Bad, Bad, Food
Remember my article from the last issue? It was about Nick and I shopping at the grocery store and finding out that we were paying more but getting less? Well in this issue I’m gonna scare the pants off you. We will continue our search for food items—only this time in your house! Be afraid.
Now, go to the refrigerator, throw open the door, and yell, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” You see, your refrigerator harbors some pretty horrible food products. Which ones you ask? Well, there are plenty of bad foods and drinks to sink all your well work outs, cardios, and closely watched diets.
Lets start with the drinks first. Anything with less than 10% juice has probably 90% sugar added to it. When a product boasts that it contains 10% real fruit juice, ask yourself about the ingredients. They’re probably corn syrup, beet sugar, or real cane sugar. I love the commercial where two women are at a kid’s birthday party—one pours some sugary drinks and the other questions it. She is made to feel stupid because the woman pouring the drinks says—hey it’s natural and in moderation is okay to drink.Well, not true. Sugar is sugar and empty calories are just that! Look at the nutrition label on a can or bottle of soda. Not long ago, some schools were experimenting with giving out soda with kid’s morning breakfasts. That was eventually canned.
I bet that many of you keep wine, hard liquor and beer in the refrigerator. You’re not going to like this. These all carry high calorie counts. An 8 ounce glass of wine has about 170 calories, a 12 ounce beer has about 150, and ½ shot of hard liquor (or booze) has 105 calories. It doesn’t matter if its rum, vodka, or whiskey—it’s got calories! And adding a slice of lemon, lime, or even a cherry doesn’t add to the nutrition factor.
I haven’t purchased lunch meat in years. I know it’s bad for you. They put loads of salt and chemicals in this stuff to preserve it forever. The chemicals—nitrosamines have been proven to cause cancer. Look it up—it’s there! Just one slice of bologna contains anywhere from 310 to 480 milligrams of sodium. Oh my aching blood pressure! And the nitrates will do a number on your colon because that’s the area most affected by them. Canned meats are also at fault. They contain as much sodium and preservatives as deli meat. I am shocked the little spam animal isn’t extinct by now— what with these crazy Hawaiians using it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Don’t get me started on hot dogs. They may taste great but once you read the ingredients you start to have second thoughts—really! If you’re gonna eat a hot dog or two, then try to eat the low-fat kind. At least you can be sure you’re saving fat-calories.
Don’t stop yelling at your refrigerator. The freezer is just as guilty. It contains that very high-fat high-calorie gourmet ice cream. Those famous brands, Ben & Jerry’s, Haagen Dazs, and the rest contain some mighty high fat-calories, sugar content, and cholesterol. The saturated fat is the worst. So try a lower calorie sugar and fat option brand. Just read the label and compare. You save both ways.
We’re still looking at the freezer and frozen French fries are the guilty party. Now listen up—just a 3 ounce serving has a high fat content and sodium that ranges from 390 to 540 milligrams. And who among us eats just 3 ounces of fries? Nobody. Just think about those big buckets of fries they sell on the boardwalk. Get the gurney ready— a heart attack’s coming.
Well, Paula Deen may disagree with me but butter and margarine are the next offenders. One tablespoon? 100 calories. Oh my gawd! They call butter and margarine “spreadable fat.” That sounds disgusting! Try switching over to olive oil or even canola oil—much, ,much better for you.
Still got your juices flowing? Creamed salad dressings are dreadful examples of good food. The salad you eat is good—the dressing ain’t. Just 2 tablespoons of dressing have 120 calories, and a high 380 milligrams of sodium. I’ve seen people at salad bars dump a ladle or two of dressing on their “healthy salad.”
And now let’s get to a real offender—good old mayonnaise. Yep—the stuff you slather on your lunch meat sandwich. You just socked up an additional 360 calories on your sandwich and 40 grams of fat. We Americans do love our mayo. But we really need to try other sources. Try light mayo, ketchup, mustard, salsa, or even BBQ sauces. Even if you really want real mayo, cut back on the slather and just use it lightly.
You can stop yelling now…go work out.