SubscribeDiet Foods: A Waste of Money?
Consumers are spending record amounts of money of diet products. In Europe, the diet food and drink market was valued at £4.6 billion (US$8.1 Billion) - and is predicted to just keep on rising. However - obesity rates keep on rising too - so what is with all these "diet" foods? The author of a recent survey blames a "credit and debit" attitude:
“Because they have done something good like go to the gym or eat a diet product, people think they have earned being able to eat something like a pie or a cake. “As long as that mentality exists it is not going to affect waistlines.”
Dr Joel Fuhrman (author of Eat to Live) claims that most commercial weight loss programs are a waste of money. He blames the poor nutrient density and nutrition profiles of most diet foods.
Weight Watchers’ brand foods contain 24 percent of calories from fat. Lean Cuisine contains 25 percent of calories from fat. The Jenny program requires the purchase of packaged meals with entrees such as cheese soufflé and Salisbury steak, meals that are almost as bad as what most Americans eat at home.Quite frankly, Dr Fuhrman is correct. You may lose weight by reducing calories, but you may not necessarily be doing your body any favors over the long-term.
After all these years of diet foods, people are still getting fatter. Basic, whole foods, will always be the winner. Nuts, seeds, beans, fruits and vegetables must become a part of our daily diets.
More like this in Food · Feb 7, 2006
True, I don't think anyone should live off of prepackaged anything. But I used to buy the Weight Watchers frozen entrees to take for lunch when I worked in NYC. They may not be cheap - $3 to $5 apiece - but they're definitely cheaper than anything you could get at the places near my office in Manhattan. (I used to wait for sales, which they had frequently, and stock up. WW also used to give you coupons for the frozen meals, which when combined with sale prices really helped a lot!) Now that I don't commute 2+ hours a day, I have time to make real food! I make recipes that have lots of servings, and my husband & I eat leftovers for lunch.
ReplyFor me, giving up prepackaged foods was more about taste than health. At some point, I couldn't choke another one down and since then, I make large meals and eat leftovers for lunch instead of frozen dinners.
ReplyI'm single, 21, and I both work full-time and go to college. I'm a big fan of Lean Cuisine-type meals because they taste okay, are quick, practice good portion control (you can't have any more meat because there isn't any more), are single-serving (so I don't have massive leftovers), and relatively healthy (if you use common sense and get ones with large portions of vegetables and whatnot). At $2.50 a pop at Target, I can do all my dinners for the week while I'm picking up deodorant and pantyhose on my one evening off--score! So I don't think that 'diet' foods should be written off as 'wastes of money,' because these fit my life and are helping me lose weight. Anything that helps my life can't be called a waste of my money by anyone else.
Of course there are people not using diet programs properly, or not understanding that the box meals aren't ideal nutrition, and they may even be the majority, but why let that ruin it for the rest of us?
ReplyI use the SmartOnes for lunch , especially on cardio days , it's easy and quick , I usually add a can of green beans to it
ReplyMy husband is one of those extremely frugal people who thinks diet food is a waste of money. I tend to not buy a lot of "diet food" as in, prepackaged processed things. I do buy a lot of fresh produce and that sort of thing. I also buy diet soda instead of regular (same price) and skim milk instead of whole (cheaper). The only real rip-off diet food I buy is Nestle CarbSelect hot cocoa mix because it's really good and yeah, it does cost about twice as much per box as the regular stuff. I think as long as you buy diet food in moderation, it's probably not going to break your bank.
ReplyI stay away from a lot of pre-packaged/frozen dinners. Although they are very convenient, most people DO NOT pay attention to the sodium that are contained in those so called "diet" meals. Having approximately 40% of your DAILY sodium intake in one meal is disgusting and unhealthy, because then you have to worry about your cholestoral levels and the such.
ReplyI dont eat the prepackaged meals just because they cost to much! But if I was single and didnt have to worrie about feeding my family I think it would be fine. As long as it was'nt an everyday thing. It cant be good for you eating out of a box all the time.
ReplyWeight loss and good health begin with one simple, yet very important action; one that will change your life forever. Before a single pound can be shed, before you put on your first pair of jogging shoes, you need to make a decision—you need to decide whether you really want to be healthy.
It seems obvious, doesn't it? Who wouldn't want to be healthy? But, the reality is—that in making this decision—you are choosing to affirm your self-worth as you say to yourself and to the world, "No matter how long it takes, no matter how hard the path, I am going to get healthy. I am going to achieve my weight loss goals and I'm going to do it because I'm worth it." To be successful, you have to make this decision and affirmation. You have to do it for yourself.
Once you've made the decision there will be no more delays; no more putting it off until Monday; no more looking for the perfect diet; and definitely, no more fad diets that cost you tons of money and end up not working.
Once you've made the commitment to honor yourself and to establish and achieve your weight loss and health goals, you have already taken the first step on your path to well being.
As a person who is committed to finding health and nutrition in your life—a person who has decided to make a better way for yourself in the world by eating responsibly and intelligently—avoid crash diets. Diets where you literally starve your body until it crashes are nothing but smoke and mirrors. Crash diets upset the balance and metabolism of your body. When you begin eating again, the body will hold onto that weight with a vengeance because it fears another crash is coming. Eat sensibly, eat consistently, diet properly and the weight will come off.
Have you planted yourself in front of the TV for hours on end every day? Do you consider yourself a couch potato? Have no fear, you can change. If you watch TV, make it a habit to take a lap around the house during the commercials. If you are engaged in an exercise plan that includes sit ups, push ups, or stretching of any kind, take the opportunity to do any of these activities while you are watching TV. A sure way to get yourself up and moving around is to set a drink requirement for your show (e.g., I have to drink 3 glasses of water during this one broadcast).
It has happened to everybody, including you. You are driving down the street and see the fast food joint. In one ear, you hear, "Eat Intelligently, Live Well, Lose the Weight," In your other ear, you hear "French Fries, Grease, Mayonnaise, Mmmm."
Never eat something simply because you see it in front of you. Always ask yourself whether your body really needs what you’re about to put into it. When you’ve achieved your weight loss goal through intelligent eating, you’ll wonder how you every lived any differently.
Repeat the following mantra: Vegetables are my friends. Vegetables are my friends. Vegetables are my friends. When it comes to losing pounds, there is no doubt: Vegetables are your best friends. Nature offers you a nutritious and delicious spread of low-to-no calorie treats for every meal of your day. Whether in a side dish, a salad, snack, or the main show, take the vegetables with you, even when you're on the go. And, remember: Fresh, uncooked vegetables are better for you than cooked or canned vegetables. Cooked vegetables lose nearly half of their vitamins.
ReplyThe only thing I like about diet foods is the portion control, low fat, low salt, and convenience. I did try to use the snack bars and meal replacements on the go but ended up eating more than allowed when on a controlled diet. I've tried the diet herbs like fat blockers, fat burners, weight loss pills with cider vinegar etc, and those protein drinks. Too much money spent on diet crutches, I really prefer using the pyramid foods in the proper proportions. So that that will be for the rest of my life, no more going on and off again with different fads. It is something I find too expensive anyway! Who knows for sure how dangerous all of the additives are anyway especially long term?
ReplyI heard today the herbal pills contain such things as lead, mercury, and cyanide!
That is what I was talking about in that JC post: it is so little food for 1,500 calories. I wouldn't be able to stick to a diet that is so calorie-dense. I like to eat a decent amount of food for not a lot of calories...
ReplyI used to eat McDonald's at least five times a week (at $4-5 per shot and who knows? how many calories) In light of that, buying frozen dinners (WW, Lean Cuisine etc.) to help with a few of those meals when there is no time for prep and cooking, seems pretty reasonable. One gets built-in portion control, the food generally tastes pretty good, and if you are careful you will avoid the junkfood.
ReplyI used to eat alot of junk food, but now I am really trying to watch what I eat... but there is one problem... Does anyone know some around the house food that is very good and dietry for you?
ReplyI know this is sort of off topic, but I bristle a bit on the sodium issue. I went through a phase where I was not eating any "processed food"--I was trying to keep things in their most natural state, watching fat and sodium like we've all been told. I started fainting and having dizzy spells and getting stupid. Lots of tests, eegs, etc. and what it boiled down to was I have low blood pressure and I need to ingest a lot of salt and caffeine to keep my pressure up. So *some* of us really need salt. Please remember that. thanks...
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