The Paradox of Modern Living

I follow the Leptin Diet and shop at the Whole Foods Market -http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

If you skip the deserts it is hard to buy food in there that will hurt you.

I think you've nailed it, exactly how I feel about shopping. Factor in things like considerations of organic/conventional, GMOs, etc, and I despair...especially when I have limited funds to buy groceries. Really good point about the stress/worry vs. the bad foods. I hadn't considered that before. Great! Something else to think about! Just kidding. Here's hoping your veggies grow well and strong! And may we all, as well!

It is sort of weird to see all those stupid magazines at the checkout saying "Lose Weight! Feel great!" or "Celebrity Diet Secrets" and then look at a cartload of food looking back at you. I've found that when I shop, I tend to buy mostly "perimeter" foods...stuff in the produce section, meat case, dairy aisle, bakery aisle, etc. There's not much in the produce aisle that's "bad" for you, but a trip down the "convenience foods" aisle is scary. Does it weird anyone else out to see premade pasta AND sauce in a tray on the shelf? Or some weird noodle/cheese cup that you microwave to get mac and cheese? Anyone ever read the labels on that stuff? Pretty bad. I like to shop at the farmer's market too...it's mostly all organic and it's a lot fresher than the store.

PS: I don't know about where everyone shops, but the store I shop at has a "kid friendly" aisle with no candy or toys or anything tempting like that. I think more stores should do that...parents would really appreciate it I think.

I think having a candy isle is okay but why not put fruit and veggies near the cash register :-) mmmmmmm

I cannot agree more about worrying too much. Under some circumstances, stress can be more harmful than unfortunate food choices. When it comes to diet and exercise, some people worry so much about being perfect with their diet that they end up just procrastinating when things do not go their way.

Iportion,

You just created the ultimate health food – candied fruits! I am all for that :-)

The reason why there is confusion is because we have had a long history of lies and faulty science coming from authorities (cashed up by the grain & sugar companies).

It goes back centuries.

Whatever happens, they cannot let the public know that fat is healthy, and carbs are unhealthy.

Why? Because their Junk Food Mega Industries would become bankrupt.

Instead they tought calories in/calories out promote individual responsibility, whilst they market junk 24 hours a day to us and our children.

If you have to process a food - there are dollars to be made.

I actually developed more of a processed food habit by being in Weight Wathcers for many years. The Leaders are trained to market their products at every meeting.

I just feel if we try to eat mostly organic and fresh foods in correct portions than healthy eating is about reached. I love eating fresh foods as it just you have energy and makes your whole body feeling great.

I agree with eating organic foods to lose weight. The day I stopped dieting was the day I started losing weight. I tried everything before that. I did low-carb and ended up gaining weight and being miserable. Instead of dieting, I quit eating fast foods and highly processed foods. That was the only limitation I put on myself. If I was going to eat "junk food," I made sure it was the best quality, best tasting version of junk food possible. Also, I eat smaller portions because I'm satisfied, whereas I was still starving after eating a Lean Cuisine. To this day, I've lost 70 pounds in a year and a half and I've learned how to cook.

Carolineh:
"If I was going to eat "junk food," I made sure it was the best quality, best tasting version of junk food possible"

That, my friend, is a pearl of wisdom - and something I want to write more about in the future.

LowCarb_dave: If people were to start eating more whole food - enormous companies would suffer massive losses (i.e. Kraft, General Mills, Unilever, Nestle etc). It will never ever be in there interests to get people eating fresh whole foods.

People can harp on about the obesity crisis - but, quite frankly the odds are totally stacked against any 'Joe Public' shopping for his food.

Jim,

"...enormous companies would suffer massive losses"

I agree that the odds are stacked against 'Joe Public', but at the same time, it seems that it is up to us to make a change. For example, when Atkins craze hit the market, companies started to adapt, because they were suffering financial losses.

The same would happen here. When the 'big boys' such as Kraft see that sales are dropping, they will either change or go out of business. There is a similar situation going on right now with American car manufacturers. They have to adapt to new market dynamics, because consumers are spending their money elsewhere on better cars.

Frankly, I don’t think that much will change anytime soon. Perhaps Whole Foods can take a lead in this process, but they need to drop prices, and start marketing to a wider consumer base.

LowCarbDave...it's not only the sugar and grain industries, it's industry in general that is promoting poor eating habits. Not all carbs are bad and not all fats are good. The food industry's been putting trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils in foods for a while...not a good fat. The surge in foods full of high fructose corn syrup is rising too...not a good carb. The USDA needs to be promoting the consumption of more whole foods in general. Fat that naturally occurs in nature is mostly good fat...some fats are better than others. Carbs that occur in nature are mostly good carbs (in their natural state, that is)...some of those carbs are better than others. Whole foods rule! Processed food is well, convenient maybe, but tastes like cardboard and costs twice as much.

Exactly why I come prepared with a shopping list and a clear idea of what I'm going to buy. I only go in the health aisle to pick up some vegetarian stuff (although I eat meat now, I try to have mostly vegetarian meals) and the Clif bars for after tough workouts (only thing I can stomach after a hard run-- and if I don't eat then, I won't want to eat the rest of the day because my appetite is suppressed.)

Regarding the candy in the checkout aisle--in Naples, Florida, we have a grocery store called Publix. They actually have one aisle in most stores that is candy free so people can choose to wait in that one to avoid the problem with kids.

The bit about the magazines was true - editors know they can boost sales by putting the word "diet" on the cover. But the piece didn't point out that the very same magazines are usually full of fattening recipes. One particular Australian magazine always has pages and pages of photos and recipes for the most fattening desserts - then predictably an advert for Weight Watchers!

It's inspiring to see a series of postings in which every single person contributing understands that "diets" aren't the answer. Good habits are.

RedPanda - I couldn't agree more with your appraisal of magazines. If magazines actually told us how to lose fat (in a healthy, sustainable, and enjoyable way), they'd be out of a job. They'd all have to write about celebrity gossip, since real news doesn't sell.

Well I have a love and hate thing with Kraft. My husband works there. It is an excellent work environment. They even have a subsidized gym on the premises. But the food they make (although employees can buy it at cost at a special store in there too) is not something I typically wanna eat. I get sugar-free jello (which I'm sick of already), some Crystal light (yeah I know they are artificial and full of sweeteners) and now they bought a juice company, so they sell some bottled pure fruit, no sugar juice I get. That is it, 3 items in a store the size of a small supermarket, that I wanna eat. It is appalling.