Is it Tomorrow Already?

Calorie; Either of two units of heat energy or The energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C.  Simply speaking, calories measure how many units of energy are found within the food we eat.  Fat has 9 calories per gram, protein has 4 calories per gram, carbohydrates (complex) have 4 calories per gram, alcohol has 7 calories per gram.   We measure how many quarts of oil go into our automobiles, how much detergent goes into our washing machines, how much starch we add to our ironing pile, how much bleach we put in our cleaning solutions; why not measure how many calories we consume?  Just as we take care of the appliances we depend on, so should we take care of our own personal human machines!

How many calories do you need to function?  Females: take your weight and multiply it by 100; that number represents how many calories your body needs to run that basal metabolism.  (Men, use 110 instead.)  Activity level dictates how many extra calories you need.  If you are on the move for more than four hours a day you would need about 500 extra calories.  Moderately active specimens need around 300.  Sedentary individuals only need about 200 extra calories.  If you are very active (runner, biker, swimmer, hiker, climber, mom-er, spelunker, farmer, laborer, etc.) you need to replace the calories you use during biking, spelunking or farming.  Count your calories and record your activity if you don't know what you spend or what you bank~  education is key.

I do not believe calories can measure health (nor can it measure the healthiness of a food).  Some health platforms use calories as a counting tools; all calories are equal.  I do not support or promote that belief.   I understand why the amount of calories matter and why it is important to know how many calories your body needs. But instead of believing calories measure of health, I believe food is the foundation and measurement of health.  If you are eating mostly calories from the wrong kind of fat and simple carbohydrates, you are not being nourished by your food.  Think of it this way:  If you are not eating enough nutrients, your body will starve no matter how many calories you eat.

So, eat real food.  Don't be afraid of naturally occurring fat or sugar, just be mindful of how much fat and sugar you ingest (natural or not).  Don't be put off by a plate full of vegetables, just choose the ones that look and taste good to you.  Don't avoid foods because they are high in calories, instead avoid foods that are low in nutrients.  Drink plenty of water, give your vitamins their vitamins, and, as always, remember to wash your hands.

Anna

Have a Wonderful Week, Visitors~  I will resume my investigation on May 13, 2013.  Eat real food really often, wash it in with water, give your vitamins their vitamins and, as always, remember to wash your hands.

Anna~

Replacements!

Removing foods from your routine diet can be a bit dumbfounding.  Most times, the confusion comes with figuring out what to eat instead of the regular go-to, ready made food.  Some of us utilize frozen potatoes; some use frozen, breaded fish; some of us use bagged, prepared salad;  and, many rely on frozen, steam-in-the-bag vegetables.  The supermarket provides many very convenient meals, but each step eliminated with prepared food also eliminates nutrition.

Try baked potatoes instead of bagged, prepared fries or tater tots.  Instead of opening a bag and spreading tots out on a pan, wash a potato for each person at the table, set the oven for 450 degrees, poke a few holes in the spuds and bake for an hour (or until they squeak when you squeeze them).  You don't have to peel or prepare much, just stab, bake, and eat.  Potatoes provide potassium and vitamin C and only pack about 115 calories, so they are quite good for you if they are prepared sensibly.  If baked isn't your thing, mash them with skins and all with chicken stock and just enough butter.  Combine the recipes and you'll have great twice baked potatoes...  Leave the bag and go for the real thing.

Salads are too often avoided because of the prep work involved, so supermarkets are now filled with ready assembled salads.  The only draw back is the fact that they are usually sold in plastic and typically taste much like the plastic they come in; not very appetizing.  Grab a head of iceberg lettuce, quarter it, crumble on some blue cheese, and drizzle with a light vinaigrette.  Skip the bacon bits!  Instead, plop on a few cherry tomatoes.  Easy, delicious, nutritious, and beautiful to boot~  Salads do not have to be labor intensive, so skip the ready made bag and put your spin on the real thing.

Vegetables are now finding their way into microwavable plastic bags dressed in butter, ranch marinade  or cheesy sauce and are marketed as a healthy addition to your meal.  Microwaving blanched, then flash frozen, bagged vegetables depletes most of the remaining nutritional value, so skip them if you can.  Visit the produce section, pick out some freshies, plop them in a colander atop a boiling pot, and steam them yourself.  It will take less than ten minutes.  Dress with whatever herbs and spices you like, or even cheese or real butter.  Preparing and dressing fresh vegetables allows you to control the salt, the fat, and the tenderness without sacrificing nutrition.

Bread, pasta, and rice are the foods I struggle with.  I can't get my taste buds around whole wheat pasta and at times, brown rice doesn't do it.  So, I find and eat as many fresh, natural foods as I can.  I encourage you to do the same.  Don't forget to give your vitamins their vitamins and to drink plenty of water; digestion demands it.  And, as always, remember to wash your hands.  For dinner, roast chicken, wedge salad and baked potatoes!

Anna~