Another Theory
I haven’t eaten any chocolate this week. Well, I did drink a cup of cocoa with my husband last night. I’ve also been watching other snacks and counting my vegetable servings to ensure I get 5 or 6 a day.
That said, I am still avoiding my closet and all the clothes that I know don’t fit. I am trying to figure out how I can think about nutrition and weight loss without obsessing about weight loss.
Obviously I can’t just declare that weight issues are completely unimportant and that modern western society should find a new obsession. Can I?
I’ve been thinking about a conversation Sarah and I have been having in the comments section of the Moment of Truth post. I believe most diet theories are based on poor reasoning and scientific knowledge. Sarah pointed out the studies that show long term results of the Atkin’s diet.
While the diet may work (and only cause kidney problems in a few people), I still have a problem with an eating plan that requires one to eat 4000 calories a day instead of the normal 1800 to 2400. By the way, the Diet & Body web site has a discussion about doing the Atkin’s diet while breast feeding and highlights concerns about dehydration and kidney damage that breast feeding women are especially vulnerable to.
All parents, not just new mothers, are likely to eat extra healthy calories in addition to the junk food traps awaiting everyone. I am convinced many cases of “middle-age spread” are caused when parents eat their children’s leftovers. There’s nothing that says terrible waste like a toddler’s untouched plate of dinner. I think it’s natural for us to abhor wasting food. Afterall, so many children in this world go to bed hungry.
So, if anyone is looking for another trendy diet, I suggest adopting my new theory: just feed the kids.
Note: This doesn’t work with babies. If you don’t have a toddler or older children, just invite some over for dinner.
Cook for the kids, but don’t make anything for yourself. When the kids have finished, you can eat whatever is left over on their plates. It might not help you lose weight, but it will make you think of all those parents who have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their kids every day.
Kind of makes me feel grateful that 8 extra kilograms are one of my biggest problems.
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POSTED IN: Health
9 opinions for Another Theory
sarah
Feb 3, 2006 at 11:01 am
I think it is good that you have hot cocoa with your husband, but are watching snacks and making sure you get your veggies! Healthy habits are the best way!
Here is my 2 cents if you will have it.
I think the best thing to do in terms of getting fit nutritionally is to think about balance. Not just obsess about what goes in, but be equally conscious of what goes out. Those exercise endorphins make you feel a little better and helps curb the cravings for unhealthy foods that we sometimes want when we are feeling down.
With eating, I try to think about balance too. I love eating, cooking, and food in general, so I try to make sure I keep it varied, fish, meat, veggies, grains. I try to make things that are yummy and fun to eat with interesting flavours and spices, so that I am well satisfied by the meal and not looking for a desert.
Processed carbs are the easiest quickest thing to prepare usually, so I try to make sure I don’t do that more than a couple times a week.
With treats and snacks, if you are not denying yourself all the time, and make sure you give yourself rationed rewards in appropriate portions, then healthy eating is more sustainable. Everything has to be geared towards long term.
kbaggott
Feb 3, 2006 at 12:54 pm
“Processed carbs are the easiest quickest thing to prepare usually, so I try to make sure I don’t do that more than a couple times a week.”
You are so right! Pasta is my big weakness, but not for the taste, but for the ease of preparation. I could say the same for sandwiches, but I hope we’re ahead of the game by not eating white bread.
I am thinking I need to run a recipe contest for 15-minute healthy meals once this blog is more established. What do you think?
sarah
Feb 3, 2006 at 2:59 pm
I think that is a great idea. In the end, the practical part of preparing food, not to mention the higher cost of healthier foods(!) has a huge impact in what you end up choosing to eat.
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Jill (far_gone)
Oct 16, 2006 at 4:25 am
I try to make my kids yummy food and I find it very hard (and disheartening) to dump it in the bin so I wind up eating it. Then my partner comes home and wants to eat together. Thus my extra eight kilos. Maybe I should just sit with him while he eats if I’ve already had a half plate of kid food.
As far as what to prepare? My kids love spinach risotto. We do do a lot of pasta, which means lots of opportunity for veggie and meat sauces. My kids love fish and chicken liver pate (odd kids!) and fish is very quick to prepare. They love to dip green beans into a vinaigrette or creamy sauce. A lot of times I make their dinner and then serve the leftovers to us over a bunch of salad leaves. I love to cook but who’s got time to cook twice a night??
kbaggott
Oct 16, 2006 at 9:22 am
JIll! That is a fantastic idea. Let’s write a cookbook with things to make for mom and dad from children’s leftovers. You be the foodie and I will be the writer. We could do it over a week at your place in Italy…
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Nov 22, 2006 at 1:52 am
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