What's Worse: calories OR chemicals?

[gkashmira]

Recently I've been craving junk food... SO I found all these foods like Fat Free Pringles (Sour Cream & Onion), at free sour cream, fat free cool/sugar free whip etc. to help fill my cravings but also so I don't gain a ton of weight.

 

However I have to admit I feel a bit torn - even though I put splenda in my coffee every morning and enjoy the occasional diet coke I'm not so sure how I feel about these items. I mean really, what is worse, real sour cream with like three easily recognizable ingredients on the back or fat free sour cream which is like 0 points but has a laundry list of weird chemicals I've never heard of?

 

I don't know. Right now because I really do want to lose weight I'm eatign the weird chemical versions...they taste okay but are they bad for us? We've heard so much recently about "hydrogenated' stuff and these foods are chock full of it.

 

My FI also was telling me about an article he read where food companies know they can get a lot more money for these lower calorie foods. Because calories are determined in a certain way by the government he said that some food manufacturers modify their food so int he test they come out lower calorie but if you eat them they turn to fasts or sugars or whatever. I have no idea if this is true.

 

It seems like natural, simple foods would be better for you... BUT a lot of these foods are also very fattening... thoughts?

 

So for now I guess I am eating these weird non-food foods in hopes that I will lose the weight and when I reach a point where I'd like to "maintain" (hard to imagine that happening) I would remove these items from my diet? Is that reasonable or possible? If I replaced them with the REAL items would I then gain back all the weight?

[-Kate-]

I gotta say I'm more of a "have a little of the real stuff" kinda girl. I feel like it's better to have a small amount of normal stuff - like real sour cream, cheese, etc - to satisfy a craving. A lot of time the "low fat" stuff ends up being not that much lower in fat and sometimes more sugar. Plus, the real stuff satisfies the craving with a smaller amount. With the fat free/low fat stuff you eat more so it end up being the same.

[*JillD*]

Kash, have you compared how many points the real version is to the fat free version. with some things I find the points to be very close, others of course are a lot different.

 

The past few weeks I've been craving junk food too and its getting the better of me, I'm still working out so that helps, but long term its not good.

 

I know whole foods are supposed to be so much better for you. we drink a lot of crystal light at home and I think about how that can't really be good for us, but whats better drinking juice & other high calorie drinks?? don't get me wrong, I drink a lot of water too, I love water, but sometimes you need something else!

 

So in answer to your original question, I don't know which is better to do, I wonder the same thing sometimes

[TammyWright]

i would rather have the good, natural stuff than pig out on the fat free stuff...i dont like fake sugars and weird fats...

 

but you want to hear about my junk food craving...sheesh it is BAD!

[JulieG]

I think you have to do it all in moderation. I personally don't eat many things that say "fat free", I will eat low fat though. I don't like the idea of chemicals to make it fat free, if it should have a lot of fat. So, I opt for low fat instead and take the extra points. Its a matter of preference, and this is mine. Keep in mind, that you should be eating a lot of natural stuff, fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc.. so, the amount of fat free stuff should not be a major part of your diet. What I am trying to say is have it all, in moderation.

[Christine]

Kash I say go with a small amount of the real stuff and try to eat naturally low-cal stuff otherwise. I agree no one really knows what will happen down the road with all this processed stuff.

[anaderoux]

I'm really addicted to that stuff, I actually preffer eating low fat nuggest with low carb ketchup than eating a salad hahahaha.. I love junk food and this things allow me to eat yummy and loose weight..

[Rachelle E.]

I'm going to jump in here and offer my completely non-expert opinion!

 

I agree with the other girls...I say go natural with that stuff. My mother is really into nutrition and health and has researched tons of stuff like that. I would say the vast majority of the reports and books she's read as well as seminars that she's been to have really supported the idea of more natural foods as beneficial to long term health.

 

Personally I have a pretty strong reaction (horriffic headaches etc.) to most artificial sweeteners to I really can't eat/drink things with them. But I try to find things with reduced sugar if possible and I like to think that helps!

 

Also, I try to buy things with mostly "good" fats and cook with things like that too. Also, a little trick I recently learned, instead of using oil or butter to cook or saute with, use a low sodium broth - chicken, beef or veggie. It's actually really good! I'm a big fan of things sauteed in butter (who isn't?!) but I recently made some chicken fajitas using a little bit of broth to cook them in and they were acutally way better than my normal fajitas!

[amyh]

I with you Anny!! I go to the market and buy all my non/low-fat junk food! Hey, it calms the cravings! I know I should eat healthy, but I don't crave that food often, plus it gets expensive buying natural food and it spoils fast when your the only one eating it. I stock up on "lean cusines" and eat them all week for lunch, knowing that they high on sodium.

 

Oh well!

[Rachelle E.]

Yeah, I'm a total sucker for the Lean Cuisines! I eat them at work for lunch. And I'm certain that's way better than all the take out and fast food most people eat - even with all the sodium! I actually love the salmon and basil one...I think it's so yummy.