At 17 cents a package, Ramen Noodles are a cheap source of carbohydrates. But as a sole source of calories, this would not be a balanced meal.(1/2 package is one serving, discard the flavor packet)
It is hard to believe that anyone in America is "going hungry" when we are awash in a sea of cheap food.
A package of raman noodles sells for 17 cents a package at the big box store. Wal Mart has them for not a lot more. A typical package, which contains two servings has nearly 400 calories.
Hmmm, for less than a buck, you could easily consume over 2000 calories a day, the average amount most people need to stay alive. A balanced nutritious meal? Hardly. But at least you wouldn't starve.
We are awash in a sea of cheap carbohydrates in this country - starches and sugars. Carbohydrates are a part of a balanced meal, and you should eat some. Yo-yo dieters and supermodels, of course, swear them off. But again, we are not about to go down that route, are we? Of eating badly to look waif thin and ending up sick and unhealthy? Because for you and me, it won't work, for starters. You'll never be waif thin, just fat and sick.
But the ramen noodles thing illustrates that you can eat cheaply in this country. However, eating cheaply often runs against your goals of eating well. So the goals of cost-cutting and healthy diet can be at cross-purposes.
However, most people who live an unhealthy diet are not spending less, but rather spending more. Since carbohydrates are so cheap, they can be used to make processed foods very cheaply, that can be sold at a high price and high profit margin. It is not surprising that many prepared and frozen foods are loaded up with cheap carbs.
This is not to say you should shun carbohydrates entirely (again, if you think so, you aren't listening). Only that you should control them and not let them dominate your diet. Poor people and people in institutions are often overweight and puffy because they load up on carbs (institutions love them because they are a cheap way to fill out the daily calorie requirements).
Take advantage of cheap carbs by buying them cheaply - as source foods, not as part of prepared or pre-packaged meals. Use them as a responsible portion of a meal, not as the dominant part.
We used to have entire meals that were little more than pure carbohydrates. Boiled pasta with some butter or olive oil and some grated Parmesan cheese, for example (an upscale version of the poor man's mac and cheese, which suffers from the same problem). No fiber, little protein, just carbohydrates and some fat. And yet many folks eat this way, whether by choice or not.
The same meal, in a small, measured portion, would be fine, if accompanied by a small amount of protein (meat, for example) and a salad or green vegetable. Protein, according to some people, actually delays the metabolism of accompanying carbs. So mixing things up, in a balanced meal, creates a better overall meal, not just because the individual ingredients are better, but because the different ingredients work with one another to provide better nutrition. It is like 1 + 1 = 5.
Again, the answer is not complicated - eat a balanced, healthy diet, containing the proper amounts of fats, protein, starches, sugars and fiber. Consult the food pyramid for more information.
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February 16, 2010 244.4 lbs.
Mild diverticulitis attack seems to be waning
Doctor's appointment to discuss blood tests.
Exercise: Walk: 1 mile
Blood tests and other data was encouraging. Weight shows 10 pound loss since last visit (fall 2009) and blood pressure is 90/60, a 10 point drop from the last visit.
All blood levels are within normal ranges except triglycerides are a bit high and "bad" cholesterol is a bit high (both barely over the desired range) Several things could cause this - over-eating of sweets, over-consumption of alcohol, or lack of exercise. We are not eating much sweets, and will exercise more and are trying to limit alcohol to 1 glass per day.
Disturbingly, the stool sample shows signs of blood, which could be a result of the mild diverticulitis attack. So off to the gastrointestinologist for a check-up, and likely, another colonoscopy (last one was 10 years ago). Ouch! Getting old is fun.
Breakfast:
1 cup raisin bran 190
1 cup rice milk 120
1/2 English muffin 65
1/2 tsp butter: 18
coffee 5
Total: 399
Note: We plan on using up the Rice Milk, but switching to 2% lowfat milk in the future. See my future article on Rice Milk, which although organic and Vegan, is also high in carbs and contains no fat, which is not balanced.
Lunch:
Pizza Slice (Arte Pizza, supreme) est. 409
Side Caesar Salad est. 170
1 orange 85 afternoon snack.
Total: 654 - large lunch.
Notes: Breakfast too small, got hungry and irritable before lunch. Planned on mid-morning snack of orange, forgot to eat it. Overate at lunch as a result. Gaining weight!
Dinner:
Refrigerator Pie, 1/4 pie, 438 calories.
Salad:
Romaine 3 leaves 6
Dressing: pureed artichoke hearts 1 oz 20
Parmesan cheese 1 tsp 8
1-1/2 oranges (snack) 148
3 cheese filled crackers: 90
Total: 710 - too large!
Total for day: 1763 This may be under-reporting lunch, which is hard to calculate (restaurant food).
Disclaimer: Before going on any diet or exercise program, consult your Doctor for advice specific to your condition and needs. The entries in this blog reflect my own personal philosophies about weight loss, diet, eating habits, and exercise and reflect my experiences in losing weight. They are not intended as instructions on health, exercise, or medicine for others. The author assumes no responsibility in any way for misuse of the materials provided herein.
