Giving Up Processed Foods

[Aggie_Ama]

I am sure there is a thread on this but I am getting over a migraine yesterday and too run down to search....

Anyone have tips on eliminating most processed foods? I have been thinking, wondering what triggered me to have migraines. I would have bad headaches some in college but never full blown migraines. I started wondering what changed and I can trace the migraines to my first attempt at weight watchers. At that time Weight Watchers focuses much more on diet foods, lots of fat free, artificial sweeteners. I now drink a couple diet sodas a day, eat a lot of frozen dinners.

I am thinking now that I am close to a weight I like (still want to lose about 10 pounds) maybe cutting down on some of the processed foods will help. I can't imagine not using some things for cooking but making my own lunch, focusing on fruits and vegetables for snacks, eliminating the diet sodas. I wonder if this will help with my migraines and just generally feeling sluggish?

I race bikes, I enjoy being active, I shouldn't feel like I got hit by a truck all the time!

[indysteel]

Processed food aside, have you had any blood work done lately? I applaud any attempt to limit processed foods, but I have to wonder whether they fully explain your energy issues and migraines.

[OakLeaf]

Have you ever tried a challenge diet? Eliminate all suspect foods (grain, dairy, nuts, chocolate, yeasts/mold/fungi (which includes any fermented products and processed fruits), shellfish, strawberries, eggs - what am I missing? and anything that you have a suspicion about) for four days, then reintroduce them one by one. Reintroduce grains singly, since it's common for people to be allergic to some grains and not others, or at least in differing degrees.) If you react when something's reintroduced, then tick it off, and stay clean for another four days before reintroducing the next one.

You pretty much have to eliminate processed foods to adhere strictly to an allergy diet, but as you point out, it's worth it for so many other reasons anyway. "Hit by a truck" is a good description of how I feel if I've been significantly off the wagon (e.g. the morning after pizza and beer night :rolleyes:). At best I'm sluggish, which is why I always clean out before a goal event.

Staying off processed foods is a lot less time consuming if you're willing and able to eat a fair amount of meat. But it's not really hard, just time consuming.

(What specifically can't you imagine not using for cooking? Throw it out here and some of us will probably have suggestions for substitutes. If it's pasta, and it turns out you're allergic to wheat, Tinkyada brand rice pasta is pretty good. And unless you're on a paleo diet, I don't think most people consider pasta too highly processed.)

[indysteel]

I would encourage you to keep a food and headache diary. I suffered from migraines for a while before I finally realized that they tended to coincide with my periods. You would think it should have been obvious, but it took me a while to see the connection. You might be able to spot some patterns if you keep a diary. I would keep track of what you ate, drank and your exercise.

Also, if you haven't already, talk to your doc about migraine specific pain relief. In my experience, OTCs will not treat a migraine. I personally take 20 to 40 mg of Relpax. The drug makes me groggy, but it works like a charm.

[Veronica]

Diet sodas, or anything with fake sugars in it, almost immediately give me a headache. My MIL loves to cook with fake sugars to cut calories and I just can't eat a good chunk of what she cooks.

For quick lunch fixings I'll get pre cooked frozen chicken breasts or thighs and serve it with two cups of frozen mixed vegetables. I like to cook so when I have spare time (like this week) I'll prep and freeze a bunch of stuff for us to have for lunches. Yesterday was meatball day and today was meatloaf day.

Veronica

[ny biker]

I think the only way to cut out processed foods is to start cooking. I have found that organic processed foods tend to have regular food ingredients rather than lots of chemicals. Like Amy's organic frozen entrees and pizzas, or things from Kashi. Unfortunately they also cost more.

For me, migraines were related to hormones, plus changes in sleep and eating habits (like not getting enough sleep or missing a meal). Also stress; I frequently developed a migraine after meeting a tough deadline at work.

I've taken Depakote every day for more than 20 years. In recent years I've been able to decrease the dosage significantly, but I still take 250 mg per day. It has helped tremendously; before I started taking it I had a migraine almost every day. It did not suppress them completely but did significantly decrease the frequency and severity. It also helped me gain weight, but a few extra pounds are better than wanting to drive a spike through the side of my head every afternoon.

I used to take Imitrex when I would get a migraine. However in recent years (as I get closer to menopause and my periods changed) the headaches have not been as bad and the side effects from the Imitrex hit me more with the less severe symptoms, so I've been taking extra strength Tylenol and it's worked pretty well for me.

I have never found a link between specific foods and migraine symptoms. The important thing was not skipping meals and getting plenty of sleep. I drink plenty of Diet Coke but it has not affected the migraines.

I went to a neurologist who specialized in headaches for years, because they tend to know more about available treatments than GPs.

[pll]

What processed foods are you thinking? There are processed foods and, then, there are processed foods... My quick oatmeal is processed, but a lot less than a Twinkie...

Sodas are the easiest thing to eliminate from your diet. It will also save you some money. Water works just fine and you don't have any sweeteners, artificial or not.

You might do it in stages. I did not use to cook, but during the last two years, I started. I do not particularly enjoy cooking, nor do I have a huge amount of time, so I have resorted to a few "tricks":

I bought many 1.75 cup and 2 cup zip lock containers, as well as 1/2 cup containers. On weekends, I will prepare large batches of soups, chili and other stews which I put in single serve containers (1.75 cups or 2 cups). I will also make a large batch of ragu sauce and put that in 1/2 cup containers, which are enough for a single serving of pasta. I freeze everything, so I have home made frozen dinners. I move something from the freezer to the fridge the night before and reheat in a pot.
For lunch at work, I bought a bento box and I cook for the work week every Sunday. The bento box (search for "lock lock" in Amazon -- mine is a 700 ml one) allows me to take a main course, some appetizer (e.g. olives and some pieces of cheese), as well as some fruit. A lot more satisfying than something from the cafeteria. I used some Japanese guidelines (http://lunchinabox.net/2007/03/07/guide-to-choosing-the-right-size-bento-box/) to chose the size of the box.
For dinners, I tend to alternate salads or some steamed vegetables with a baked fish, or my home made frozen dinners.

[Aggie_Ama]

My last bloodwork was this fall my gynecologist ordered it because for the first time in my life I had a blood pressure spike, normal as can be. I have been trying for years to find the trigger for my migraines. They aren't constant but they usually take two days of my life away. They aren't at a certain time of the month, they don't seem to be completely stressed triggered. They do respond to OTC but the next day I feel like I went on a wild bender and have the hangover from hell. It just seems weird I never had migraines or any issues until I developed a strong diet soda addiction and started eating frozen dinners nearly every day.

My migraines are maybe 2-3 a year but overall I feel run down all the time. For instance today I slept 12 hours last night and then still took a three hour nap. This is not an abnormality for me, I will feel like I need to sleep this much several times a month. I am only 30, other than allergies and the occasional migraine my doctor thinks I am healthy.

When I am saying processed I mean things with creepy chemicals. Diet sodas, frozen foods with weird named ingredients. Basically something that sounds more like a chemistry experiment than food when you read the ingredients.

Locally we have two places that do 21 day challenges (My Fit Foods (http://www.myfitfoods.com/About.asp), Mel's Meals (http://www.melsmealsaustin.com/plans.html))they have dieticians and nutritionists that plan meals and they make the food. Usually they involve giving up things like caffeine, alcohol. The people I know that have done them to get them started and they felt like it changed their life. But the cost is a bit steep when I could give up sodas and cook for myself for a lot less! I know how to do portion control, I learned that through Weight Watchers.

[soprano]

You might look up the "migraine diet." It avoids foods high in tyramine which, surprise, surprise! is found in many aged and/or processed foods.

If you haven't already seen a neurologist, I highly recommend it. My neurologist put me on a preventative medication that I take every day. I used to have 10-15 migraine days per month. Now I have 1-2. Even though I take a pill every day, overall I am taking much less medication this way, and I am able to work and enjoy an active lifestyle.

Definitely keep a headache journal.

[ny biker]

Well, it's easy enough to get started. Tomorrow, drink half the amount of diet soda than you normally would. Drink water instead, or maybe iced tea (real iced tea, made with tea bags and maybe some lemon). Keep cutting back until you're not drinking any more soda.

Once you're off the soda, you can start on the food. In the meantime you can look into some meal plans that work with your cooking interests and abilities.

[crazycanuck]

Amanda,

I gave up all processed stuff & went on the GAPS diet in July as suggested by my physio/nutritionist. It's the best thing i've done for myself & I thought he & my trainer were full of sheep but i've lost 13kg's & my thyroid health has never been better. Also, there are some really yummy yummy recipes :o.

Although i'm not back on the bike or in the pool & can only really run uphill (will jar my collarbone etc) the other exercises I do are SOOOO much easier!

I'm gluten/wheat, processed sugar & dairy free. I haven't re introduced dairy as i know how my body will be after having it. I "follow" the GAPS protocol but not rigidly as one can.

I'm not going back to how I was before...:o

[Chile Pepper]

I gave up diet drinks years ago because I came to consider all artificial sweeteners toxic. There are lots of alternatives--the most obvious being water. In the winter, I drink hot tea, herbal tea (best made with fresh herbs), hot water with a splash of Angostura bitters or a squeeze of lemon, or the occasional cup of warm milk with a grating of nutmeg. In the summer, I keep a pitcher of water in the fridge, flavored with slices of cucumber, lemon, lime, or orange. I chill herbal teas and unsweetened ice tea. I also like a splash of bitters in sparkling water.

I have an herb garden, which makes it easier (and more interesting) to make herbal teas. I especially like spearmint, peppermint, lemon verbena, and anise hyssop. Lemon balm (melissa) has a sort of Lemon Joy character, so I only use it occasionally for a hot tea (but it's a great filler plant in the garden). Catnip is kind of grassy, but it's nice for a change. I don't have chamomile, so I use commercial chamomile in the winter.

[Crankin]

Amanda, I would encourage you to start cooking. It's so much easier to control what goes into your body. While I haven't done a challenge, or have eliminated huge categories of food like wheat and dairy, I just don't buy pre-packaged foods, like Weight Watcher's dinners, or anything. I have never been a soda drinker, since my teens. My parents always served water with meals. Any desserts we had were home made.
I read labels and tend to spend the $ if a product I need for cooking is free of chemicals. I always say it's cheaper in the long run, than taking medication!

[Dannielle]

I very, very rarely consume any processed foods. I don't find it difficult or limiting but I've gradually tweaked the way I eat over the years to get it where it is now. It would have definitely been a shock if I had made a huge switch all at once. And I have quite a few health issues fueling my motivation. There was a time I was nearly bedridden, in too much pain to do much of anything, and 200+lbs heavier. So while food has been a challenge at times, it's a challenge I was up for as the way I eat now leaves me feeling absolutely amazing. Totally worth it!

I don't approach things from a perspective of "I can't have this, that, this". Rather I start with what I do choose to eat (vegetables, fruit, nuts/seeds, legumes) and build meals with those foods. I eat a lot of smoothies (breakfast usually, made with greens, fruit, chia seeds), soups (the crockpot is my friend!), salad (either your typical "over lettuce" salad, often with steamed or roasted veggies too -or- a chopped salad of roasted/steamed/fresh veg (no lettuce) marinated in balsamic vinegar and seasoning blend like MrsDash), or steamed veggies with a bowl of beans on the side. I try to always have some nuts/seeds with veggies as a little fat with a meal greatly increased nutrient absorption. I keep a container of mixed nuts/seeds that I've ground in the food processor with nutritional yeast and seasoning blend that I sprinkle (a tablespoon or two) on top of my veggies. If you squint real hard you can pretend it's parmesan cheese lol.

I do use a wee bit of stevia or xylitol to sweeten things that need it but I make an effort to opt for savory over sweet. And I use as little as possible. I'm working on slowly making the transition to using ripe banana or dates to sweeten but that doesn't work so well for coffee. (a vice I'm not sure I want to totally give up lol) :)

I do cook A LOT! Luckily I'm not the sort who needs constant variety. I get into happy food ruts where I enjoy something until I eventually burn out on it and then move on to something else. Handy because I don't mind making large batches of things like soup and eating leftovers. And I prep fresh veggies all at once (well, not everything, but a lot of veggies get prepped right away) when I get home from the store and keep them in sealed containers in the fridge. Really makes assembling a meal easier.

[malkin]

... It just seems weird I never had migraines or any issues until I developed a strong diet soda addiction and started eating frozen dinners nearly every day...

...When I am saying processed I mean things with creepy chemicals. Diet sodas, frozen foods with weird named ingredients. Basically something that sounds more like a chemistry experiment than food when you read the ingredients.

...I could give up sodas and cook for myself for a lot less!


Sounds to me like you already know where to start.

[indysteel]

I would certainly start with the soda. I just think soda is, in a word, nasty. I don't mind a root beer, ginger ale, or cream soda every once in a while, but I have never really had a taste for pop, diet or otherwise.

But I do keep tripping up over how fatigued you are. I assume your bloodwork included thyroid and anemia tests....

[goldfinch]

I would encourage you to keep a food and headache diary. I suffered from migraines for a while before I finally realized that they tended to coincide with my periods. You would think it should have been obvious, but it took me a while to see the connection. You might be able to spot some patterns if you keep a diary. I would keep track of what you ate, drank and your exercise.

Also, if you haven't already, talk to your doc about migraine specific pain relief. In my experience, OTCs will not treat a migraine. I personally take 20 to 40 mg of Relpax. The drug makes me groggy, but it works like a charm.

Same with me. Nothing cured my migraines but menopause. I haven't had a migraine now in years.

[indysteel]

Same with me. Nothing cured my migraines but menopause. I haven't had a migraine now in years.

Yay; something to look forward to. Thankfully, mine have largely been a nuisance. I don't get as ill as many when I get a migraine. It's more of a very persistent sense of pressure behind one of my eyes. I can sometimes get by with Excedrin on the tail end of my period. I otherwise have to take all or part of a Relpax pill. While they make me pretty sleepy, I've learned to deal with it. I don't otherwise get migraines from anything else.

[WindingRoad]

I agree with Danielle about prepping all your fresh veggies ahead of time. That REALLY saves me a lot of time in the long run and makes me COOK something as opposed to grabbing cheese and crackers or something like that. I have migraines and have had them all my life. As I age I find they are becoming less and less. Quitting hormonal birth control made a HUGE impact on frequency of headaches too. I too avoid processed foods aside of Luna Bars. I feel sooooo much better when I don't eat a lot of preservatives, colorings, food stabilizers etc. The artificial sweetener habit I can't kick completely but I have reduced my intake a LOT. I don't sweeten my coffee as much as I once did. I also use raw sugar in my coffee when I can instead of Splenda. I'm gradually weening my tastebuds of sweet, it is working but it takes a while. I add about half the sweet I did and now it tastes as sweet as the double amount I used to put in. :)

I'm sure you have already hear the red wine and pop corn trigger for migraines? These are pretty common migraine triggers. These are a double kicker combo that will land me in bed for a day STILL. If I drink red wine I take a couple of Excedrin beforehand now. I hope you figure out what keeps setting you off, good luck to you.

[OakLeaf]

I'm just sayin', based on my own experience and what I learned from my allergist in an exhaustive (and exhausting!) initiation when I was first diagnosed.

Fatigue is probably the #1 symptom of allergies in general and food allergies in particular.

Leave open the possibility that it isn't necessarily (or exclusively) the synthetic ingredients that are causing your symptoms, but "natural" ingredients in both processed and unprocessed foods. It's very, very difficult to find a processed food that doesn't contain both wheat and corn products. Also soy - I knew there was at least one very common allergen I was leaving out. Reading the ingredient list doesn't always tell you, unless you know what you're looking for.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have your thyroid checked, but if your thyroid panel was normal in the fall and you were symptomatic then, then something else is likely to be the culprit.

[indysteel]

I'm just sayin', based on my own experience and what I learned from my allergist in an exhaustive (and exhausting!) initiation when I was first diagnosed.

Fatigue is probably the #1 symptom of allergies in general and food allergies in particular.

Leave open the possibility that it isn't necessarily (or exclusively) the synthetic ingredients that are causing your symptoms, but "natural" ingredients in both processed and unprocessed foods. It's very, very difficult to find a processed food that doesn't contain both wheat and corn products. Also soy - I knew there was at least one very common allergen I was leaving out. Reading the ingredient list doesn't always tell you, unless you know what you're looking for.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have your thyroid checked, but if your thyroid panel was normal in the fall and you were symptomatic then, then something else is likely to be the culprit.

I only mention the thyroid because not every blood test necessarily includes it. Even if her blood test included it, it would be worth finding out what the the TSH value actually was as some docs are still using an outdated standard for what is considered a normal TSH. Otherwise, I agree with you that food allergies could be a culprit. Frankly, while I think a predominance of processed food isn't optimal for health, I'm just not buying that it would make someone that fatigued.

[Dannielle]

aspartame/equal/blue packet is the most common sweetener in diet soda/drinks and it causes headaches in many.

It definitely causes them for me. I gave up all sweeteners/sugar for a month last April as a personal challenge. I was shocked that I didn't get a headache at all that whole time. The first time I had a diet soda afterward I got a wicked headache. It took me 2 or 3 times more and I decided no more diet soda for me ever. Once I made the connection it was easy to choose another drink.

That month-long challenge was really productive for me, I think. Even though I did reintroduce some sweetener in small amounts I'm much more conscious of my use, pickier about which sweeteners I choose, and overall reduced my intake by about 70%.

[GLC1968]

I'm just sayin', based on my own experience and what I learned from my allergist in an exhaustive (and exhausting!) initiation when I was first diagnosed.

Fatigue is probably the #1 symptom of allergies in general and food allergies in particular.

Leave open the possibility that it isn't necessarily (or exclusively) the synthetic ingredients that are causing your symptoms, but "natural" ingredients in both processed and unprocessed foods. It's very, very difficult to find a processed food that doesn't contain both wheat and corn products. Also soy - I knew there was at least one very common allergen I was leaving out. Reading the ingredient list doesn't always tell you, unless you know what you're looking for.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea to have your thyroid checked, but if your thyroid panel was normal in the fall and you were symptomatic then, then something else is likely to be the culprit.

This. I also had fatigue symptoms, migraines (since I was 22 when I first went on the pill, actually) and brain fog, digestive distress and a few other minor problems. None of these things were enough to see a doctor about (except the migraines), and most of them I attributed to being either 'normal' or just due to aging or something (like the brain fog). My thyroid tested fine twice, so I know there were no issues there.

The migraines reduced to only once every couple of months once I got off all forms of hormonal birth control.

They went away completely once I had been paleo for about 4 - 5 weeks. All the other symptoms are gone now too. I thought I felt damn healthy for having lost weight and gotten back in shape, but I had no idea how much BETTER I could feel once I eliminated so many other things from my diet.

I have experimented with adding a few different things back in here and there and discovered that I do have sensitivities to certain grains. I haven't tried eating legumes yet...that'll be my test in January.

There is an online guide to doing a complete elimination for 30 days. It's called Whole 30 and the website is here: Whole30 (http://whole9life.com/2011/10/whole-30-v5/) It's based on the paleo diet, but it goes further to be very, very strict for the first 30 days. I haven't done it, but I've heard very good things from some of the people I work with, most of which are not paleo, by the way.

[Dannielle]

my month long personal challenge was a "Whole30" :) I ate paleo for 2 years...until recently when I tweaked things again and feel even better (which I didn't think was possible...I felt awesome with a paleo way of eating!)

[Aggie_Ama]

At the urging of my husband (after I nearly got car sick for the third day in a row) I went to the doctor today. He is getting a full metabolic panel and blood cell counts. Apparently my last blood work was in 2009. My gynecologist only checked my cholesterol this fall. My doctor thinks there is possibly something causing the overwhelming fatigue. Luckily today I did not have an awful headache for the first time in three days.

I know many of my friends I ride and race with have gone to a lower processed food diet and every one of them has told me it was a noticeable difference in energy level, performance and just overall how they feel. I am not saying they don't touch sodas or anything like that but they do focus much more on fresh products and their experience has been positive.

[Catrin]

Aggie, do keep us posted with what you find out. Hopefully it is no more than some vitamin deficiency.

Over the last two years I've gone further and further in weeding out processed foods. I dropped all soda years ago, long before I lost my weight, thankfully I lost the taste for it. The closest to processed food I eat these days are non-fat dairy products, and I do consume quite a bit as one of my two primary protein and main calcium sources. The occasional times I use more processed foods I've noted that I don't feel so good afterwards and also feel bloated. All of those chemicals, I am sure...

[shootingstar]

I guess the processsed food that I have:

soy sauce
chocolates (it is Christmas....:D)
crackers (only several times per year)

I rarely have chips, soda/pop. Only when I was desperate....working in an industrial site at a construction project ...means one is hemmed in by construction equipment. The lunch food truck with chips looked pretty good under those circumstances when I forgot to bring a snack. :p

I just grew up with cooked food and rarely processed food because we couldn't afford it. Processed food long term, is more expensive. So it's easy for me to carry on.

Besides, if you've ever seen an aisle of Asian processed/junk food, it really tells you to run over to buy the Asian fresh veggies instead. Asian processed foods is real lesson in amazement.

[indysteel]

I'm glad you're getting a full workup, Amanda. It's not that I'm not in favor of cleaning up your diet, but like your husband and doctor, I'd like you to rule out obvious medical conditions, too. I hope it's nothing serious. At the risk of asking too private a question, is there any chance you're pregnant?

Keep us posted!

[Aggie_Ama]

Blood panel was completely normal, my doctor thinks I am dehydrated and the migraine may have been triggered by that or just made everything worse. He couldn't find anything more conclusive than that but wants me to come back if it doesn't subside with plenty of rest and fluids. I felt like I hydrated great in my race Sunday and after the race but maybe I did not do as good as I thought. I did start to up my fluids even more.

Today I feel better although still very tired. I do have a sinus headache but for the first time in nearly two weeks there is a clear sky and I am going to ignore his suggestion to rest and do a short bike ride. Nothing hard just a nice rolling road ride, it is nearly 70 degrees with less than 5mph winds!

My goal is still to go to a less processed diet. I don't expect it to stop my migraines but it might. Right now they are usually every few months but they seem to be more frequent (I have had 5 this year) than they were. So I definitely will consider seeing a neurologist if they persist.

[ny biker]

Fwiw, fatigue and motion sickness can both be migraine-related. And it's possible to have migraine-related symptoms without getting a headache.

[Aggie_Ama]

NY Biker- I usually have extreme fatigue with my migraines, the next day I feel absolutely hungover and like I didn't sleep. This would be the first time I ever got physically sick but I know those evil migraines don't play fair. This is also the first time I have had migraine type symptoms without the aura, I have always gotten an occular migraine first usually gives me a warning so I can get home and not have to drive during the worst part. The after effects seemed to last longer than normal but it could be dehydration on top of it.

I like the suggestion of a headache journal and will be starting one, already found an app for my new Iphone. :)

[smilingcat]

My sympathies with the migraine. I HATE HATE migraine.

+1 with all those who said about the soft drink and artificial sweeteners. High Fructose corn syrup included.

Also did you change your sports drink or Goo to a different brand? I don't trust many of the sport supplements with synthetic sounding names of the ingredients and additives. My body is okay with Cliff bars, Luna bars, Fig Newtons and hate Goo, shot blocks...

You may want to check out your sport supplement.

[Aggie_Ama]

Smiling Cat- I can't do anything in sports drinks with artificial sweeteners. Nuun uses sorbitol and it causes my stomach to cramp. I only do Gatorade, which the low cal does not have HFCS or artificial sweeteners. But my resolution (ot really because I am just doing this at the start of a month, any month would have worked) is to first give up artificial sweeteners and also cut back then eventually eliminate HFCS.

In the race the day before the migraine I had nothing but Gu and Gatorade. I think it was a combination of dehydration and then something else. I will keep focusing on tracking that. ;)

Incidentally I had a Mexican Coke last week (my first) which is not made with HFCS, it was amazing. Tasted much better, worth the calories.

[GrooverBrisbane]

I'm very conscious of processed foods because I have an autoimmune desease and, apart from cutting any Gluten, I also have to try and eat as little processed foods as possible. I don't know if this will help you, too, but I recently downloaded an iPhone app called "E numbers". It's become my main shopping guide. You just have to read the label, punch in any E numbers and the app tells you if it's safe to eat or not! Brilliant!

[Aggie_Ama]

That App sounds interesting, I may have to check it out.

Incidentally, first week with no artificial sweeteners and no headaches except the day I forgot my allergy meds. I was taking Excedrin several times a week. It has been a stressful week with my grandma hospitalized and a big project at work. I hope I may have found one of the key migraine/chronic headache triggers.

[Blueberry]

Amanda-

Crossing my fingers that you have figured out the trigger, and that you have more migraine free days. I expect they may be one of my triggers as well. Best wishes to your grandmother and good luck with the project!

[GrooverBrisbane]

That App sounds interesting, I may have to check it out.

Incidentally, first week with no artificial sweeteners and no headaches except the day I forgot my allergy meds. I was taking Excedrin several times a week. It has been a stressful week with my grandma hospitalized and a big project at work. I hope I may have found one of the key migraine/chronic headache triggers.

I hope your grandma is getting better quickly. And that your headaches stay away.

[OakLeaf]

I hope your grandma is getting better quickly. And that your headaches stay away.

+1 !!



This is going to sound flip, but I'm serious. As I'm smelling a lovely chicken friccasee simmering on the stove, I'm wondering, without bread or pasta or rice, how do you sop up the sauce? Just drink it like soup?

[Blueberry]

This is going to sound flip, but I'm serious. As I'm smelling a lovely chicken friccasee simmering on the stove, I'm wondering, without bread or pasta or rice, how do you sop up the sauce? Just drink it like soup?

Cauliflower mashed? Quinoa (if you're comfortable eating that)? Or yeah - drink it:) I've been known to lick a plate of sauce:D:D (of course, only in the privacy of my own home!)

[GrooverBrisbane]

+1 !!



This is going to sound flip, but I'm serious. As I'm smelling a lovely chicken friccasee simmering on the stove, I'm wondering, without bread or pasta or rice, how do you sop up the sauce? Just drink it like soup?

I don't think there is anything wrong with rice, brown rice I mean. Is there? :confused:

+1 for the Quinoa. That's a very yummy grain, no gluten, and extremely versatile.

[GLC1968]

+1 !!



This is going to sound flip, but I'm serious. As I'm smelling a lovely chicken friccasee simmering on the stove, I'm wondering, without bread or pasta or rice, how do you sop up the sauce? Just drink it like soup?

With more chicken? Or with other veggies?

[limewave]

Quinoa!!!!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

Thanks for the well wishes on my Grandma, unfortunately she will likely be in a nursing home now for the rest of her days. She is turning 94 on the 19th and has been at home until now, living with her oldest daughter. Unfortunately her hips are so arthritic that managing the pain is very hard and she will probably not be able to walk any longer. She also has swallowing issues and has to supplement with a feeding tube. But she is still smart and full of dry humor. Love her.

Great news is after my epic race Saturday I did not follow with a migraine. Still eating HFCS but I have been making soups for lunch instead of tv dinners. It is nice to not have had a headache!

[OakLeaf]

I just joined a CSA for the first time. The farm is still figuring things out themselves, and this is the first time they've offered a program that fits with our schedule.

Holy @#$%, three dollars a day buys a LOT of beautiful local organic vegetables for two people. And since they're already paid for, there's nothing to do but eat them all up!

[Crankin]

That's why we've never joined one. It's always too much food. Even the ones that say it's a share for 2 people. We have tons of local farms around here, so I just make it a point to buy all fruits and veggies there from June-October.

[OakLeaf]

I figure we'll share with the neighbors if we're going to be out of town, or really get too much, but for right now anyway I'm really liking the kick in the butt to make vegetables the star of the main dish, rather than beans or grains.

[withm]

I was in a CSA last summer - I split the share with 3 other single women and it worked out pretty well since none of us really wanted to have whole canteloupes or watermelons and we could easily cut those up. Dividing up 3 peaches or tomatoes was a little more annoying but it still worked out really well. Ours worked out to $7/wk/person.

Sadly, the farm says they won't do it for our area next year unless they have 20 participants, that is full shares. They would deliver the produce to their satellite store about 50 miles from the farm. Honestly, if they are shipping produce to the store anyway... why not include the CSA shares? I doubt that I'll get to participate this summer, and so far my research has not identified any other CSAs closer than 40-50 miles from my house and/or work.

[Becky]

We're very lucky to have a "local food" store near us that sells produce, meat, dairy, and even some local baked goods. It's a great alternative for us because we don't have to buy tons of food, but we still get to support the same local farms who offer CSAs.

[OakLeaf]

Our farmers' market is good (such a change from just a few years ago!), and I prefer to get meat, seafood and dairy ad hoc rather than going for the "omnivore" CSA they put together as a co-op with other local producers and fishers. But in the spirit of the thread, I'm finding that prepaying for vegetables is one way to jump-start a conversion to eating more of them. :) At least for someone like me who just can't stand waste. :p

[Crankin]

I do as Becky does, between buying directly from the farm stands, farmer's markets, and the 2 gourmet farm markets that buy from local farmers, I feel OK. I have an acquaintance that bought from a farmer who did a meat CSA. It's kind of close to here, but I would need to buy an extra freezer to do that.
I find it hard to eat lots of veggies. On the eating plan I am doing now, I am eating a lot more of them, but I still have lots of left overs. I feel better, but I am still convincing myself that I like vegetables.

[tealtreak]

I do as Becky does, between buying directly from the farm stands, farmer's markets, and the 2 gourmet farm markets that buy from local farmers, I feel OK. I have an acquaintance that bought from a farmer who did a meat CSA. It's kind of close to here, but I would need to buy an extra freezer to do that.
I find it hard to eat lots of veggies. On the eating plan I am doing now, I am eating a lot more of them, but I still have lots of left overs. I feel better, but I am still convincing myself that I like vegetables.
Have you tried roasted ? (high heat- tiny bit of olive oil), many vegetables are WAY better oven roasted......

[Crankin]

Yes, I did a couple of things this way; also pan fried in a little bit of olive oil. Even DH commented on how good they were.

[OakLeaf]

And a more basic return to the original theme of the thread: http://grist.org/sustainable-food/2012-01-11-5-packaged-foods-you-never-need-to-buy-again/

[Pax]

And a more basic return to the original theme of the thread: http://grist.org/sustainable-food/2012-01-11-5-packaged-foods-you-never-need-to-buy-again/

That was great!

[Catrin]

And a more basic return to the original theme of the thread: http://grist.org/sustainable-food/2012-01-11-5-packaged-foods-you-never-need-to-buy-again/

Thank you for this link! I am another lover of roasted veggies, quite often that is the only way I can tolerate them.

I know me well, and I will never give up bread totally, non-fat dairy nor my steel-cut oats (are they considered processed?), but I would like to drop all other processed foods. They just put so much other cra* in them, and fresh/less processed is so much better for us and tastes so much better... I also think it is less expensive once you find the right sources.

[Susan Otcenas]

And a more basic return to the original theme of the thread: http://grist.org/sustainable-food/2012-01-11-5-packaged-foods-you-never-need-to-buy-again/

Great Link! I never buy soup (I make great homemade), I never buy hummus (my homemade version rocks) and I rarely buy cereal (mostly because I don't eat much cereal, but also because I love my homemade granola recipe).

But, I *do* buy canned beans purely for convenience sake. I know dried are healthier, and I do have dried beans on hand, but somehow I never remember to actually DO it. :o So, that would be a good resolution to make.

I also use powdered bouillon sometimes. Need to make some stock. I certainly have MOUNTAINS of veggie compost every week that I could be putting to use for stock.

[GLC1968]

I don't buy any of those 5 foods anymore, either!

I would also add mayo and salad dressings to that list as well. Homemade mayo is so incredibly simple and so much better for you! Ditto for homemade salad dressings...

[Susan Otcenas]

I would also add mayo and salad dressings to that list as well. Homemade mayo is so incredibly simple and so much better for you! Ditto for homemade salad dressings...

I don't eat mayo. I've never liked it. But I totally agree about the homemade salad dressings. So simple to make from scratch! And much much tastier. Store bought always tastes so artificial to me, and the textures are off.

[GLC1968]

I don't eat mayo. I've never liked it. But I totally agree about the homemade salad dressings. So simple to make from scratch! And much much tastier. Store bought always tastes so artificial to me, and the textures are off.

Yeah - I generally don't eat mayo either, but it's pretty useful in some salad dressings, some dips and in tuna salad.

For those that really like it, I've heard that the homemade (which is easy and super neat to do) tastes MUCH better. I can't say for certain since I've never willingly just tasted mayo! :p

[OakLeaf]

But, I *do* buy canned beans purely for convenience sake. I know dried are healthier, and I do have dried beans on hand, but somehow I never remember to actually DO it. :o

Sometimes I'll cook up a great big batch of beans plain, then portion them out and freeze them. Nearly as convenient as canned, without the expense or the BPA (although, Eden brand are BPA-free).

And I usually have powdered or cubed stock on hand for those occasions when I'm out of homemade stock. But it doesn't get used often.

[skhill]

Thanks for the link!

I'd second the addition of mayo and salad dressing to the list-- they are so easy to make and so much better fresh and home-made.

My list also includes bread. Homemade is cheaper, tastier, and without any unpronounceable ingredients.

[Susan Otcenas]

Sometimes I'll cook up a great big batch of beans plain, then portion them out and freeze them.

Do they freeze well? I've never tried that.

[OakLeaf]

They freeze fine. Best if they're cooked on the firm side of done, like you would for a salad.

[VeganBikeChick]

I'm getting inspired by this thread. Made my own pasta sauce tonight for the first time. Couldn't believe how easy it was and how few ingredients I needed. I'll never buy jarred again.

[szsz]

I'm getting inspired by this thread. Made my own pasta sauce tonight for the first time. Couldn't believe how easy it was and how few ingredients I needed. I'll never buy jarred again.

Ya! Just sautee onions, garlic, and toss in the tomatoes. I often toss in cashews and spinach, too. For a "cheesy" sort of sauce I add nutritional yeast and a bit of oat milk or soy milk (or whatever nut milk is around). (I am vegan, too.) Sometimes I run it through the food processor but if I don't want to do so many dishes I just have it over pasta or quinoa as is.

[OakLeaf]

Martha Rose Shulman is doing work-ready portable lunches (https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/health/nutrition/lunches-to-take-to-work-recipes-for-health.html?ref=health) this week.

[Susan Otcenas]

They freeze fine. Best if they're cooked on the firm side of done, like you would for a salad.

OK, Inspired by you, I cooked up a BIG pot of kidney beans this weekend. They came out great. I kept about 4 cups to use right away. Put the rest in 2 cup containers and stuck 'em in the freezer.

Thanks for the motivation!

Susan

[Aggie_Ama]

Getting some great ideas ladies, thanks! Right now I am still at phase one, giving up artificial sweeteners and phasing out HFCS. So far three weeks in and no headaches at all! I have not taken Excedrin, only took Ibuprofen after my 85 mile race.

[smilingcat]

Things to help with making from scratch.

chicken stock: I buy whole chicken and cut it up. I freeze up the chicken pieces in groups then freeze all the bones together. When I have bones from four chicken, I make stock. No Salt no seasoning. simmer for about 4 hours then cool the stock by putting the pot into the sink and fill the sink with cold water. Place the cooled stock still in the pot in a fridge. I let the oil congeal then scoop out the oil. scoop or pour the stock into ice cube trays and freeze. This way you have small portions of frozen stock. No need to go buy stock. Use however many cubes of frozen stock to meet your need.

Pizza: got the idea from bobboli. We make enough pizza dough for 10 to 12 pizza. roll out, spoon out pizza sauce, some cheese on it, bake. When cooled we bag them up and freeze. When we want quick pizza, take the frozen pizza out, add our toppings, add more cheese if you want then bake. 20 minutes tops.

egg noodle for chicken noodle soup. I make enough egg noodle for about 4 batches of soup. Only takes one egg, pinch of salt, some flour bit of water. Make noodle freeze in three or four bags. when we want soup, we just use one of the frozen bag of egg noodle.

hmm should go back to making my own salad dressing. Citrus dressing.

Occasionally we bake extra potato. The extra one is used within few days for stuffed potato. Saves time for baking raw potato. It's just matter of heating.

We use pressure cooker to cook beans. Lot faster. Pinto beans cook within half an hour. Chick peas within one hour. stew 1 hour.

We also make hamburger patty in bulk then freeze them into groups of 4, separating the patty with wax paper. Burgers are quick and easy.

no need bread

few of the time savers.

[soprano]

I'm curious - where do you all find the freezer space for all of this pre-cooked homemade stuff?

I tend to gravitate towards things like canned beans because I absolutely do not have freezer space for anything that is shelf-stable. We keep in the freezer chicken carcasses for stock and/or stock, random bits of meat for sausage, high-oil grains that are likely to go rancid, and a few bread products that we can't eat before they go stale. And butter, because it freezes well and is way cheaper at Costco. After that, I am completely out of freezer space. Do those of you who make lots of stuff ahead like pizzas have separate deep freezers? Or do you prioritize food over having an ice-maker?

[smilingcat]

Yes I do have a deep freezer. It's made by Arctic Air model CF15 I think. It's good size. I keep my whole wheat, organic brown rice, bulk herbs, pizza crust, nuts such as almond, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, meat and stock,

Very Important: Do put dates on the items you put in the freezer so you know how old it is.

[skhill]

I've been wanting to get a (smallish) deep freezer, for putting up goodies from the garden primarily. But the problem is where to put it? The most obvious spot is where the litter boxes are, and I dread the cats' reaction to having their bathroom moved. Stupid, I know...

Was talking to my brother last night, and he proudly told me that in the week since he's stopped consuming HFCS, he's lost 4 lbs. Well, duh. But I'm glad to see another person moving away from processed foods. It won't cure his increasing baldness, but I bet he won't care about that so much when he's at a better weight!

[Aggie_Ama]

Nearly two months in, still no migraine! I gave up all artificial low-calorie sweeteners, haven't touched one since 12/31. I am very low on HFCS and down to caffeine only once every other day or so. I usually I try to have a real sugar Coke if I want one. I just have to kill my sweet tooth which is hard since my cubicle neighbor always has chocolate and candy!

But the chronic bad headaches are gone and that is a blessing. I only have been suffering with allergy headaches but those are far less severe than what I was getting. After I give up HFCS for good I am going to focus on a more natural diet but with spring race season in full force it is hard to do too much at once. Still eating Lean Cuisine and the like for lunch but removing the diet sodas has made a world of difference. I would like to invest in a small deep freezer to make food ahead of time, on the wish list it goes. :)

[shootingstar]

Yay, Amanda! I'm sure you'll find a way with race season. Just don't overthink it and stick to your plan.

:)

[Crankin]

Amanda, why don't you just make yourself a good old fashioned turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread for lunch? Or any other non-processed meat? Make it the night before, stick a piece of fruit in the bag, and you're done. Or make a big salad full of veggies/beans on the weekend and use it for lunches, adding in other stuff?
I notice you drink soda for caffeine. Have you ever tried tea or coffee? One cup a day wouldn't hurt you, for sure. Even a teeny amount of real sugar in it would be better than the fake stuff.
My close friend and riding buddy drinks tons of diet soda and is crazy about using fake sugar; won't touch the real stuff. The rest of her diet is pretty good. I want to tell her to quit the diet soda, but I am afraid she will not take it well.

[Eden]

I feel like I must be lucky that I think most non-sugar sweeteners taste really, really nasty (that includes artificial ones like aspertame and "natural" ones like stevia and agave - yuck), so I've never developed any habit of using them.... I'm not really much of a soda person, but when I do feel like one I prefer real sugar over anything else - it really does taste better IMHO. I get my caffeine fix with tea and would rather have it unsweetened 99% of the time, though a little honey in chai brings out the spices.

[foodspacific]

Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state, but processed foods are not as bad as we think.You need to avoid some ingrediants in processed foods such as
>>>> Artificial Colors
>>>> Artificial Flavorings
>>>> Artificial Sweeteners
>>>> Benzoate Preservatives
>>>> Brominated Vegetable Oil
>>>> High Fructose Corn Syrup
>>>> Monosodium Glutamate
and Olestra.

[Brovy]

Nice post dear. I am completely agreed with you. We should avoid this kind of food because these food cause lot of health problems and make our body unhealthy. I would like to thank you for sharing such a useful information.

[Irulan]

I am very low on HFCS

Why not get rid of it altogether? Once I started reading labels, I found it was pretty darn easy to avoid. If nothing else, I'll take the sugar sweetened alternative. I don't think I have anything in teh house any more with HCFS in it, except maybe a bag of chocolate chips in the cupboard. I even found HFCS free fudge sauce online and ordered a few jars. Also, I have written many of teh main stream companies now making HFCS free products . Hunts is a good example: they make a HFCS free ketchup now.

[Catrin]

I never thought that I would be full processed food free, but I am now (as well as grain and legume free). I feel so much better focusing on whole foods and knowing exactly what is in the food I eat. Energy levels are much better and I just FEEL better. For me it works. Cooking is fun again and after almost 2 months I don't see my going back :)

[Trek420]

Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state, but processed foods are not as bad as we think.You need to avoid some ingrediants in processed foods such as
>>>> Artificial Colors
>>>> Artificial Flavorings
>>>> Artificial Sweeteners
>>>> Benzoate Preservatives
>>>> Brominated Vegetable Oil
>>>> High Fructose Corn Syrup
>>>> Monosodium Glutamate
and Olestra.

Nice list but I eat food that's made from food. Read the labels or better yet get things without labels (found in the produce section). If you need a chemistry degree to decipher anything in the label don't eat it, if it's not made from real food don't eat it. It's really not that hard.