4 weeks ago I decided to give up chocolate…for 6 months. And you know what? It’s been easier than I thought…
photo credit: google images
Discretionary Food and Drinks
As I am now almost a week down on my “Detox Challenge” I thought I might try to provide some information which could surprise you (or at least make you think again about having that extra slice of cake!)
Chocolate, as most people should know is a discretionary food. It does not fall into any of the five food groups. The reason for this is that a discretionary food is not necessary for a healthy diet and it is too high in saturated fat and/or sugars, added salt or alcohol and low in fibre. In the majority of cases these foods (or drinks) are also very high in kilojoules, whilst they contain little or no nutritional value.
A diet high in these types of foods/drinks can lead to obesity, diabetes and many other illnesses.
Now here’s the scary part….
A serving of a discretionary food (because of the high amount of kilojoules) is generally much smaller than that of one of the other food groups (for example fruit/vegetables). So take a look at some examples of ONE serving of discretionary food/drink:
- 2 scoops (75g) regular ice cream
- ¼ cup condensed milk
- 50-60g (about two slices) processed meats, salami, mettwurst
- 1 ½ thick or 2 thinner higher fat/salt sausages
- 30g salty crackers (a small individual serve packet)
- 2-3 sweet biscuits
- 1 (40 g) doughnut
- 1 slice (40 g) plain cake or small cake-type muffin
- 40g sugar confectionary (about 5-6 small lollies)
- 60g jam/honey (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1/2 small bar (25 g) chocolate
- 2 tablespoons (40 g) cream
- 1 tablespoon (20 g) butter or hard margarine
- 200 mL wine (2 standard drinks (note this is often 1 glass for many Australian wines)
- 60 mL spirits (2 standard drinks)
- 600 mL light beer (1½ standard drinks)
- 400 mL regular beer (1½ standard drinks)
- 1 can (375 mL) soft drink
- 1/3 (60 g) commercial meat pie or pastie
- 12 (60 g) fried hot chips
When I look at this and think back to the last time I ate some hot chips or had a “few” biscuits…and the time I ate that Easter bunny, I dread to think just how many servings I was actually having….
It may also surprise you to see one or two of the items listed above categorised as discretionary. The meat perhaps?
And we wonder why our society is getting more and more unhealthy. Maybe foods need to be packaged differently? In a serving sized portion perhaps? I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you weren’t aware of this or think someone would benefit from the above, please feel free to share.
Note: Most of the information in this post was sourced from the Eat for Health website.
Help me help the next generation!
A few days ago I received a chocolate bunny just like this one:
photo credit: google images
How cute is he?
All smiles and shiny.
And so TASTY!
I took a bite…and then another…and then another. And before I could help myself, within an hour he was gone!
Afterwards I felt sick and kind of annoyed at myself. Why is chocolate so addictive? Why can’t I simply have one bite and save the rest for later? It’s not only at this time of year. It’s ALL THE TIME!!! Chocolate is no longer a treat in our society…easily sourced and often on special!!! It has become part of many people’s every day diets….why is this?
I have decided to give up chocolate. After my gorge on the Easter bunny, I wondered to myself how long I should go without it for. A month? Three? No..I decided on 6. And then I thought, why not make it worthwhile. I wondered if there was such a thing as “Give up Chocolate for Charity”. I googled and came across a campaign called “Dechox” run by the Heart Foundation in the UK. Basically, you give up chocolate and raise money for the Heart Foundation. Great idea, I thought! But for one, it’s in the UK and two, it’s finished for the year.
I then thought to myself, what if I raised my own money for a charity of my choice. Is that even possible? And lo and behold it is! Through mycause. You can choose the charity and how much you wish to raise and with a few clicks of a button it’s done! Too easy!
So which charity did I choose? It’s not a charity many people will have heard about and in fact they don’t get ANY government funding. They rely purely on grants and volunteers. The charity I chose is the Children’s Food Education Foundation; whose aim is to “reduce the risk & incidence of diet related disease by engaging, educating and empowering children & young people to make mindful food choices”.
Knowledge is power. And I believe if we can help educate the youth of today, we just might be able to help the next generation and avoid our country continuing on the road to diet related diseases and illness. I would love your support. Please check out my page below and feel free to donate! Every dollar helps. My target is to raise $1000 and with your help I know we can do it 🙂
https://www.mycause.com.au/page/92544/vicsdechoxchallenge
There’s so much media hype about “no sugar” but what about salt?
Salt matters – find out why by clicking here!
Hi..it’s me! Yes, sorry I have been MIA for so long – with life getting in the way it’s been tough to find time to blog. Anyhoo – this one is just going to be quick.
I’m currently doing some Saturday study [on a side note I have been accepted into a bachelor of exercise science and a bachelor in human nutrition to start this August! WOO HOO! Totally pumped!] and my current chapter is all about vitamins and minerals.
I’ve come to the end of the chapter and am reading about sodium. In a nutshell diets high in sodium are not good. But why do we hear so much media hype about no sugar and/or no fat and not so much about no sodium?
Personally, my problem has always been more of the sugar than the sodium as I’m much more of a sweet tooth – but for those of you who love their savouries, maybe check to see just how much sodium you are taking in.
I ask you to have a read of the link above and if you want to read more also check out:
http://www.awash.org.au/drop-the-salt-campaign/the-food-industry/
It’s amazing just how much sodium can be found in our diets without even realising it. Make sure you are also aware that salt and sodium are not the same thing. Yes salt is made up of sodium, but they are not interchangeable. For example one gram of salt equates to around 400mg of sodium.
Anyway have a read and let me know your thoughts – are you a salt lover?
IIFYM
You know that feeling of guilt when you eat something that you aren’t “supposed” to eat?
That feeling of regret you have after you eat something “bad” for you?
Life is way too short for the anxiety that “trying to be healthy” causes.
Life is there to be enjoyed…in moderation!
One image I’ve seen which really hits home is:
photo credit: google images
Preparation is key
According to Google, the word preparation means:
1. The action of making ready or being made ready to use.
2. Something done to get ready for an event or undertaking.
You are going on a trip, you have an upcoming exam, you are hosting a party, you want to run that marathon….for any of these things there’s a certain amount of preparation which must be done. But when it comes to our diet the majority of us are not prepared! It feels so much easier to buy that coffee and muffin on the way to the school…to go in on lunch with the team at work….
Progression of me 