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Post by jan on Mar 11, 2024 7:29:31 GMT
This round runs from Feb. 12 through March 24 Challengers: Cherry — Do some form of exercise most days Cathy — Honestly track everything Judy — Move more Holly — Maintain Lifetime at Goal Status Bev — More cautious of what I'm eating Jan — Adding more fruits and veggies into my meals, no after-work snacking Hosts: Feb. 12 through Feb. 18 — Cherry Feb. 19 through Feb. 25 — Cathy Feb. 26 through March 3 — Judy March 4 through March 10 — Holly March 11 through March 17 — Jan March 18 through March 24 — Bev
Real Food Tips: 10 Common Misconceptions
Don’t be fooled by these misleading food myths:
1. A healthy diet means eating “low-fat” and “fat-free” food products…wrong!
Michael Pollan basically abolishes this myth in his book In Defense of Food, and you can check
out our mini-pledge post from week 6 for some detail.
2. Mutli-grain crackers are better than crackers made from white flour…wrong!
“Mutli-grain” is a misleading buzzword because unless those grains are actually “whole grain”
the product is really no better than those made from refined grains (like white flour).
3. It’s “natural” so it must be a good choice…wrong!
If a product is natural it simply means it wasn’t made from any artificial ingredients, which is
certainly desirable, but don’t forget that white flour, sugar, and even high-fructose corn syrup
are all derived from “natural” ingredients and they are also all highly refined.
4. Organic packaged food is better than conventional…okay, mostly true.
The problem is though that since the product is organic people sometimes just assume it’s also
“healthy.” But there’s an awful lot of what I call “organic junk food” out there that’s still highly
processed (like organic cookies, organic ice cream sandwiches, and organic candy) so no matter
what the package says you still have to read – and scrutinize – the ingredient label.
5. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is much worse for you than sugar…wrong!
According to Michael Pollan HFCS has not been proven to be worse for you than sugar it’s just a
“reliable marker for a food product that has been highly processed.”
Here are the first 5. Have you heard these before and have you or do you believe them ?
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Post by Holly Gail on Mar 11, 2024 12:48:54 GMT
Because #1 referenced "week 6," I did a search for the article and (in case anyone else is curious) found this:
www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-tips-10-common-misconceptions/
I clicked on the link to "week 6" and although much of what I read was good information, the tone of the article kind of didn't sit well with me. Then I went back to the article itself and found the tone also somewhat off-putting, although much of the information is true (and I and most of you too had already known it partly from having participated in Weight Watchers meetings and articles). I have nothing against blogs and I have nothing against people who write them. However, at first reading, I didn't think this particular blog is one I'd choose to follow. Then I went to the "About" page and read about the author plus the person who heads up the creation and publication of new content for the blog. Both women sound way more than knowledgeable about the topic. So I'm on the fence. (As you know, I generally read articles by professionals trained in nutrition and health.)
I knew the five things quoted in the opening post, and I'm sure the rest of you did too. I can't agree 100%, especially about the milk. I learned (prior to joining Weight Watchers) that humans are the only members of the mammal family that continue to drink milk past the age of weaning. When I first learned that one fact, I pretty much stopped drinking milk (getting calcium from other sources). The only reason I started again had to do with the GHGs (which I questioned because of the "dairy" category: 2 or 3 servings daily, depending on one's age and weight), but eventually went along with. I still use skim milk in smoothies. The nutrients I lose from the fat in milk I make up for with other foods, so I'm not at all concerned about them.
And one concept the blogger touts is something I have a lot of faith in too: eating "real" food.
jan , Jan, how did you originally find this blogger? Do you read much of her writings? Have you followed any of her recipes? I just looked at some of the recipes and a few caught my eye; I'm in the process of reading through some of them. I'd love to hear what you think about them!
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Post by Kathy D on Mar 11, 2024 13:05:20 GMT
Hello Holly,
Interesting thread.
Per the dairy issue, I think it varies from culture to culture. My husband's family immigrated to the US from north of the artic circle (Scandinavian) 120 years ago. They were traditional reindeer herders and fishermen who existed largely on reindeer milk (daily). So I think some populations, thought the millennia, have become 'natural' milk drinkers.
In Sweden they are called the Sami people, the indigenous folks from that part of the world.
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Post by jasimons on Mar 11, 2024 15:11:23 GMT
I first joined WW when low fat & high fiber meant lower points. When the plan changed and also when I started following no-count program, I agree with the author of the list, low fat/high fiber doesn't always mean healthful.
The other four I kind of think of as marketing or advertising phrases. Checking ingredients is good to be sure.
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Post by bmazzo on Mar 11, 2024 17:13:47 GMT
I am still out on the dairy product thing. I remember when women over 50 had to have 3 servings of dairy daily. Now WW has totally abandoned that idea. However, they have made ff Greek yogurt & ff cottage cheese 0 point foods. The yogurt is used in so many, many WW recipes. I think they are still promoting the dairy products, but in a different way. However, now, skim milk is 3 points per 8 oz serving. That is pretty high. I use almond milk on my cereal as it is only 1 pt. Cats, dogs & a host of other animals will gladly drink cow's milk if it is given to them. There is also milk products in the pet foods.
I am also still skeptical about the whole "organic" thing. I am a country girl & I know what they use for fertilizer!!!. I also saw a documentary about how foods get classified as "organic" for instance, meat, maybe beef or whatever, it just means that the cattle have never been fed anything except hay that is organically grown? If the cattle are left to wander "free range" who knows what they eat? Same thing with the "free range" chickens & the "organic eggs". As a country girl, I know that chickens will eat anything, even each other's poop! They also dig worms & bugs out of the ground, who knows where the bugs & worms have eaten? I think the whole thing is pretty much a crock. We have a lot of Amish farmers in our area. I love to buy their produce as it is always fresh & delicious. I guess they are pretty much as close to organic as you can get, yet they don't advertise their products that way.
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Post by cherryt38 on Mar 12, 2024 0:18:58 GMT
The exception to the statement that humans are the only mammal that drinks milk is for barn cats. They will continue to drink milk from cows that are being milked, especially when you aim the squirts from the cows teats right at them. And some barn cats will also drink the fresh milk from a dish too, if provided for them in the barn.
I continue to drink dairy skim milk part of the time as I have never become sensitive to it as a lot of older people have. I don't always drink it every day. but at intervals.
As for the organic thing, I think that most pesticides used are made from natural ingredients, but that doesn't account for the chemical pesticides that drift from other non organic farms. A few things I'll buy organic, but not everything.
I don't totally believe any of those myths entirely. Multi-grain breads or other products depend on how many whole grains are in there compared to the amount of white flour used. Some breads will use some whole grain flour along with less white flour, and use other whole grains like barley or oats and ground flax seeds etc.
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Post by Holly Gail on Mar 12, 2024 12:51:02 GMT
Kathy D,
Thanks for the info. I hadn't known about cultural differences when it comes to dairy.
Feel free to come back to our thread and comment when you feel you may have something to say.
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