Does one diet fit all?

The answer is clearly with varying degrees of success. Just as there are many products on the grocery shelf to choose from, there are many diets to choose from. Some are probably better than others for you, personally.

How do we choose? By starting with the individual rather than the latest new diet. That involves knowing individual food preferences, health considerations, eating patterns, etc. 

A FoodFitter can help. Follow me, FoodFitter on Twitter.

Providing healthier alternatives

This week, County supervisors approved several initiatives to promote healthy living in Los Angeles including community gardens, bike paths and the introduction of healthier food alternatives in county facilities. Adopting these initiatives qualifies the county to receive Federal Stimulus funds.

What is notable is that supervisors did not approve an initiative banning sugar-sweetened beverages from county facilities on the grounds that adults should be allowed to make their own beverages choices. Their intention was to differentiate this decision from a decision they made earlier this year banning sugar sweetened beverages from school vending machines.  Beverages in school vending machines are purchased principally by children.

While the role sugar-sweetened beverages plays in the both adult and childhood obesity epidemic remains controversial, what is important is that healthier options are provided and are easy to adopt. This is a step in the right direction. If we all just move in the direction of healthier choices, we will be well on our way to more significant consumption changes in the future.

Do you think that manufacturers should self police to limit availability of products that are less nutritionally dense to the relative proportion they should likely represent in our diet?

How to make grocery shopping more fun and entertaining!

I've been enjoying grocery shopping as long as I can remember but is it fun or a chore for most of us? With a little help to sort through the maze of products, it can be much more entertaining. Always start your shopping around the perimeter of the store - the perishable foods you find there tend to be healthiest. Here's one way to get our attention in the fruit and vegetable section....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnY59mDJ1gg.

Shouldn't all foods be "healthy"?

Actually, we eat for health and pleasure. But too much pleasure at the expense of our health isn't really good for us.

Why don't we take responsibility for maintaining balance in our lives? Are we being fooled or are we fooling ourselves? Do food companies give us the permission to eat whatever we want or do we choose to make unhealthy choices?

The FDA is the latest to weigh in on the issue of what constitutes a healthy food product by working on a definition of the word, "healthy", and suggestions for revising labeling on our foods.

Yet, is the reason there are so many claims and "seals of approval" on packaging because the standard label not work? If the one food label on all packages is confusing then additional claims and seals of approval on today's grocery shelf won't make it clearer until we all agree on the standards for a product to be considered "healthy".

Helping the consumer make better food choices for health with a single definition of healthy and a label that informs consumer choices is clearly an important goal. When we are all working together to clarify what constitutes a healthy food product, it will be harder for us to fool ourselves, but still likely. After all, we are human. Maintaining balance in our lives has never been a simple task. So let's head in the right direction. Government, food manufacturers and retailers, please make it as easy as possible for us all to maintain good health.


http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7076682

Sugar is sweet and so are you

Children crave sweets for energy since they are more active typically than adults and because their bodies are growing. Once growth is complete, sugar can do more harm than good to our bodies so as adults we need to curb our sugar consumption.

Here in lies the issue we all struggle with. Since children are influenced easily liking what is what is familiar to them and tastes good especially when given as a reward or treat by an adult, the child forms a positive emotional connection with what they eat and it lasts for a lifetime. As adults, we want to limit sweets to kids because we don't want them to "learn" to eat empty calories and associate this behavior with being good to themselves when in fact, eaten in excess can be quite negative. We want our children to be healthy and be good to themselves which means being able to say no to sweets if they are overweight. Too much of anything isn't being good to oneself. So too much of a positive experience can turn negative. The crux of the issue is teaching our children how to set limits so we are eating appropriately and ultimately being good to ourselves. Since food is always around us we need to learn from an early age about how much to eat, moderation and making good choices.

Basics : 10,000 steps and lots of water

When I'm frustrated with my weight loss, I start again with the basics of eating well and then do one thing differently. For me, it's sticking to a high protein diet from lean meat, fish or whey isolates. 1) no sugar, 2) no dairy and 3) no wheat. 5 servings of fruit is a must. I eat some greens, lots of reds, and some brown or white daily (lean protein and some oatmeal or egg white for breakfast). I take fish oil capsules, Vitamin D, Cal/Mag and a multivitamin daily.

Oh did I mention 10,000 steps. I struggle daily to get in the exercise.

I keep a diary and look at the nutritional profile of diet on http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

Keeping it interesting is easy enough through variety and no or low calorie condiments such as flavored vinegars, or basting with sauces used sparingly for flavor. For example, if I'm missing the taste of dairy, I'll use tablespoon of goat cheese or yogurt in a recipe.

I wish there was a magic formula for my body but there isn't. Genetics rule.

Squeezing your waist, not your budget

With the down economy, many are resorting to less expensive but less nutritious food choices. How can we make the squeeze work for us?

The answer lies in buying in bulk and preparing in advance. It doesn't have to be more work overall, it just means that we need to think ahead and dedicate some upfront time which will likely save you time. With meals ready that we can eat for weeks at home or on the go, we can avoid spending too much on meals on the go and convenience foods which still take time out of our day.

Keep meals pure and simple. If you want to save time and control portion size, use inexpensive bags or wraps. For example, if you want french toast - instead of buying it in the freezer section you can buy a loaf of bread and a few eggs or maybe better 100% egg whites, fry in a teflon pan with a drop of butter spray or spread and put in a freezer bag. You can heat two pieces for breakfast in 15 seconds in the microwave. Add an orange (bought in bulk) and you have a great meal for under 50 cents. Most frozen pancakes, waffles, omelets and egg sandwiches you buy prepared at retail come with nutritional baggage like excess sodium, sugar, saturated fat and trans fats.

If you had purchased frozen waffles and refrigerated orange juice instead, your meal would be closer to $2.00. If you went out to a restaurant the meal would be a minimum of $4.00 and likely higher. And that's just breakfast. If watching your family's weight and nutrition doesn't motivate doesn't motivate you, the money you save might!

Send your comments and let me know if I can help you watch your nutrition, budget and simplify meal preparation for you!