I don't live to eat, but what I do eat can't be processed food - actually processed food is a oxymoron. I try to buy mostly organic, but budget doesn't permit 100%. I can't imagine trying to feed a family today with current prices. I'm pretty long in the tooth, don't need a high daily caloric oount anymore, and get by nicely on two meals a day.
I have enough space to raise a few tomatoe plants, peas, and beans. Oh yes, and haardneck garlic I'm trying swiss chard this year in a large container I usually use for flowers. I should have chard all summer. I don't start my own plants anymore, because I just don't feel like it - at least this year. My Food Coop has great organic starts at an affordable price at my scale of gardening.
Here's a quick summary from Copilot re processed food:
1. Metabolic Syndrome & Diabetes: Repeated blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes are significant concerns linked to processed foods.
2. Cardiovascular Complications: High levels of sodium and unhealthy fats contribute to adverse lipid profiles and high blood pressure.
3. Inflammation & Oxidative Damage: Persistent inflammation and oxidative stress from processed diets can damage cells and tissues over time.
4. Gut Health Disturbances: Reduced fiber and harmful additives can upset the balance of the gut microbiome, leading to digestive issues and systemic inflammation.
My nurse brain alerts on the inflammation items, as those are what seem to trigger some cancers.
Thanks for all that info. Food coops are great. I dont think I have one around here, but I know my SIL used to belong to one. Funny I had my annual and all my bloods came back normal and I'm in good shape. So not sure how the chicken hotdogs are ultra processed. My boys have the lowerst cholesterols and great blood work too. So I am really confused.
Because your sons are young, the effects of processed food usually show up later, especially #1&2. It's continuing long term inflammation of #3&4 that are of concern. And aren't part of a normal lab assay, and even then may slide under the detection threshold. The gut microbiome is of particular interest because it communicates directly with the brain and to the rest of the body via hormones it produces - including mood. So complex and so much we don't know. Psalm 139 is spot on: "...fearfully and wonderfully made".
the inflammation thing I get. It's why I went gluten free years ago. And the gut biome I try to keep everyone healthy. Leaky gut is something very discussed in autism circles too.
Love this one ! I’m very into cooking healthy on a budget. I also have to pack easy to eat lunches for work because I never know when I’ll get my lunch break and there’s usually no way to refrigerate or cook anything at the places where I work. I batch cook soups stews and salads for the week. It’s easier since it’s just me and my cat 🐈⬛ but I definitely don’t want to waste money!
Batch cooking is terrific. You take 1 day and make several meals where you freeze them. I'm glad you are taking care of yourself and eating healthy. It's important to make sure you do good for you, too.
BTW my husband used to take one of those insulated lunch bags to work and I was able to buy those reusable ice packs for lunchboxes. Now this was a really long time ago, so not sure if they still have them, but they were made to go in lunchboxes. This way you can keep your food fresh and not have to worry about it being refrigerated. Not sure about the soups though. We used to have thermoses in my day that kept hot drinks hot until lunch so you didnt need a kitchen or microwave to heat anything up.
Your piece is the second today that reminded me of when my kids were little. I used to get them frozen dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. My eldest was obsessed with dinosaurs, in particular big carnivores. He refused to eat the herbivore shaped nuggets. I used my ‘mother edition’ spin doctoring skills to explain that he needed to eat one herbivore for every carnivore…the carnivores need to eat lunch too, or they won’t grow up to be big and strong. He did.
I too have very minimal luck with growing vegetables - I do however appreciate, and enjoy a solid farmers market!
Mothers definitely need to think on their feet. Its good when we can still out think a toddler, lol. It doesn't last long. They become smarter than us very quickly.
I don't live to eat, but what I do eat can't be processed food - actually processed food is a oxymoron. I try to buy mostly organic, but budget doesn't permit 100%. I can't imagine trying to feed a family today with current prices. I'm pretty long in the tooth, don't need a high daily caloric oount anymore, and get by nicely on two meals a day.
I have enough space to raise a few tomatoe plants, peas, and beans. Oh yes, and haardneck garlic I'm trying swiss chard this year in a large container I usually use for flowers. I should have chard all summer. I don't start my own plants anymore, because I just don't feel like it - at least this year. My Food Coop has great organic starts at an affordable price at my scale of gardening.
Here's a quick summary from Copilot re processed food:
1. Metabolic Syndrome & Diabetes: Repeated blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes are significant concerns linked to processed foods.
2. Cardiovascular Complications: High levels of sodium and unhealthy fats contribute to adverse lipid profiles and high blood pressure.
3. Inflammation & Oxidative Damage: Persistent inflammation and oxidative stress from processed diets can damage cells and tissues over time.
4. Gut Health Disturbances: Reduced fiber and harmful additives can upset the balance of the gut microbiome, leading to digestive issues and systemic inflammation.
My nurse brain alerts on the inflammation items, as those are what seem to trigger some cancers.
Thanks for all that info. Food coops are great. I dont think I have one around here, but I know my SIL used to belong to one. Funny I had my annual and all my bloods came back normal and I'm in good shape. So not sure how the chicken hotdogs are ultra processed. My boys have the lowerst cholesterols and great blood work too. So I am really confused.
Because your sons are young, the effects of processed food usually show up later, especially #1&2. It's continuing long term inflammation of #3&4 that are of concern. And aren't part of a normal lab assay, and even then may slide under the detection threshold. The gut microbiome is of particular interest because it communicates directly with the brain and to the rest of the body via hormones it produces - including mood. So complex and so much we don't know. Psalm 139 is spot on: "...fearfully and wonderfully made".
the inflammation thing I get. It's why I went gluten free years ago. And the gut biome I try to keep everyone healthy. Leaky gut is something very discussed in autism circles too.
Yes but one son has a cholesterol of 110 and the other has a cholesterol of 170
Love this one ! I’m very into cooking healthy on a budget. I also have to pack easy to eat lunches for work because I never know when I’ll get my lunch break and there’s usually no way to refrigerate or cook anything at the places where I work. I batch cook soups stews and salads for the week. It’s easier since it’s just me and my cat 🐈⬛ but I definitely don’t want to waste money!
Batch cooking is terrific. You take 1 day and make several meals where you freeze them. I'm glad you are taking care of yourself and eating healthy. It's important to make sure you do good for you, too.
BTW my husband used to take one of those insulated lunch bags to work and I was able to buy those reusable ice packs for lunchboxes. Now this was a really long time ago, so not sure if they still have them, but they were made to go in lunchboxes. This way you can keep your food fresh and not have to worry about it being refrigerated. Not sure about the soups though. We used to have thermoses in my day that kept hot drinks hot until lunch so you didnt need a kitchen or microwave to heat anything up.
Your piece is the second today that reminded me of when my kids were little. I used to get them frozen dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. My eldest was obsessed with dinosaurs, in particular big carnivores. He refused to eat the herbivore shaped nuggets. I used my ‘mother edition’ spin doctoring skills to explain that he needed to eat one herbivore for every carnivore…the carnivores need to eat lunch too, or they won’t grow up to be big and strong. He did.
I too have very minimal luck with growing vegetables - I do however appreciate, and enjoy a solid farmers market!
I am pretty sure my powers of persuasion peaked with dinosaur chicken nuggets. A very few fleeting wins thereafter …that I still remember fondly.
Mothers definitely need to think on their feet. Its good when we can still out think a toddler, lol. It doesn't last long. They become smarter than us very quickly.
Farmer's markets are the best!