#but when it's something like a french fry or a piece of pepperoni...

[healingheartdogs]

Love it when I tell my dogs to go to place somewhere as an excuse to give them each a bite of my food or a french fry or whatever and immediately release them after but they stick to place like glue anyway waiting to see if it will get them another bite

[stitchandani]

thoughts//dinnerrrr

Nani and David definitely had to expand the table for meals now

I mean there’s 8 people eating dinner every night and that little blue table with 4 chairs isn’t gonna cut it

Stitch can only eat on the floor/counter/tabletop for so long before he starts losing track of manners and making a huuuuge mess

So they got this nice long table with adjustable flaps and the old table is in the backyard for grill-outs

pizza nights happen like 4 nights out of the week; it’s something no one in the family will complain about so it’s easier on the cooks of the household, but Nani has so much trouble ordering it on the phone:

“Okay so…that’s two anchovy pizzas, one cheese, one pineapple, two ham-and-pepperoni, uh, excuse me for a second - what, Pleakley? no, we are not gonna put mayonnaise on the pizza - sorry, where was I? No! No, we want no mayonnaise! …Yes, it is weird, that’s why I said - hold on, you charge how much?”

Eventually David just agrees to go get the pizzas every time, and then it gets even easier because the owner of the Macki McKaw’s (Mr. Honi) pizza-centric hometown luau knows them by now, so David just calls to say when he’ll be there and they have the food ready for him

Macki’s pizza is cheaper than the chain stuff (plus sometimes Phantasmo stows away in the box to surprise them and join them for supper, which is a huge treat for Ani)

when Pleakley cooks it’s hit-or-miss, and when it’s a hit it’s always delicious (especially because he still thinks Thanksgiving dinner is once a month, and Kai and Ani get to fight over the last piece of pumpkin pie and Jumba eats his weight in turkey, it’s great)

when Nani cooks it’s always healthy, and David seems to be the only one who really likes it. unless she makes pot roast (Kai’s favorite) and then everyone’s happy, a miracle

Lilo makes lunches mostly. Grilled cheese, bagel sandwiches, cups of cereal layered over with vanilla or strawberry ice cream and then Jell-O. Spaghetti with three different types of pasta in the same sauce (which she sometimes burns, but Ani loves burnt food so it’s fine for her).

Breakfast is all David. All of it. Always. He is so good at making breakfast for everyone (it’s the only thing he knows how to cook). So he usually volunteers to do that for dinner if he’s free from work one evening and the others need a break. He can make any breakfast - hash browns, fruit salad, eggs of all sorts, so many pancakes (Ani likes M&Ms in hers, Kai likes bananas in his, Stitch eats all pancakes in all variants without stopping for breath).

Jumba never cooks. He tries. It’s bad. We move on. He made French Fry for a reason.

[foodtheywrote]

food+drink from IT’S NOT ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE by Terry McMillan

(these are all Kindle highlights. please let me know in the comments if you have other mentions of food and/ or drink in this book.)

1. buffet of fried chicken, BBQ ribs, baked beans, au gratin potatoes, some kind of salad, collard greens, and cornbread.

2. chocolate cake

3. angel hair pasta with prawns, some garlic bread, and a good salad

4. We could have some raspberry sorbet and not too many glasses of wine so that we still have energy...

5. glass of water with a slice of cucumber resting between tiny ice cubes.

6. ...a large plate of figs, squares of dark and white chocolate, green grapes, and four or five different types of cheese. Beige crackers are spread out like cards on a blackjack table.

7. ...all kinds of casseroles and bowls of fried chicken and a honey-baked ham and macaroni and cheese on the table, and all four burners had pots with steam bursting out of the tops of them. I saw squares of yellow cornbread and collard greens and sweet potatoes in chafing dishes.

8. ...two glass pitchers of lemonade and iced tea.

9. We both laughed, and I remember throwing a piece of French bread at him and missing. B. B. King—who still was very quick at the time—grabbed it in his mouth and took off. Carl was lucky I didn’t grab a handful of my delicious spaghetti and meatballs, or he’d have been covered in it!

10. ...candied yam.

11. ... fried chicken and collard greens. Lucky also had macaroni and cheese, which I passed on.

12. She then bit off a big piece of honey cornbread. “Neither one of us should even be in here,” I said as I looked down at my plate. The chicken was fried. I could see the ham in the collard greens. The candied yams had brown sugar and butter oozing out of them. And then there was my beautiful cornbread. Did I really need to eat all this?

13. ...double cheeseburger, some soft fries, a diet Coke, and three farewell Twizzlers.

14. “I made lasagna and a salad and as you can see, French bread and steamed asparagus.”

15. When I went to put my registration back inside the glove compartment, staring at me was a brand-new package of Twizzlers.

16. “I’ll have the pizza with ground beef, but with no beans, no sour cream, and no avocado.” “Anything else?” “I would like to try the fried ice cream.” “To drink?” “I’ll have a virgin margarita.” “What kind, sir?” “A normal one.” I winked at her, so she knew I wanted my regular: combination chicken tacos and chicken enchiladas with sour cream. All the combos come with beans and rice and I almost always end up taking something home. I ate guacamole and chips and Kwame drank what was really just lemonade...

17.  I grabbed the tasteless granola, some raspberries, and low-fat milk...

18.  ...string beans and that stuff with the scrambled eggs in it again?”

19. ...pot stickers and various types of chow fun

20. ...the white boxes that we knew were pot stickers and brown and white rice, and the fortune cookies, at least ten of them.

21. But I ordered a low-fat mocha latte with no sugar instead.

22.  I just made a strong pot of Peet’s Sumatra and I baked a delicious apple pie for Joe.

23.  I could hardly eat the stroganoff, which was terrible, and also because I had snuck a hamburger (not cheeseburger) with small fries before I came over...

24. “I got lasagna and sourdough bread, and a Caesar salad and asparagus for you...

25. Kwame lifted the wide lasagna noodles and let them fall back on top of the red meat sauce. Then he pulled on the cheese to form a string...

26. ...from about eight different salads, we chose four and a bowl of chunky homemade vegetable soup.

27.  ...red miso short ribs, Thai chicken meatballs, and shredded jerk chicken floating in thick golden sauce...

28. We had to order the seasoned rice and bread. At checkout, we decided to get the salad and soup to go and bought two of those little round macaroon cookies that come from France. I ordered watermelon mint lemonade...

29. ....finest halibut for you along with baked sweet potatoes and a salad and brown rice.

30. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a drumstick and a wing on hand for a late-night snack.

31. ...last two kosher hot dogs and a few French fries and a half hour later, I scraped the vanilla out of the ice cream sandwich and put it on a saucer...

32. ...sweet potato pies, peach cobbler, bread pudding, and apple pies—

33. ...I sliced apples. I opened ten cans of peaches. I boiled sweet potatoes and mashed them with cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, eggs, vanilla flavor, and a drop of bourbon. I made bread pudding that was so fluffy it almost floated out of the little baking dishes I bought. The peach juice boiled onto the aluminum foil I knew to put under the cobbler because it happens every year.

34. lobster tails with butter and baked potatoes with chives, sour cream, and butter and a salad and sourdough bread

35.  I did not want to go out for cake and ice cream.

36. I was overdue for a cheeseburger and fries. I had been good. I could count how many I’d had since I got back from Las Vegas, which was almost two months ago: five. I could also count how many times I went to Carol’s and had their French toast with bacon: three.

37. ...once she had it, she would have to pretend fried chicken and candied yams and honey cornbread would kill her.

38. “Yes, I would like to have a double cheeseburger with a purple onion and a small order of fries.” “What kind of cheese would you like on that burger?” the voice said. “Cheddar. Oh, and can you also put pickles on it?” “You got it. Any of our delicious desserts strike your eye? Our apple pie is killer and our ice cream sundaes are made with the best chocolate syrup. And there’s a new flavor of ice cream to choose: strawberry cheesecake.”

39. ...two thick pieces of French toast with butter, drenched with maple syrup, two strips of bacon, a glass of orange juice, and a cup of coffee. With two packets of Splenda.

40. We’re having marinated rib-eyes, steamed brown rice, no bread, a salad with oil and vinegar, and sparkling water for me and Loretha, right, Lo?”

41.  “And for dessert?” Sadie asked suspiciously. “Fruit salad. Take it or leave it.”

42. ...bought a slice of pepperoni pizza, a salad, a Diet Coke, and a chocolate chip cookie.

43. ...cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, a small piece of chicken breast, and a peach that she was already cutting.

44. I took a long sip of my detoxifying apple-cucumber-celery-spinach-cranberry-pomegranate drink, and then stared at my steel-cut oatmeal with no raisins and definitely no brown sugar.

45. ...that Hawaiian French toast with the rum-battered Kona-coffee whipped cream and pineapple marmalade

46. I ate an apple. And half of a whole wheat English muffin that I toasted and spread this stuff called ghee that Jonas told me to buy instead of butter. It tasted like butter but better. I wanted a glass of orange juice so bad

47. ...chocolate chip cookie or a juicy cheeseburger with fries and a vanilla shake.

48. ...did not put any sugar in my coffee but I did put in cream. I was starting to get used to it. And instead of eating French toast or pancakes topped with bananas and hot syrup or waffles with hot syrup or eggs and bacon with hash browns and toast with butter and jelly, I had plain yogurt with berries and whole wheat toast.

49. ...salad with a thousand different vegetables and cooked prawns and then chunks of chicken and oil and vinegar dressing. I did eat a breadstick.

50. ...baked chicken. Brown rice. A salad. Steamed vegetables. I passed on the sourdough bread and butter.

51. Jonas has made an amazing tofu stir-fry if you’d like to have dinner with us.” “No thanks.” “It’s also got ginger, carrots, string beans, and garlic, and a little soy sauce. You won’t even know it’s good for you.”

52. ...chipotle grilled pork tenderloin with strawberry-avocado salsa. And this is spicy brown rice. That’s spinach and onion couscous. Those are salmon fishcakes. And the salad is spinach, feta, and goat cheese.

53. ...triangle turkey sandwich...

54. ...eat the savory teriyaki beef I ordered along with a cup of hot water and lemon

55.  purple sweet potato, almond milk, and ginger smoothies

[meringuebones]

008.

[Food Survey] 1. What’s the last thing you ate? A mini Hershey’s milk chocolate bar. 2. What’s your favourite cheese? Smoked gouda, parmesan, mozzarella, queso fresco.

3. What’s your favourite fish? Mackerel and eel. 4. What’s your favourite fruit? Mango, pineapple, watermelon, raspberries, pears, oranges. 5. When, if ever, did you start liking olives? I don’t like olives. 6. When, if ever, did you start liking beer? I don’t like beer either. 7. When, if ever, did you start liking shellfish? I’ve liked shellfish ever since I was a kid. 8. What was the best thing your mum/dad/guardian used to make? My dad is the best at barbecuing, no competition. Crab legs, hamburgers, and chicken breast is what I’d say are the best off the pit though. From my mom, it would be her chicken mole with Spanish rice or her chicken-fried steak. 9. What’s the native specialty of your hometown? Bruschetta. 10. What’s your comfort food? Oranges and extra spicy ramen. 11. What’s your favourite type of chocolate? Milk. 12. How do you like your steak? Medium-rare. 13. How do you like your burger? Also medium-rare with spicy ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, and a fried egg. 14. How do you like your eggs? Fried or hard-boiled. 15. How do you like your potatoes? As french fries. 16. How do you take your coffee? No sugar and a splash of half-and-half. 17. How do you take your tea? It depends on the type of tea. Some taste better with honey, some with sugar, some with no sweetener. Some taste better with half-and-half or none. 18. What’s your favourite mug? It’s an off-white mug with a pastel pink handle and doodle of a bunny on the side. 19. What’s your biscuit or cookie of choice? Pumpkin spice with brown sugar icing. 20. What’s your ideal breakfast? Bacon waffles with maple syrup and coffee. 21. What’s your ideal sandwich? Honey wheat bread, herbed mayonnaise, peppered turkey, and fresh avocado.   22. What’s your ideal pizza? Mozzarella, pepperoni, ham, and jalapeños. 23. What’s your ideal pie (sweet or savoury)? Sweet. I prefer chocolate or mixed berry. 24. What’s your ideal salad? Baby spinach, strawberries, mushrooms, some sort of shredded cheese, crispy noodles, and a sweet dressing. 25. What food do you always like to have in the fridge? Milk, carrots, oranges, lettuce. 26. What food do you always like to have in the freezer? Pizza, taquitos, berries. 27. What food do you always like to have in the cupboard? Cereal, ramen, flour, sugar. 28. What spices can you not live without? Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder, lemon pepper, garlic powder, cinnamon. 29. What sauces can you not live without? I can’t think of anything specific since we usually switch it up when we go shopping. 30. Where do you buy most of your food? The grocery store. 31. How often do you go food shopping? Once a week. 33. What’s the most expensive piece of kitchen equipment you own? Not sure. Maybe the stove. 34. What’s the last piece of equipment you bought for your kitchen? A crockpot.  35. What piece of kitchen equipment could you not live without? Food processor and blender. 36. How many times a week/month do you cook from raw ingredients? A couple to few times a week. 37. What’s the last thing you cooked from raw ingredients? Rib-eye steaks with mashed potatoes. 38. What meats have you eaten besides cow, pig, and poultry? Deer, goat, lamb, fish, squid, octopus. 39. When’s the last time you ate something that had fallen on the floor? I don’t remember when, but I do remember it was a piece of cereal that just... missed the bowl. 40. What’s the last time you ate something you’d picked in the wild? I don’t remember. 41. Arrange the following in order of preference: Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Sushi. Italian, Mexican, Thai, Sushi, Indian, Chinese. 42. Arrange the following in order of preference: Vodka, Whiskey, Brandy, Rum. I don’t drink. 43. Arrange the following in order of preference: Garlic, Basil, Caramel, Lime, Mint, Ginger, Aniseed. Garlic, lime, mint, aniseed, caramel, ginger, basil. 44. Arrange the following in order of preference: Pineapple, Orange, Apple, Strawberry, Cherry, Watermelon, Banana. Watermelon, orange, pineapple, banana, apple, strawberry, cherry. 45. Bread and spread: I don’t get what’s being asked, so whatever. 46. What’s your fast food restaurant of choice, and what do you usually order? Wing Stop. 12-wing combo, half mango habanero, half cajun, with a large parmesan fry, ranch, and sweet tea. It’s what my husband and I split whenever we get it. 47. Pick a city. What are the best dining experiences you’ve had in that city? I don’t want to. 48. What’s your choice of tipple at the end of a long day? I don’t drink. 49. What’s the next thing you’ll eat? I’m not sure. 50. Are you hungry now? Nope. 51. Do you eat your breakfast everyday? I try to, but sometimes I skip it. 52. At what time do you have breakfast? Anywhere between 7:30 and 9:00AM. 53. At what time do you have lunch? Anywhere between 1:00 and 3:00PM. 54. What do you have for lunch? It depends on my mood. 55. At what time do you have dinner? Anywhere between 6:30 and 8:00PM. 56. What do you have for dinner? It depends on my mood. 57. Do you light candles during dinner? Nope. 58. How many chairs are there in your dining room and who sits in the main chair? Two. There is no main chair. 59. Do you eat and drink using your right hand or the left one? Right hand. 61. Mention the veggies that you like most: Bamboo shoot, carrots, seaweed, sweet potatoes, mushrooms. 62. What fruit and vegetable do you like the least? Durian, white grapes, tomato (but I do like at least a slice in a burger sometimes), celery, beets. 63. You like your fruit salad to have more: Purple grapes. 64. You prefer your vegetable salad to contain more: Spinach and mushrooms. 65. What’s your favourite sandwich spread? I don’t really have one. 66. What’s your favourite chocolate bar? Milka Oreo bar. 67. What’s your favourite dessert? Snow cones. 68. What’s your favourite drink? Hot tea, preferably different types of oolong, white, and green. 69. What’s your favourite snack? Popcorn. 70. What’s your favourite bubble gum flavour? Plain or cotton candy. 71. What’s your favourite ice cream flavour? Anything that has good chunks and a good ripple. 72. What’s your favourite potato chip flavour? Buffalo wings. 73. What’s your favourite soup? Phở with chicken. 74. What’s your favourite pizza? I explained it above already. 75. What’s your favourite type of dish?
 Usually pastas and stews. 76. What food do you hate? Anything with basil or the fruits/veggies I said I hated. I’m also not a fan of goat, lamb, or blue cheese. 77. What’s your favourite restaurant? Wing Stop and a local phở restaurant. 78. Do you eat homemade food, food delivered from outside? Both, but more homemade food. 80. Who cooks at home? I usually do, but my husband sometimes does. 81. What kind of diet (e.g. low-fat, high-fiber, high-carbohydrate, balanced diet etc.) do you have? I try to keep it balanced, but I feel like it’s getting into the high-carb territory. 82. How do you keep yourself fit? Exercising, drinking plenty of water, counting calories, and trying to eat healthier food.

[mgbrus]

Facebook post (2020-04-24T05:57:04.000Z)

NUTRITION 20 Foods That Are Bad for Your Health It’s easy to get confused about which foods are healthy and which aren’t. You generally want to avoid certain foods if you want to lose weight and prevent chronic illnesses. In this article, healthy alternatives are mentioned whenever possible. Here are 20 foods that are generally unhealthy — although most people can eat them in moderation on special occasions without any permanent damage to their health. 1. Sugary drinks Added sugar is one of the worst ingredients in the modern diet. However, some sources of sugar are worse than others, and sugary drinks are particularly harmful. When you drink liquid calories, your brain doesn’t appear to register them as food. Thus, you may end up drastically increasing your total calorie intake (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source). When consumed in large amounts, sugar can drive insulin resistance and is strongly linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It’s also associated with various serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source). Some people believe that sugary drinks are the most fattening aspect of the modern diet — and drinking them in large amounts can drive fat gain and obesity (7Trusted Source, 8, 9Trusted Source). Alternatives Drink water, soda water, coffee, or tea instead. Adding a slice of lemon to water or soda water can provide a burst of flavor. 2. Most pizzas Pizza is one of the world’s most popular junk foods. Most commercial pizzas are made with unhealthy ingredients, including highly refined dough and heavily processed meat. Pizza also tends to be extremely high in calories. Alternatives Some restaurants offer healthier ingredients. Homemade pizzas can also be very healthy, as long as you choose wholesome ingredients. 3. White bread Most commercial breads are unhealthy if eaten in large amounts, as they’re made from refined wheat, which is low in fiber and essential nutrients and may lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar (10). Alternatives For people who can tolerate gluten, Ezekiel bread is an excellent choice. Whole-grain bread is also healthier than white bread. If you have problems with gluten or carbs, then here are 15 recipes for breads that are both gluten-free and low in carbs. 4. Most fruit juices Fruit juice is often assumed to be healthy. While juice contains some antioxidants and vitamin C, it also packs high amounts of liquid sugar. In fact, fruit juice harbors just as much sugar as sugary drinks like Coke or Pepsi — and sometimes even more (11Trusted Source). Alternatives Some fruit juices have been shown to have health benefits despite their sugar content, such as pomegranate and blueberry juices. However, these should be considered occasional supplements, not an everyday part of your diet. 5. Sweetened breakfast cereals Breakfast cereals are processed cereal grains, such as wheat, oats, rice, and corn. They’re especially popular among children and frequently eaten with milk. To make them more palatable, the grains are roasted, shredded, pulped, rolled, or flaked. They’re generally high in added sugar. The main downside of most breakfast cereals is their high added sugar content. Some are so sweet that they could even be compared to candy. Alternatives Choose breakfast cereals that are high in fiber and low in added sugar. Even better, make your own oat porridge from scratch. 6. Fried, grilled, or broiled food Frying, grilling, and broiling are among the unhealthiest cooking methods. Foods cooked in these ways are often highly palatable and calorie-dense. Several types of unhealthy chemical compounds also form when food is cooked under high heat. These include acrylamides, acrolein, heterocyclic amines, oxysterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source). Many chemicals formed during high-heat cooking have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease (18Trusted Source, 19, 20Trusted Source). Alternatives To improve your health, choose milder and healthier cooking methods, such as boiling, stewing, blanching, and steaming. 7. Pastries, cookies, and cakes Most pastries, cookies, and cakes are unhealthy if eaten in excess. Packaged versions are generally made with refined sugar, refined wheat flour, and added fats. Shortening, which may be high in unhealthy trans fats, is sometimes added. These treats might be tasty, but they have almost no essential nutrients, copious calories, and many preservatives. Alternatives If you can’t stay away from dessert, spring for Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, or dark chocolate. 8. French fries and potato chips Whole, white potatoes are very healthy. However, the same cannot be said of French fries and potato chips. These foods are very high in calories, and it’s easy to eat excessive amounts. Several studies link French fries and potato chips to weight gain (21Trusted Source, 22). These foods may also contain large amounts of acrylamides, which are carcinogenic substances that form when potatoes are fried, baked, or roasted (23, 24Trusted Source). Alternatives Potatoes are best consumed boiled, not fried. If you need something crunchy to replace potato chips, try baby carrots or nuts. 9. Gluten-free junk foods About one-third of the U.S. population actively tries to avoid gluten (25). Yet, people often replace healthy, gluten-containing foods with processed junk foods that happen to be gluten-free. These gluten-free replacement products are often high in sugar and refined grains like corn starch or tapioca starch. These ingredients may trigger rapid spikes in blood sugar and are low in essential nutrients. Alternatives Choose foods that are naturally gluten-free, such as unprocessed plant and animal foods. 10. Agave nectar Agave nectar is a sweetener that’s often marketed as healthy. However, it’s highly refined and extremely high in fructose. High amounts of fructose from added sweeteners can be absolutely disastrous for health (26Trusted Source). In fact, agave nectar is even higher in fructose than many other sweeteners. Whereas table sugar is 50% fructose and high-fructose corn syrup around 55%, agave nectar is 85% fructose (27Trusted Source). Alternatives Stevia and erythritol are healthy, natural, and calorie-free alternatives. 11. Low-fat yogurt Yogurt can be incredibly healthy. Nonetheless, most yogurts found in the grocery store are bad for you. They’re often low in fat but loaded with sugar to compensate for the flavor that fat provides. Put simply, most yogurt has had its healthy, natural fats replaced with an unhealthy ingredient. Additionally, many yogurts don’t provide probiotic bacteria as generally believed. They’re often pasteurized, which kills most of their bacteria. Alternatives Choose regular, full-fat yogurt that contains live or active cultures (probiotics). If possible, buy varieties from grass-fed cows. 12. Low-carb junk foods Low-carb diets are very popular. While you can eat plenty of whole foods on such a diet, you should watch out for processed low-carb replacement products. These include low-carb candy bars and meal replacements. These foods are often highly processed and packed with additives. Alternatives If you’re on a low-carb diet, aim for foods that are naturally low in carbs, which include eggs, seafood, and leafy greens. 13. Ice cream Ice cream may be delicious, but it’s loaded with sugar. This dairy product is also high in calories and easy to overeat. If you eat it as a dessert, you’re usually piling it on top of your normal calorie intake. Alternatives It’s possible to opt for healthier brands or make your own ice cream using fresh fruit and less sugar. 14. Candy bars Candy bars are incredibly unhealthy. They’re high in sugar, refined wheat flour, and processed fats while also very low in essential nutrients. What’s more, these treats will leave you hungry because of the way that your body metabolizes these sugar bombs. Alternatives Eat fruit or a piece of quality dark chocolate instead. 15. Processed meat Even though unprocessed meat can be healthy and nutritious, the same is not true for processed meats. Studies show that people who eat processed meats have a higher risk of many serious ailments, including colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease (28, 29Trusted Source). Most of these studies are observational in nature, meaning that they can’t prove that processed meat is to blame. However, the statistical link is strong and consistent between studies. Alternatives If you want to eat bacon, sausages, or pepperoni, try to buy from local butchers who don’t add many unhealthy ingredients. 16. Processed cheese Cheese is healthy in moderation. It’s loaded with nutrients, and a single slice packs all the nutrients as a glass of milk. Still, processed cheese products are nothing like regular cheese. They’re mostly made with filler ingredients that are engineered to have a cheese-like appearance and texture. Make sure to read labels to confirm that your cheese contains dairy and few artificial ingredients. Alternatives Eat real cheese instead. Healthy types include feta, mozzarella, and cottage cheeses. Many vegan cheese alternatives can also be good choices. 17. Most fast food meals Generally speaking, fast-food chains serve junk food. Most of their offerings are mass-produced and low in nutrients. Despite their low prices, fast foods may contribute to disease risk and harm your general wellness. You should especially watch out for fried items. Alternatives As a result of mounting pressure, many fast-food chains have started offering healthy options. 18. High-calorie coffee drinks Coffee is loaded with antioxidants and offers many benefits. Notably, coffee drinkers have a lower risk of serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s (30Trusted Source, 31). At the same time, the creamers, syrups, additives, and sugars that are frequently added to coffee are highly unhealthy. These products are just as harmful as any other sugar-sweetened beverage. Alternatives Drink plain coffee instead. You can add small amounts of heavy cream or full-fat milk if you desire. 19. Anything with added sugar or refined grains It’s important to avoid — or at least limit — foods that contain added sugar, refined grains, and artificial trans fats. These are some of the unhealthiest but most common ingredients in the modern diet. Thus, the importance of reading labels cannot be overstated. This even applies to so-called health foods. Alternatives Aim for nutrient-dense, whole foods, such as fresh fruits and whole grains. 20. Most highly processed foods The simplest way to eat healthy and lose weight is to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Processed goods are often packaged and loaded with excess salt or sugar. Alternatives When you’re shopping, make sure to read food labels. Try to load up your cart with plenty of veggies and other whole foods. The bottom line Though the Western diet packs plenty of junk food, you can maintain a healthy diet if you steer clear of the processed, high-sugar items mentioned above. If you focus on whole foods, you’ll be well on your way to feeling better and reclaiming your health. Plus, practicing mindfulness when you eat by listening to your body’s cues and paying attention to flavors and textures can help you be more aware of how much and what you eat, allowing you to achieve a better relationship with food. https://ift.tt/2Y0yXu5

[latriceduke]

17 processed foods to avoid

Eating a diet heavy on processed foods is the quickest way to surrender good health and get sick, fat, or both.

It only takes a few years for populations who adopt a Western diet based on processed foods to start coming down with Western illnesses.

What is a processed food? If a food has been processed with chemicals, contains ingredients that have been refined, or has artificial flavors, colors or other synthetic components, it’s a processed food.

Part 1 ranks the worst processed foods you can eat, and part 2 shows why processed foods don’t keep our bodies healthy.

List of processed foods to avoid

We’ll take a look here at some processed foods that may be perceived as healthy, along with the reasons why they won’t help you achieve your goals.

1. Low-Fat Yogurt

Eating the right kind of yogurt can be a healthy choice, but low-fat yogurt isn’t the way to go.

Because much of the good flavor in dairy products comes from the fat, this discrepancy is usually corrected by plenty of added sugar.

Sometimes yogurt has been pasteurized after culturing, which wipes out the friendly bacteria. Look for full-fat yogurt with live cultures for probiotic benefits.

2. Processed Meat

Meats can be part of a healthy diet, but processed meats like sausage, pepperoni and bacon are poor choices.

Eating processed meats raises the risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and heart disease. (1, 2)

While this information is based on observational studies, the association is strong; if you must have processed meats, try to find local sources with minimal additives.

3. Cookies, Pastries and Cakes

These foods are loaded with calories and have essentially no nutrients to deliver. While they’re certainly tasty, you’re not doing yourself any favors by including them in your diet.

The refined sugar, white flour and trans fats commonly found in these treats not only add empty calories, but introduce problematic foods that can contribute to other health problems.

4. White Bread

Made with refined wheat flour, white bread can also be categorized as empty calories, and will spike blood sugar just as effectively as a dose of table sugar. (3)

All the nutrients contained in whole wheat have already been sacrificed to grinding and processing, and even if you can tolerate gluten (the protein contained in wheat) there’s nothing to nourish your body in white bread.

Ezekiel bread or whole grain breads have more to offer.

5. Sugary Drinks

Most modern diets are rich in added sugar, which we all know is detrimental to health on many levels. But some sources of sugar are worse than others, and sweetened drinks are the worst.

The brain “gets it” when we eat sugar-rich foods because of the bulk, but sugary drinks have the opposite effect: the system doesn’t register the calories, and we end up consuming more. (4, 5, 6)

Excess sugar consumption causes insulin resistance and can lead to fatty liver disease, as well as increasing the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious disorders including obesity. (7, 8, 9)

6. Ice Cream

Because it’s usually loaded with sugar, ice cream is also a poor nutritional choice. Eating it for dessert is even worse, because you’re piling it on top of a meal, adding even more calories.

And everyone who loves ice cream knows how difficult it can be to eat the amount designated as a serving, which is usually a skimpy half-cup.

If you can’t live without ice cream, consider getting a small hand-crank freezer and making your own with less sugar, or using a healthy alternative sweetener.

7. French Fries and Potato Chips

This is probably no surprise: eating potato chips and French fries is associated with weight gain. (10, 11)

Always boil potatoes; baking, roasting or frying causes acrylamides to form. These are carcinogenic substances, and should be avoided. (12, 13)

Be creative and find other foods to satisfy your desire for something crunchy or crispy. Try nuts or baby carrots.

8. Fruit Juices

Fruit juice is commonly mistaken for a healthy food because it comes from fruit, which everyone knows is healthy.

The problem with juice is that it’s been separated from the natural fiber that slows down the assimilation of fructose (the sugar found in fruit).

Drinking fruit juice slams your system with as much or more sugar as sweetened soft drinks. (14)

While fruit juices contain antioxidants and vitamins, benefits can be cancelled out by the sugar content. Pomegranate or acai berry juices, for example, should be taken as a supplement, not consumed to quench thirst.

Drink water.

9. Processed Cheese

Including cheese in your diet can be a smart choice, since it’s rich in vital nutrients, and a single serving delivers all the goodies you’d get in a full glass of milk.

Processed cheese is a different story. Filler ingredients are combined with small amounts of dairy derivatives and carefully engineered to taste, feel and look like genuine cheese.

Invest in the real thing.

10. Agave Nectar

This sweetener is presented as natural and healthy, but it’s actually a highly refined product with more fructose than either table sugar or high fructose corn syrup. (15)

Added fructose in the diet can be destructive to your health, although the fructose in fruit is not a problem. Burdening the liver with the work of processing large amounts of fructose can raise the risk of developing various chronic disorders, like diabetes. (16)

Explore healthier options like erythritol and stevia.

11. Pizza

This may be the most popular “junk food” choice in the world, probably because it tastes divine and is convenient and easy to eat.

But most commercial pizzas are made with refined flour and processed meats, neither of which are healthy choices. And the calorie count for a single slice of pizza is staggering.

Making your own pizza at home with quality ingredients is a good choice for an occasional treat, but eating fast-food pizza regularly is a bad idea.

12. Fast Food Meals

Most people realize making fast food a habit won’t help cultivate a healthy body, but it’s extremely popular partly because it’s tasty and cheap.

The trouble is, you’ll pay later with the cost of poor health. And if you feed it to your children, it may raise their risk of obesity and chronic disease. (17)

Don’t indulge in junk food that is mass-produced and highly engineered on a regular basis.

13. Industrially Produced Vegetable Oils

It’s only been the last hundred years or so that added oils in the diet have increased dramatically, pushing us into territory where humans have never gone in the past.

Refined vegetable oils like canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil and cottonseed oil are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which have been linked with an increased risk of cancer, as well as creating higher levels of oxidative stress in the body. (18, 19, 20, 21)

You’re better off using avocado oil, coconut oil, butter and olive oil.

14. Candy Bars

What’s the harm in a candy bar? It tastes good, goes down quickly, and provides a nice shot of energy.

The sugar is the worst of it, but candy bars are often bulked up with refined wheat flour and other ingredients that are likely to make you want more, and end up eating a larger amount than you intended.

When the body metabolizes this type of high-sugar food, you’ll be hungry again in a flash.

Try some dark chocolate, or eat a piece of fruit.

15. Margarine

Like processed cheese, margarine is an engineered food designed to look, taste and feel like butter.

Usually made from highly refined vegetable oils, margarine’s solidity is often achieved through hydrogenation, which ups the trans fat content. Trans fats are toxic, and have no place in a healthy diet, even in small amounts.

Manufacturers can label products as “trans fat-free” if a serving contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fats; with serving sizes designated as a teaspoon or some other unrealistic amount, this can add up fast.

Buy real butter.

16. Sweetened Coffee Drinks

People who drink coffee run a lower risk of certain chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. (22, 23)

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants and can make healthful contributions to your diet, unless you add sugar or other sweeteners and creamers with artificial ingredients.

Try getting quality coffee and drinking it black. If you must lighten it, minimal amounts of cream or full-fat milk are the best choice.

17. Low-Carb Junk Foods

With the growing popularity of low-carb diets, manufacturers have flooded the market with low-carb treat foods like candy bars and replacement meals.

These junk foods won’t make an impact on the amount of carbs you’re eating, but they contain little nutrition and plenty of artificial ingredients or chemicals.

Why processed foods are bad

Here’s why processed foods don’t keep our bodies healthy and happy.

1. Artificial Ingredients

Artificial ingredients are most often chemicals, plain and simple.

If you buy a granola bar, you might think oats and puffed rice, nuts, raisins, honey, and whatever else would be pretty healthy.

The problem lies in whatever else the manufacturer chose to include, like maybe guar gum, anhydrous milkfat, hydrolyzed gelatin, maltodextrin, or artificial flavor.

Artificial flavor is considered proprietary, and manufacturers don’t have to list ingredients for it, but you can bet it’s a chemical cocktail developed to yield that special flavor so you’ll buy the product again.

Additives and chemicals serve specific purposes: imparting the desired color; preservation; creating a certain texture, etc.

All food additives are supposedly safe for consumption (1), but keep in mind personal opinions might differ from federal regulatory agencies.

2. Plenty of Refined Carbs

Most processed foods are high in refined carbohydrates. While nutritional experts argue about whether or not copious quantities of carbs belong in a healthy diet, everybody seems to agree carbs are best taken from whole food sources.

Simple carbs like those in refined foods are broken down quickly in the digestive system, spiking blood sugar and insulin levels. Cravings hit a couple hours up the road, when the blood sugar roller coaster hits the low spot.

Consuming lots of refined carbs is associated with poor health, as well as a greater risk for developing chronic diseases. (2, 3, 4)

3. Low in Nutrients and Fiber

Processing destroys nutrients and pulverizes or removes the natural fiber content of whole foods.

Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients of every imaginable variety are lost during the manufacturing of processed foods, and science doesn’t yet know what they all are, or what they do.

Whether or not they’ve been identified, these lost components result in gaps in your nutrition.  Even if foods have been “enriched,” or claim added vitamins and minerals, these are often synthetic or inferior versions of the real thing.

Both soluble fiber and fermentable fiber play important roles in digestion and nourishment.

Much of the fiber in whole foods isn’t digestible by our systems; this type of fiber feeds the friendly gut bacteria in the large intestine, which ferments and digests it to provide prebiotics necessary for good gut health. (5, 6)

Soluble fiber can also help prevent constipation. Cultivating the proper environment in our guts helps keeps us mentally sharp, cheerful and well. (7)

4. High Amounts of Sugar and High Fructose Corn Syrup

Processed foods are often highly sweetened, and manufacturers hit consumers’ sweet spots with white sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). These two affect the body in the same way: badly.

Everyone knows sugar provides empty calories, but it’s worse than that. Sugar devastates delicate metabolic processes (8) and lines you up for disorders like insulin sensitivity, high cholesterol,and  elevated triglycerides. It also helps you tuck away plenty of abdominal fat. (9, 10)

Sugar in generous quantities is clearly associated with Western diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or at the very least, obesity. (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

According to the USDA, the average American eats 156 pounds of sugar each year; less than 30 comes from the sugar bowl, maybe added to coffee, tea or cereal. Most comes from processed food and drinks. (16)

5. Trans Fats and Vegetable Oils

Cheap fats allow food companies to make more money. Seed and vegetable oils commonly used to enhance flavor and texture like soybean oil have been hydrogenated, which makes them trans fats.

These oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which tend to oxidize and lead to inflammation. (17, 18)

Consuming these oils puts you at greater risk for developing heart disease, which is the number one killer worldwide. (19, 20, 21)

6. Hyper-Rewarding Food Experiences

In times past, taste buds steered us toward the food we needed to survive; rich fatty foods, salty foods and foods with natural sweetness helped us hone in on the necessary fuel and nutrient sources for daily activities.

Today, those same instincts are exploited by food manufacturers. The more we love eating it, the more likely we are to buy it again.

Costly evaluations and engineering operations are conducted by food giants in the fierce competition for business. The result is overly-rewarding culinary experiences that encourage us to overeat. (22, 23)

Biochemists who are very good at their jobs are being paid very well to create food products laced with substances that trip our pleasure-meters to the point where reason, logic and common sense can no longer be accessed, and the eating just goes on and on.

7. Junk Food Addiction

Arising from hyper-rewards experienced when eating foods designed to hijack brain chemistry, addiction to junk foods is becoming more common. (24)

It doesn’t happen to everyone, but some people just cannot stop, and eat the whole bag of chips or box of cookies. A half-gallon of ice cream is gone in a sitting.

Total loss of control with food is addictive behavior, and studies show sugar and some junk foods light up the same pleasure centers in the brain as cocaine. (25)

This prospect alone should be enough to scare some sense into most people.

Recap: The take-home message is simple, processed foods pack on pounds and erode your health. Eat real food.

https://bodynutrition.org/processed-foods/ http://bodynutritionorg.blogspot.com/2017/12/17-processed-foods-to-avoid.html