The other day, two radio hosts were talking about the need to be conscious of what to eat. With all the news about deadly or chronic ailments, or about the different illnesses that we get by not eating right, it is high time, they say, to be really watching what food to eat and how much.
One of the hosts complained that healthy (food) is not delicious and she began telling her ordeal about a sandwich she’d eaten that tasted like cardboard and another chicken sandwich with lettuce that appeared more like lettuce sandwich with chicken because the chicken meat is very small. They continued until they mentioned that Oprah was heard saying that we can eat all the food we want to eat but with only small amounts. Sounds good to the ear. :-) But how much is a small amount?
Actually, it is a dilemma for me to be following all this dieting and measuring the contents or the ingredients of the food I eat. I dislike eating food without the taste, that is, the ‘right’ taste that the food must have. Although ‘right’ taste vary from one person to another, diet suggestions on measurements do affect the taste that is required of a particular dish. Take for example, adobo, which one main ingredient is soy sauce. Regulating the amount of soy sauce to the requirements would lessen the salty taste minimizing the quality of the viand. It will then transform the viand into something not of the adobo quality.
It is really a challenge (or a struggle) to be controlling what we have to put in our mouths. I am sure many would agree. It is at this point that what we have to really (as in really) instill in our minds is that the accumulated amounts of these unhealthy foods (with their ingredients, and the condiments, too) will one day put us in a situation where we could have wished that we can turn back the time and tune up our food habits.
The main issue with healthy food isn't only the food itself which can be controlled by using lean portions but the ingridients that go along with it - like salt, sugar, MSG that are unhealthy when taken in large doses.
ReplyDeleteThere are salt and sugar substitutes that will enhance flavor but still remain healthy :) I have a special skillet that doesnt need oil when you fry chicken and beef :) I agree it is a drag to find and use these low sodium and low sugar, low calorie stuff duh :(
To me, as long as the rate of consumption is proportionate everything will be fine and also I usually try to cut down food that adds to our cholesterol and sugar level, etc.
ReplyDelete:D
if only healthy food tasted good, no? I as also told by my doctor to eat in small quatities rather than starving myself. The only thing is that once I get a taste of food, tuluy-tuloy na. Poor me, I am not allowed to eat red meat anymore. sigh...
ReplyDeletetest po muna
ReplyDeleteah, yes, the condiments! they can kill. :-) it is really a drag but we have to take caution as we age, bw. :-)
ReplyDeletei wonder how you know that it is proportionae, kyels?
oh, it is a good thing i am not that fond of beef. but they say beef bone marrow is good, rolly. :-)
test ng alin, mmy-lei?
Hi, Bing!
ReplyDeleteI am used to eating 'bland' foods, you know - very little salt. When my sister had kidney failure, our use of salt table was regulated to the max.
I am glad I'm not fond of 'sawsawan'. A lot of people I know can't eat without this side dip.. I think it's better to use ketchup na lang, instead of soy sauce or bagoong as dip.
hi, rhodora.it's really a struggle to eat bland foods. my hubby's family is very fond of sawsawan. my mother in law is very stubborn that she still asked for patis kahit timplado na ang pagkain. at isinasabaw pa ang patis! she said di na naman daw siya magtatagal sa mundo. to which my daughter would reply na 'di madaling magkasakit'.
ReplyDeleteThere is an old saying about healthy food that goes, "If you can't take it as food, take it as medicine." The words still ring true today.
ReplyDeleteI dont agree with vegetarianism... God created us with cannines meaning we can eat meat. I agree with limiting intake of "unhealthy" foods though.
ReplyDeleteWhy oh why?
ReplyDeleteEveryday I have to struggle with this, Bing and it's not easy but, as you said, if we eat all that we want to eat, we might someday regret it.
I've been struggling with this myself. but what I've found lately is that I have NO will-power!! I just can't stay away from "fatty" foods. yum! :P
ReplyDeletei like that, pan. such wisdom is what we all need. :-)
ReplyDeleteoh, my, i can never be a vegetarian. at some point in my life, mon, i was an carnivore. i am actually an omnivore. :-)
it is definitely a struggle. you made it sound so difficult, bugs, to avoid those bawal.
hey, daniel thank you for visiting. :-D it is will-power that is always missing. why is it that unhealthy is delicious, 'no?
erratum:
ReplyDeletemy mother in law is very stubborn that she still asks for patis
at some point in my life, mon, i was a carnivore
it has something to do with conditioning the palate. we were raised on salty food, when using msg was still popular. if we only shun junk and fastfood, the filipino taste buds can still be modified. kaso, food is part of culture.
ReplyDeletecrossing middle age, i see the effects of unhealthy diet on my gut.
I've read all about the harms of unhealthy eating - that's why I stopped.... Stopped reading .... :-)
ReplyDeleteMy doctor told me that if I keep eating the way I do - I won't live to be 100. So choose - adobo vs. 100 years old.
Just kidding - what I'm really saying is - Eat right but don't take it to the extreme.
yes, it is something to do with conditioning the palate, beatburn... and the stomach. they say that the stomach can be adjusted on how we eat. i am seeing and feeling the effects, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteha ha that/s very funny, rommel! it's adobo for me!
I have also cut down on my food intake. I agree with you that portion control is the key. You know what. I've followed the advise of Oprah and Dr. Phil. At meal times, I use a smaller plate. After supper, I don't eat anymore. Oprah has this thing about not eating two hours before you go to bed. I haven't given up softdrinks and chips but I only have them once in a while. Now when I drink Coke, I sometimes find it too strong. It's just a matter of getting used to it. Of course, at first, you'll find that your food is bland, the first time you eliminate or lessen salt, patis or toyo. But once you get used to it, bale wala na iyon. Masasanay ka na rin. :)
ReplyDeleteEating healthy is expensive. Have you looked at the prices on those organic foodstuffs in the supermarket lately? Even the whole wheat bread (which I love btw) costs twice than that of plain white bread.
ReplyDeletei bet talagang masasanay rin. the difficult part of it is when and how to start, irene.
ReplyDeleteoh, very true ka dyan, single. madalas sinasabi ni Papsie yan! :-D
sumptous or not, I need to discipline myself to eat and live right. Better sacrifice now than sorry later :-(
ReplyDeletediscipline is one big problem for most, sonnie. reminds me of the adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. :-)
ReplyDelete