:
Calories Matter But Nutrients Are More Fun
I came across an interesting post over at SparkPeople, which compares the caloric values of common American meals: best options versus not-so-good options. The best options, take note, are those that are heavy on the vegetables, fruits, and whole grains rather than white flours, cheese! and other fats, added sugars, and high salt content.
Looking at plated meals of equal caloric value is a good exercise in dietary discernment, but I've found that counting calories can get tedious and discouraging over the course of a couple days. I think this is because counting calories in our society is necessarily a matter of limitation. The ultimate object of a calorie tally is to look at an opportunity to enjoy food and say to yourself either, "I can eat this without feeling guilty," or else, "I can't eat this without feeling horrible about myself." Whichever option is applicable, you still end up associating food with guilt.
Don't get me wrong, calorie awareness is an important part of eating well. But eating is also wrapped up in funky psychological processes (at least it is for me!). So I find that taking a more positive approach to meal composition helps me to eat better. My positive approach is to look at a meal and estimate the nutritional value of the food. Does it match my food plan? Are there lots of veggies? If there's dessert, or a sweet topping, is it fresh or gently prepared fruit? Is the bread made from whole grains? Is the cereal?
Answering such questions in the affirmative reassures me that the nutrition is in there and stalls my own weird guilt cycles. With the difficult emotion out of the way, I can think more carefully about my choices, including how I choose to really feel about myself and the lifestyle I'm building. Whenever I need a little informational pick-me-up, I go to the nutritional database, rather than the calorie-counter listings. Then I read about all the lovely vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients in my food.
Okay, maybe I'm weird. But I know how I think. And this works for me.
Now to track down comparative pictures of plated meals that also list nummy things like Vitamin C and Calcium and Lycopene.
Onward!
Looking at plated meals of equal caloric value is a good exercise in dietary discernment, but I've found that counting calories can get tedious and discouraging over the course of a couple days. I think this is because counting calories in our society is necessarily a matter of limitation. The ultimate object of a calorie tally is to look at an opportunity to enjoy food and say to yourself either, "I can eat this without feeling guilty," or else, "I can't eat this without feeling horrible about myself." Whichever option is applicable, you still end up associating food with guilt.
Don't get me wrong, calorie awareness is an important part of eating well. But eating is also wrapped up in funky psychological processes (at least it is for me!). So I find that taking a more positive approach to meal composition helps me to eat better. My positive approach is to look at a meal and estimate the nutritional value of the food. Does it match my food plan? Are there lots of veggies? If there's dessert, or a sweet topping, is it fresh or gently prepared fruit? Is the bread made from whole grains? Is the cereal?
Answering such questions in the affirmative reassures me that the nutrition is in there and stalls my own weird guilt cycles. With the difficult emotion out of the way, I can think more carefully about my choices, including how I choose to really feel about myself and the lifestyle I'm building. Whenever I need a little informational pick-me-up, I go to the nutritional database, rather than the calorie-counter listings. Then I read about all the lovely vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients in my food.
Okay, maybe I'm weird. But I know how I think. And this works for me.
Now to track down comparative pictures of plated meals that also list nummy things like Vitamin C and Calcium and Lycopene.
Onward!
Labels: Project Apple Bite
Posted by Lira | 1:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home