Do you all eat as healthful as your dog does?

I WISH I ate as well as my pups...I do really well for a few days or so a week, but I can't seem to make it last long term.  I try to eat a more "balanced" diet and get daily exercise (thanks to the pooches), but this has to be enough for now.  I can't be a slave to dieting...I refuse to do it unless I had to for medical reasons.  
 
I think long-term well balanced diet and moderate daily exercise is really the way to go and is much more sustainable for me over my lifetime.   [8D] 

I got in an argument on a messageboard with a person overseas when I tried to explain that poverty was a health risk for obesity in the US because here healthy food costs more than unhealthy food. (Complicated by the amount of time it would take to eat on the cheap from scratch - dry beans, brown rice, etc).

 
Paula, I don't disagree with you that poverty is a factor in our obesity problem... but I think there are other big factors, like lack of healthcare (whole 'nother topic), lack of nutritional education, and our consumer culture. My personal mantra in the grocery store is "just because they sell it doesn't mean it's food." I think if people could make the leap from "this isn't healthy" to "this isn't even really food" they would make much better choices. No one here would feed their dog nothing but Pedigree gravy, but that is basically what a lot of people feed themselves... and why wouldn't you feed your dog that? Because you care about his health and you know better, plain and simple. Once you know better about your own diet, all you have to do is care enough to change it.

ORIGINAL: jones

I got in an argument on a messageboard with a person overseas when I tried to explain that poverty was a health risk for obesity in the US because here healthy food costs more than unhealthy food. (Complicated by the amount of time it would take to eat on the cheap from scratch - dry beans, brown rice, etc).

Paula, I don't disagree with you that poverty is a factor in our obesity problem... but I think there are other big factors, like lack of healthcare (whole 'nother topic), lack of nutritional education, and our consumer culture. My personal mantra in the grocery store is "just because they sell it doesn't mean it's food." I think if people could make the leap from "this isn't healthy" to "this isn't even really food" they would make much better choices. No one here would feed their dog nothing but Pedigree gravy, but that is basically what a lot of people feed themselves... and why wouldn't you feed your dog that? Because you care about his health and you know better, plain and simple. Once you know better about your own diet, all you have to do is care enough to change it.

Those are definite factors in ill health amongst the poor (lack of health care), but a lot of urban poor are captive audiences when it comes to grocery stores. There are neighborhoods that, for whatever reason, have as their only choice, a half-assed corner store that sells more liquor and cigarettes than fresh food. Moves are being made to give urban poor better access to healthy foods - this is good.

As for the folks who are only making bad choices - we do have more options like safer neighborhoods to walk in, many groceries to choose from, etc.

Paula

ORIGINAL: jones

I got in an argument on a messageboard with a person overseas when I tried to explain that poverty was a health risk for obesity in the US because here healthy food costs more than unhealthy food. (Complicated by the amount of time it would take to eat on the cheap from scratch - dry beans, brown rice, etc).

Paula, I don't disagree with you that poverty is a factor in our obesity problem... but I think there are other big factors, like lack of healthcare (whole 'nother topic), lack of nutritional education, and our consumer culture. My personal mantra in the grocery store is "just because they sell it doesn't mean it's food." I think if people could make the leap from "this isn't healthy" to "this isn't even really food" they would make much better choices. No one here would feed their dog nothing but Pedigree gravy, but that is basically what a lot of people feed themselves... and why wouldn't you feed your dog that? Because you care about his health and you know better, plain and simple. Once you know better about your own diet, all you have to do is care enough to change it.

I think another factor regarding the obesity issue is lack of exercise.  With as much as people have to work these days, it's hard to find time to do anything, muchless work up a sweat when you finally have time to relax! Luckily, I MAKE myself attend a cardio aerobics class twice a week...if I didn't feel like I had an "appointment" to work out, I don't think I ever would, lol.  (I do also ride/show horses; but I dunno if you would consider that "exercise).

I definitely don't eat as well as my dog... But I'm trying to change that!

It's really hard work [&:].

i think the biggest problem with obesity is just plain old laziness. before i got pregnant with my daughter i weighed every last bit of 104 lbs. and my diet was made up mostly of fried food, pizza, cheeseburgers and the like. and no it never came back up, i just got off my butt enough to work it off.
 
i dont think anyone can blame being overweight on food, its common sense that cake and cheeseburgers are unhealthy and will make you fat if consumed in excess. self control is the real issue.
 
i cook all of my meals home made, with fresh ingredients, and my weekly grocery budget is around 50 dollars. doesnt sound like much, and yes i spend a good two hours a week making grocery lists and meal planning, but IMO it is time well spent, and money well saved. no one in my house goes hungry and the food they eat is healthy. i have never bought whitebread in my life.
 
i dont think there is that strong a link between obesity and poverty, i think there is a strong link between laziness and poverty. and maybe some gluttony in there too, a bag of raisens cost the same amount as a bag of cheeto's, being poor does not make you any more inclined to buy the cheeto's, gluttony does. the only connection i personally make with obesity and poverty is that, the impoverished tend to be lazy, the lazy tend to be obese, so it is more of a by-product than a direct link.
 

It also depends a lot on where you live. In my small town we have a family owned Supermarts and a new Wal-Mart (was built 2 years ago) Ther is no health food store anywhere here. The supermart is exspensive and has low grade meats and veggies and off brand of everything else. Wal-Mart is about it when it comes to buying food for cheap and even that isn't that great. I would love to have a big freezer and buy my meats and veggies in the city and freez them but I just don't have the space.

I don't even buy my dog's food in this town because the best food that you can find here in Eukanuba and thats from the vet. I buy my dog's food when I go to the City. I've tried the feed stores in town but they don't carry what I want.




Then there is the whole learning how to cook. I grew up mostly eating New Mexican food, very similar to Mexican and so when I was on my own thats all I knew how to cook. That has to be the worse food to eat if your trying to diet. It took me some time and many attempts to learn how to not cook NM foods. I had many failed attemps and much food went to wast because I didn't know what I was doing. I'm fianlly gettig the hang of following cook books and stearing away from my cultural food. I also do a lot of crock potting because it's easy and I can always save it for later. Who knew, I could cook without oil! My family cookes everthing they make with lard and/or oil...yuck.

All very interesting answers!  Unfortunately, I do not eat as well as my dogs.  I think it is because we are bombarded with propaganda (all those fast food commercials) and much of my eating is social, dining with family and friends.  Thanks for the post, it made me think how I need to take better care of myself.  It takes an effort, when our palates are ruined by over sugared, salted and processed foods.
Lawrence
lawrence@dogfoodsecrets.info

I am eating dried banana chips as I type!  Most days I do eat eat healthy.  It is hard when hubby is on the road and there is just me here, but I do eat lots of tossed salads and veggies and fruits, very little fried foods.  When the boys were home I made sure I had the right amount of green veggies, yellow veggies, more baked than fried, etc...I learned all about it in nutirtion classes.  About 4 years ago my hubby had gall bladder trouble and he had to keep a list of everything he ate for a couple of weeks.  When he turned it in the doctor asked if I worked as a nutirtionist ane he told her no, just as a plain housewife.
 
Today I have not eaten well at all.  I had a big cup of International French Vanilla Cafe coffee and two slices of toast with butter & honey for breakfast, and the last of the left over fruit salad for lunch--busy putting up Christmas decorations and just sat down to take a break.  I will eat a good supper.  As will my dogs--i have the crock pot going with their chicken stew (chicken,m calf liver, green beans, sweet potatoes and apples).
 
 

ORIGINAL: papillon806

ORIGINAL: jones

I got in an argument on a messageboard with a person overseas when I tried to explain that poverty was a health risk for obesity in the US because here healthy food costs more than unhealthy food. (Complicated by the amount of time it would take to eat on the cheap from scratch - dry beans, brown rice, etc).

Paula, I don't disagree with you that poverty is a factor in our obesity problem... but I think there are other big factors, like lack of healthcare (whole 'nother topic), lack of nutritional education, and our consumer culture. My personal mantra in the grocery store is "just because they sell it doesn't mean it's food." I think if people could make the leap from "this isn't healthy" to "this isn't even really food" they would make much better choices. No one here would feed their dog nothing but Pedigree gravy, but that is basically what a lot of people feed themselves... and why wouldn't you feed your dog that? Because you care about his health and you know better, plain and simple. Once you know better about your own diet, all you have to do is care enough to change it.

I think another factor regarding the obesity issue is lack of exercise.  With as much as people have to work these days, it's hard to find time to do anything, muchless work up a sweat when you finally have time to relax! Luckily, I MAKE myself attend a cardio aerobics class twice a week...if I didn't feel like I had an "appointment" to work out, I don't think I ever would, lol.  (I do also ride/show horses; but I dunno if you would consider that "exercise).

Can you imagine how the problem of lack of exercise is compounded if;

1. your school has budget cuts and cuts phys ed.
2. you can't afford a fitness club.
3. your neighborhood is too dangerous to be outside.

It is a big giant mess.
Paula

ORIGINAL: gaylemarie

i think the biggest problem with obesity is just plain old laziness. before i got pregnant with my daughter i weighed every last bit of 104 lbs. and my diet was made up mostly of fried food, pizza, cheeseburgers and the like. and no it never came back up, i just got off my butt enough to work it off.

i dont think anyone can blame being overweight on food, its common sense that cake and cheeseburgers are unhealthy and will make you fat if consumed in excess. self control is the real issue.

i cook all of my meals home made, with fresh ingredients, and my weekly grocery budget is around 50 dollars. doesnt sound like much, and yes i spend a good two hours a week making grocery lists and meal planning, but IMO it is time well spent, and money well saved. no one in my house goes hungry and the food they eat is healthy. i have never bought whitebread in my life.

i dont think there is that strong a link between obesity and poverty, i think there is a strong link between laziness and poverty. and maybe some gluttony in there too, a bag of raisens cost the same amount as a bag of cheeto's, being poor does not make you any more inclined to buy the cheeto's, gluttony does. the only connection i personally make with obesity and poverty is that, the impoverished tend to be lazy, the lazy tend to be obese, so it is more of a by-product than a direct link.

Yes there is a well established link between obesity and poverty for many of the reasons stated here. Poverty is actually a public health risk factor for obesity.  Remember - I'm the obnoxious public health student. It goes well beyond simple laziness.

1. access to good food.
2. access to affordable good food.
3. time
4. environment - neighborhoods that are too dirty or too dangerous to be outside in.

These are some of the reasons poverty is a risk factor for obesity.

Paula

I do think that our obesity problem is partly due to laziness, not among the poor necessarily, but probably more often among ordinary middle class Americans. If you have a car and a living wage, as most people do, you have the tools to eat right, but few people take this very seriously. It's a subject a little near and dear to me lately as I've just moved to the Midwest to help care for my inlaws, who are diabetic due to poor diets. I've seen what they eat and I can tell you it's nothing over-the-top, just your average American diet... prepared frozen dinners or meats, garlic toast, salads made of iceberg lettuce and ranch dressing, coffee cake for dessert. When they go out to dinner it's not fast food per se but it's IHOP or Village Inn. And they are both very much on the edge of disaster with their health. If you think it's cheaper to eat the "American diet" than a healthy diet, let me tell you how much it cost last time we had to take my boyfriend's stepdad to the emergency room for high blood sugar and he was hospitalized for three days - or maybe how much they spend in prescriptions every month. And the kicker is, those costs are coming out of YOUR pocket so they can have Medicare coverage, so it really is on each one of us to care about how we eat. I know that people, particularly families with children, are busy, but you've got to take the long view... for every hour you save grabbing KFC instead of steaming some veggies you're probably taking that hour off the other end of your life. It's not worth it.
 
Ultimately, I don't think our no-holds-barred style of free market economy is doing us many favors. I know that most Americans balk at the idea of regulations on the food that restaurants or schools serve, or even the food that's sold anywhere (which I'd like to see), because personal choice is so very important to us. But even in a culture that highly values freedom of choice we draw limits... why don't we legalize cocaine or heroin? Shouldn't we have the choice to do damage to our bodies with recreational drugs? Many people think we shouldn't have that choice... and I know now I'm going to sound like a total nutball but I think a lot of the food we eat is little better than recreational drugs - it has no other value than giving you a temporary good feeling, and it damages your body. If you think oor nutrition doesn't ruin lives, look at the death rate from heart disease and diabetes.

I am forced to eat healthy most of the time b/c of my DH (who's a health freak) but when I'm on the road I'm pretty horrible. If it were all up to me, Stanley would be on much better diet than me, for sure.
 
I think this country's obesity definitely has a lot to do w/ food. I gained 20 lb. within 6 months after moving to this country, and this is not uncommon experience among my friends who moved here from other Asian countries no matter what their activity levels are. I *never* thought about amount of kcal I'm consuming, etc. until I gained all that weight here -- heck, most of the food over there didn't even have a kcal count on the back like they do here!
 
But of course, the fact that a lot of people never walk anywhere probably doesn't help either!

In Rosenberg, Tx., northwest of Houston, there is a restaraunt called the Texan Bar & Grill. Full service bar. Ashtrays at every table. In the bathroom, ashtrays at every urinal and commode stall. You can have anything on the menu that you want, as long as you want it fried. I think of it as the Cholesterol Cafe. You may die, but you've had a big meal, a drink, and a smoke.[]

1. access to good food.
2. access to affordable good food.
3. time
4. environment - neighborhoods that are too dirty or too dangerous to be outside in.

 
For the people on welfare around here, it's more like this:
 
1) Access to good food, but would rather spend food stamps on junk food
2) Food is free whether it's nutritious or not but junk food is yummier
3) waay to much time to sit and watch tv and snack...and snack
4) You would think environment would help- after all, not being able to afford a car should mean you walk to places, right?  No, they get free bus passes courtesy of us, the tax payers...  The neighborhood isn't dirty, it's renovated every few years and the neighborhood is well-patrolld by the police we pay for...
 
I don't hate poor people, I'm actually not too far away considering all the money I spend on my dogs and dog shows...I just hate the way that some of my tax dollars are spent.  When you're getting free food, I don't think you should have a choice in what you get.  They should be required to get only lean meats, fresh vegetables and whole grain products!!!
 
Back to dog food- my dogs and I are all on gluten free diets.  We all love sweet potatoes and all have a weakness for Lays Natural Reduced fat ruffles, which we fondly call "Chippieeeees!!"