The short version is eating healthy is expensive. The first time I did Weight Watchers the first time, my grocery bill went up because fresh fruits and veggies, leaner meats, and packaged diet food (I do love those Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches) are expensive. But more than that, I look at my in-laws, who were always on the poverty line. The food my husband grew up on- boxed fried chicken, Kraft mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, etc. Was food they ate partly because it was cheap. It's really hard for people who are struggling for money to change their diet, because processed food is cheap and whole food is not. Not that you can't eat healthier on a limited budget, but it's definitely difficult. Especially if you don't like beans or rice. I can probably dig up posts and statistics and stuff if you want :)
I've been trying to lose weight without too much tracking this time, based on the "does this food have nutritional value?" This works well for me because a lot of my inability to lose weight comes from the fact I don't eat well. I snack (and not on healthy things), I eat processed foods, and I eat out. So I've just been trying to cut back on stuff like that.
The biggest help for me are soups. At the beginning of the week, I'll make a nice big pot of soup and portion it out into tupperware containers. Thick soups, like the two I listed above, or cream of mushroom soup with sherry or roasted chicken noodle soup. Then I have them for lunch with some fruit and a small dessert. The nice thing about soups is their flavor improves on standing, so I feel like I'm having something awesome instead of something low cal. And it's quick and easy to grab for a meal. Chilis are good, too.
Eating out is a whole other beast. I have no idea if this will help you, because it depends on what kind of restaurants you go to, but here is a compiled list of chain restaurant nutrition info. But I struggle with eating out too, because I always want what I want, and I will often just get it. :P
This seems like an interesting and relevant article for us, as does this. If you go too low with your calories, you're going to find yourself not losing because your body is starving and hanging on to everything.
Trying to lose weight sucks though, and I fully agree with your icon :P
The short version is eating healthy is expensive. The first time I did Weight Watchers the first time, my grocery bill went up because fresh fruits and veggies, leaner meats, and packaged diet food (I do love those Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches) are expensive. But more than that, I look at my in-laws, who were always on the poverty line. The food my husband grew up on- boxed fried chicken, Kraft mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, etc. Was food they ate partly because it was cheap. It's really hard for people who are struggling for money to change their diet, because processed food is cheap and whole food is not. Not that you can't eat healthier on a limited budget, but it's definitely difficult. Especially if you don't like beans or rice. I can probably dig up posts and statistics and stuff if you want :)
I've been trying to lose weight without too much tracking this time, based on the "does this food have nutritional value?" This works well for me because a lot of my inability to lose weight comes from the fact I don't eat well. I snack (and not on healthy things), I eat processed foods, and I eat out. So I've just been trying to cut back on stuff like that.
The biggest help for me are soups. At the beginning of the week, I'll make a nice big pot of soup and portion it out into tupperware containers. Thick soups, like the two I listed above, or cream of mushroom soup with sherry or roasted chicken noodle soup. Then I have them for lunch with some fruit and a small dessert. The nice thing about soups is their flavor improves on standing, so I feel like I'm having something awesome instead of something low cal. And it's quick and easy to grab for a meal. Chilis are good, too.
Eating out is a whole other beast. I have no idea if this will help you, because it depends on what kind of restaurants you go to, but here is a compiled list of chain restaurant nutrition info. But I struggle with eating out too, because I always want what I want, and I will often just get it. :P
This seems like an interesting and relevant article for us, as does this. If you go too low with your calories, you're going to find yourself not losing because your body is starving and hanging on to everything.
Trying to lose weight sucks though, and I fully agree with your icon :P
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