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I was having trouble deciding which subject to write about tonight. Would it be food, workout programs, specific exercises? It was decided for me while I was in the grocery store.
I rant a lot about this to my kids and pretty much anyone else that will listen..lol.
I can totally understand why we here in America are overweight, obese, and totally unhealthy.
I was in the frozen foods department at the grocery store, reaching in for frozen blueberries, which I use in my protein shakes. As some of you may know, they are not cheap. But right on the shelf under them were the little individual turtle cakes, and chocolate molten cakes. You know the ones I am talking about.and..they were only $1.50 each. So you think to yourself..ohhh..ONLY $1.50 versus the $4.39 I am paying for these healthy berries.
Now, the regular everyday person would have probably went for the cake because it was cheaper, and from the picture on the box it did look yummy. But of course, I chose the blueberries. Which WAS the healthiest choice.
But this brought to mind the same thing it always brings to my mind when I go to the groceries. I always look to see what other people have in their carts. I just can't help myself now. When I see a cart full of soft drinks, chips, Little Debbie's, bacon, regular sausage, those fast chicken things, TV dinners, and all of those other things that are fast and full of fat, it really does make me feel bad for the people eating these things. They have probably never been educated on the benefits of eating fresh, healthy foods,how to prepare them, and how good these foods can make you feel. I know I wasn't up until a few years ago. I can remember buying all these things. If you see me in the store, I'm not saying you won't see an occasional bag of chips for my youngest son in my cart, but 90% of the food in my cart will be healthy food.
Another thing I have noticed is how cheap crappy food is. The manufacturers make getting and staying unhealthy easy and cheap. The same with the fast food restaurants.
Some of the things I buy now MAY be a little more expensive at first glance, but if you know what you are doing when it comes to eating healthy and fresh foods, it does not have to cost much more than that junk food.
Some of the main things I buy at the store are the things I eat on a daily basis. These are my mainstays that I always have in the house. They are..
1)Tilapia( a type of fish)..I get this at Wal-mart. I buy the bag that has 4 oz portions, which is the amount of one serving. They are in the frozen section.
2) Chicken Breasts..fresh or the frozen bag..sometimes I will buy the breasts tenderloins if they are on sale.
3) Beef Tenderloin...I get a whole one at Boone's and slice it into VERY thin pieces. (This cut of meat is pricey..but once you slice it up it is a lot of meat, and you don't use that much per serving.) If you want to buy this cut, and are not sure not to trim it, etc..I will show you..it is worth the price and time.
4) White Albacore Tuna
5) Quinoa. (pronounced Keen'wah)...it is a high protein grain, it kind of reminds me of brown rice but you can add different things to it and it picks up the flavors.
6) Natural Peanut Butter..it has only peanuts..no sugars or any other added oils.
7) Sweet Potatoes..I had always hated these, but once I discovered how to make fries in the oven out of them, I now love them.
8)Spinach..I eat this EVERY day, in a lot of different ways.
9) Egg Whites...I buy either regular eggs and just use the whites, or I buy the Wal-mart or Kroger brand of just the whites.
10) Ezekiel 4:9 Bread..it is a sprouted 100% Whole Wheat Bread. I get it at Kroger in the organic frozen section. A loaf is usually around 4 dollars, but it lasts me 2 weeks.
11)Greek Yogurt..I will admit if you are used to regular yogurt, this will taste a little different at first. It took me some getting used to..it is thicker than regular yogurt but has much more protein than regular.
12) Body Fortress Whey Protein Powder..I use this every day for a shake in the mornings and if I am in a hurry I may grab one another time during the day. I mix one scoop with skim milk and peanut butter and banana, or blueberries or other fruit..it's great.
13) Bear Naked Granola..a great brand. I use it in my yogurt.
14) Nuts, such as Walnuts and Raw Almonds. You need to use these in moderation, not grab handfuls at a time. I usually roast a bunch at once, then use then in salads,etc. or grab a few for a snack.
15) Frozen Whole Green Beans or other frozen veggies.( Not the kind in sauces..plain)
16) Asparagus
17) Cole Slaw Mix..I throw it in the skillet to soften it and add spices to it..garlic, etc.
18) OLIVE OIL..this is the ONLY oil I use to saute my food. I also use it with lemon juice on my salads and veggies.
19) Cooking spray.
20) Parmesan cheese and Feta Cheese..don't eat the Feta in chunks..I use it to season in small amounts.
21) Fresh Fruit..Apples, all the Citrus Fruits, Bananas...I use frozen blueberries, peaches, and mixed fruits in my shakes.
22) Skim Milk
I also add other things such as Salmon, shrimp or veggies that are on sale that week.
These are the main things I eat on a day to day basis. I use tons of spices, garlic, onions, peppers, lemons, limes, and course ground black pepper when I cook my food.
If you eat plain chicken breasts or fish day after day, it would bore you to death, it taste like crap, it would get old quick, and you would give it up.
The same for my veggies..I add nuts, spices, garlic..lots of different things to them.
I squeeze lemon juice on just about all my food right before I eat it. It brings out the flavor in everything.
It would also be overwhelming to try to cook your own meal every night and cook your family their own food, if you are the only one eating this way. I usually cook my food on Sundays and make enough for the week. I will make a couple of different meats and a couple of veggies... divide them and put them in containers in the fridge. Then I can just grab them, get what I want for dinner and nuke it. If my food gets low, I will cook another batch on Wednesday.
I usually make a shake as soon as I get up, then a couple of hours later have breakfast. A couple of hours later I will eat again. As I told you guys before, I eat about every 2 to 3 hours. I am always eating, and I love it.
It may seem a little overwhelming at first to try to take all this foodie stuff in, but it gets easy and will come natural to you after just a few weeks.
Even if you just change out a few things that you eat now with healthy alternatives, you will see a difference in the way you look and feel.
Try it and I promise you.. you will be glad you did, and if you see me in the grocery store..yes, I AM looking in your cart...lol
Sandy