practice what I preach. If I'm feeling lazy and throw down a Lean Pocket or something, I'm not feeling so hot about my choices.

Maybe you can share what your nutritionist feels are healthy prepackaged foods since I'm sure not everyone feels like I do!

Original Post by floggingsully:

I think it depends on what you mean by pre-packaged foods.  Pre-packaged frozen broccoli -> good, pre-packaged TV dinner -> bad.

As a general rule of wrist, the less ingredients on the list, the better.

I definitely see what you're saying, but I can't imagine buying frozen broccoli when they have perfectly good broccoli a hundred yards away that hasn't been through the freezing process. I guess I'm sorta anal

Also, none of this applies to beer. Beer is the perfect food and part of any healthy diet!

That's awesome that you have a lot of time. I don't I have two jobs, one full time and one part time, plus 2 1/2-3 hours of commuting time. Between that and working out I'm lucky if I am home for 9 hours each day.

My nutritionist recommended South Beach and Luna bars, protein powder for smoothies, fortified soymilk, soy based meat subsitutes that are low in fat and sodium.

"but I can't imagine buying frozen broccoli when they have perfectly good broccoli a hundred yards away that hasn't been through the freezing process."

-But the frozen stuff is usually cheaper, lasts longer, and virtually identical nuritionally.

Original Post by floggingsully:

"but I can't imagine buying frozen broccoli when they have perfectly good broccoli a hundred yards away that hasn't been through the freezing process."

-But the frozen stuff is usually cheaper, lasts longer, and virtually identical nuritionally.

They get blanched and I'd rather have broccoli that has not been blanched if I'm eating it raw which I often do. Again, I make the time to get to the store a few times a week. It's something that is important to me.

Frozen or canned vegetables can sometimes be healthier, because fresh ones that aren't really fresh start to lose their nutrients over time. If you can visit the store every two days, fresh is great, but otherwise packaged veggies can be beneficial. That is, of course, assuming you buy the kind packaged without salt. And they're no good for eating raw.

I completely agree with spirochete (on the food thing AND the weight training thing, btw :). So many people eat processed Lean Cuisines and Luna bars every day and think it's ok. Processed foods are moderation foods. That's it.

Don't even get me started on Splenda! I once tricked myself into thinking it was ok to eat just because it was lower in calories than sugar... then I read threads here about people using a cup a day of the stuff! Eeep. 

well i'm not about to start making my own vegetarian chicken, burgers, etc.  sure they come in a box and are processed but i don't think that automatically makes something unhealthy.  meat isn't necessarily healthy (i don't feel like explaining) yet it doesnt' come in a box.... and amy's is made with all organic materials and no preservatives... i wouldn't compare them to something like a hot pocket for example.  and frozen veggies have the same nutrients as non frozen.  and i've never heard anyone say oatmeal isn't healthy..... and pastas and bagels?  i did say they were whole wheat or whole grain.... carbs are not unhealthy, your body does need them.  i dont' think having a slice of pizza once in a while is unhealthy either.

 i dont' know, you can disagree but i'm not overweight (i'd like to lose about 10 lbs. but more so tone up), i get all my nutrients (i've had blood panels done before) and i have energy and all that.... i make a lot of food myself too using beans and vegetables, and i don't consume dairy.

 

 

Again, I will say this: DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.  We all have our hangups, feelings, opinions, etc. on what foods work in our daily health regimen.  Dairy and nuts are just as important in most people's diets as other foods such as fruits and grains.  Everything in balance, everything in moderation is my motto!  ( I love frozen corn on the cob, myself-but then again, I'm not too picky). 

Original Post by jmc1221:

well i'm not about to start making my own vegetarian chicken, burgers, etc. sure they come in a box and are processed but i don't think that automatically makes something unhealthy. meat isn't necessarily healthy (i don't feel like explaining) yet it doesnt' come in a box.... and amy's is made with all organic materials and no preservatives... i wouldn't compare them to something like a hot pocket for example. and frozen veggies have the same nutrients as non frozen. and i've never heard anyone say oatmeal isn't healthy..... and pastas and bagels? i did say they were whole wheat or whole grain.... carbs are not unhealthy, your body does need them. i dont' think having a slice of pizza once in a while is unhealthy either.

 

 

No one said carbs aren't healthy and your body doesn't need them. Processed foods like bagels and pasta, even if they are labeled whole wheat are not ideal foods. Great carbs are whole grains and veggies. Instant oatmeal is trash next to regular oats because it's processed to hell and back.

I know not everyone is the same, but most vegans and vegetarians I know (and I know many) chose not to eat imitation soy products for health reasons. They are not essential to someone who choses not to eat meat. 

I'm sorry I put you on the defensive, I probably should have used a made up sample menu to make these points. There is a difference between not healthy and good for you. Just because something isn't unhealthy doesn't make it the best thing for your body, either.

well i think the only way to eat what you truely find is "healthy" would be raw vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and whatever you think is healthy for protein... i don't think that's realistic for most people.... i know a lot of meat eaters who have switched to soy imitation foods because it's better than eating meat (even some at a doc's recommendation), whole wheat and whole grain are still better than white bread and instant oatmeal i don't see anything wrong with it, especially if it gets someone to eat oatmeal.  i think pretzels are better than chips and if you want a salty snack for example.  i think they're reasonable relatively healthy choices, which is what makes a healthy diet doable for a lot of people.  it's definatley not perfect. but it's not realistic for me to say i'll only eat fresh veggies, so i'd rather eat frozen than not eat any... that's all i was trying to say.

Original Post by spirochete:

Original Post by jmc1221:

well i'm not about to start making my own vegetarian chicken, burgers, etc. sure they come in a box and are processed but i don't think that automatically makes something unhealthy. meat isn't necessarily healthy (i don't feel like explaining) yet it doesnt' come in a box.... and amy's is made with all organic materials and no preservatives... i wouldn't compare them to something like a hot pocket for example. and frozen veggies have the same nutrients as non frozen. and i've never heard anyone say oatmeal isn't healthy..... and pastas and bagels? i did say they were whole wheat or whole grain.... carbs are not unhealthy, your body does need them. i dont' think having a slice of pizza once in a while is unhealthy either.

 

 

No one said carbs aren't healthy and your body doesn't need them. Processed foods like bagels and pasta, even if they are labeled whole wheat are not ideal foods. Great carbs are whole grains and veggies. Instant oatmeal is trash next to regular oats because it's processed to hell and back.

I know not everyone is the same, but most vegans and vegetarians I know (and I know many) chose not to eat imitation soy products for health reasons. They are not essential to someone who choses not to eat meat. 

I'm sorry I put you on the defensive, I probably should have used a made up sample menu to make these points. There is a difference between not healthy and good for you. Just because something isn't unhealthy doesn't make it the best thing for your body, either.

 spirochete, you seem to be pretty wise about the whole processed foods being unhealthy. I do not completely understand what you said about oatmeal being "processed to hell and back." Could you explain how oatmeal goes bad through this process? How does it make it unhealthy? Sounds like you may have some scientific explanation - and I'm curious! I honestly don't understand why preservatives and processed foods are bad. I understand junk food being junk food because of high oil content and lack of nutrition, but this whole organic non-processed generation has come so fast that I completely missed the explanation of its importance. The only thing I hear these days are "eat organic," "organic doesn't have preservatives so it is good," etc. I need a scientific/nutritional explanation!

Ingredients in instant oatmeal:

WHOLE GRAIN ROLLED OATS (WITH OAT BRAN), SUGAR, CREAMING AGENT (MALTODEXTRIN, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, WHEY, SODIUM CASEINATE), FLAVORED FRUIT PIECES (DEHYDRATED APPLES [TREATED WITH SODIUM SULFITE TO PROMOTE COLOR RETENTION], ARTIFICIAL PEACH FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, ANNATTO COLOR), SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE (A SOURCE OF CALCIUM), GUAR GUM, ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, NIACINAMIDE*, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, REDUCED IRON, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE*, RIBOFLAVIN*, THIAMIN MONONITRATE*, FOLIC ACID*.

*ONE OF THE B VITAMINS

CONTAINS SOY AND MILK INGREDIENTS.

Ingredients in slow cooked oats for oatmeal:

Oats