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sparkindarknessI am all bright and happy lately. Partly I think it’s from not being ill any more (barring the asthma-that-isn’t because all they can do is keep saying “uhhh, maybe?” so we’ve reached a compromise of keeping the blue thingy round in case I have an asthma attack) but I think it’s a result of my new resolution!
Healthy eating!
Now, I am one of the biggest critics of healthy eating fad because I think it either a) makes a huge amount of money telling people stuff they should already know (you mean eating half my bodyweight in bacon is bad for me? Who KNEW?!) or b) telling us to ignore our common sense so they can try and sell us things as healthy food even though we doubt it (with wholegrain in every sugar laden cereal and many claims of “healthy” chocolate)
So, no, I’m not a fan of healthy eating fads or schemes or diets. I like basic common sense - which I am now applying and combining with healthy paranoia.
See, I don’t mind eating unhealthy food - I love eating unhealthy food - but I am HONEST that it is unhealthy so I acknowledge it as an indulgence - which means it has to be an indulgence. If I’m going to eat something that is going to shave a couple of minutes off my total life span I demand it taste good enough to be worth it! (And preferably contain bacon).
And this is the problem, because analysing my diet with paranoid label reading I find that even though the copious piggie sandwiches are not good for me, the bacon may actually be more healthy than the bread it’s laid upon! “Wholemeal bread, no artificial preservatives or flavourings” uh-huh, it has 3 different E-numbers, 2 acids and an obscene amount of salt in it according to the label. It’s BREAD - flour, yeast, water, sugar - the label should be very short. It shouldn‘t have a dozen extra ingredients. Half of them SHOULDN‘T sound like the liquids we used in chemistry class. What is this crap you have put in my bread?
So much of our food is messed with that it’s unbelievable what you’re eating these days - especially when you make convenience food. And this is where I slip up. Ready sauces, ready made meals are so EASY at the end of the day. But I sit down to a moderately decent but nothing special bowl of pasta with some ready-made pasta sauce on it or a stir fry with some brand’s sweet and sour slathered through and a quick check of the label tells me that I may as well have just chewed down some sugar coated lard with extra salt. And this bugs me - if I’m going to eat something this unhealthy it should at least be special taste/food experience wise. And it isn’t. I’m packing my body with chemicals and salt and crap and my only reward is, what, 30 minutes extra time? Screw that.
So, for the past few weeks I’ve been buying food that is as un-screwed with as possible. As an extra bonus I’m using Beloved’s bread maker (one of the gadgets that is stuffed in the cupboard of doooom) which is great. Put it on in a morning (it takes 10 minutes) and come home to bread for the evening and next morning - and the only crap that goes in it is crap I put in (which may involve bacon.)
It’s shocking really, I mean, I’m no cook. I’m a lousy cook - but anyone can throw together sauce for pasta or chicken or stir fry and it’s amazing how much tastier meals are. Yes we have cooking disasters but it still has more substance than a salt ridden, monstrosity you warm in the microwave. And the cost?! It’s amazing how much cheaper some of it is!
So I’ve decided, it’s a success and from this day forth the only people screwing around with my food are going to be people who are actually COOKING it (and regard it as cooking - not producing industrial style).
Healthy eating!
Now, I am one of the biggest critics of healthy eating fad because I think it either a) makes a huge amount of money telling people stuff they should already know (you mean eating half my bodyweight in bacon is bad for me? Who KNEW?!) or b) telling us to ignore our common sense so they can try and sell us things as healthy food even though we doubt it (with wholegrain in every sugar laden cereal and many claims of “healthy” chocolate)
So, no, I’m not a fan of healthy eating fads or schemes or diets. I like basic common sense - which I am now applying and combining with healthy paranoia.
See, I don’t mind eating unhealthy food - I love eating unhealthy food - but I am HONEST that it is unhealthy so I acknowledge it as an indulgence - which means it has to be an indulgence. If I’m going to eat something that is going to shave a couple of minutes off my total life span I demand it taste good enough to be worth it! (And preferably contain bacon).
And this is the problem, because analysing my diet with paranoid label reading I find that even though the copious piggie sandwiches are not good for me, the bacon may actually be more healthy than the bread it’s laid upon! “Wholemeal bread, no artificial preservatives or flavourings” uh-huh, it has 3 different E-numbers, 2 acids and an obscene amount of salt in it according to the label. It’s BREAD - flour, yeast, water, sugar - the label should be very short. It shouldn‘t have a dozen extra ingredients. Half of them SHOULDN‘T sound like the liquids we used in chemistry class. What is this crap you have put in my bread?
So much of our food is messed with that it’s unbelievable what you’re eating these days - especially when you make convenience food. And this is where I slip up. Ready sauces, ready made meals are so EASY at the end of the day. But I sit down to a moderately decent but nothing special bowl of pasta with some ready-made pasta sauce on it or a stir fry with some brand’s sweet and sour slathered through and a quick check of the label tells me that I may as well have just chewed down some sugar coated lard with extra salt. And this bugs me - if I’m going to eat something this unhealthy it should at least be special taste/food experience wise. And it isn’t. I’m packing my body with chemicals and salt and crap and my only reward is, what, 30 minutes extra time? Screw that.
So, for the past few weeks I’ve been buying food that is as un-screwed with as possible. As an extra bonus I’m using Beloved’s bread maker (one of the gadgets that is stuffed in the cupboard of doooom) which is great. Put it on in a morning (it takes 10 minutes) and come home to bread for the evening and next morning - and the only crap that goes in it is crap I put in (which may involve bacon.)
It’s shocking really, I mean, I’m no cook. I’m a lousy cook - but anyone can throw together sauce for pasta or chicken or stir fry and it’s amazing how much tastier meals are. Yes we have cooking disasters but it still has more substance than a salt ridden, monstrosity you warm in the microwave. And the cost?! It’s amazing how much cheaper some of it is!
So I’ve decided, it’s a success and from this day forth the only people screwing around with my food are going to be people who are actually COOKING it (and regard it as cooking - not producing industrial style).