STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

nicoley · Coach

Is anything healthy anymore?

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

yogurt is a very healthy food. if you're worried about the fat in yogurt opt for the non-fat variety. i usually buy vanilla non-fat (brown cow is my favorite brand from whole foods — even the non-fat seems really creamy) and blend it with fruit and ground flax seed. plus yogurt is a great source of calcium and protein.

i always pick up a copy of "delicious living" (it's the free magazine by the door) when i'm at whole foods. most of articles are pretty educational and have helped me learn about many foods that i would have never picked up or tried. also, i don't necessarily think of foods as unhealthy just because they have fat in them.

-- Edited by hotcocoa at 08:23, 2006-04-04

Elle · Hermes

I agree with Hotcocoa - you do need some fat in your diet. And while dairy fat isn't necessarily the best fat for you, it's not the worst kind either. I also get fat free yogurt, and then get either fresh or frozen berries to put on top and sometimes sprinkle some flax seed or put a coulple spoonfuls of Kashi cereal on top, too. We eat these (we call them 'parfaits') in the summer after dinner instead of ice cream.

Hmmmm, what about making smoothies? Frozen grapes? Nuts?

calico · Kenneth Cole

Also, when you buy yogurt specifically, it's really good to get an organic one that has probiotic cultures in it. They are really really good for.

And in general, you do need fat, its just certain fats you don't want. I really like yogurt, and I tend to think its benefits outweigh its cons. I try to stick away from fatty meats-- I don't eat red meat at all, and obviously the best meat for you is fish.

Another thing to keep in mind is that often fat-free corresponds with an increase in sugars and/or calories, which turn into fat anyways. As for sugars, you want to stay away from refined ones as much as possible.

Overall, I don't think eating healthy is about cutting out fat or sugar, I think it's about a balance. I try to justify any choices I make by working out an extra 15 minutes or cutting something out the next day.

Sunshinegirl · Kate Spade

I have this conversation often with friends. It takes lots of time to prepare "good, healthy" food. Not only time but $. Healthy food is expensive.

As far as yogurt, as stated below, you need to watch the sugar content. I used to eat yogurt but then looked at the sugar and astounded at how much sugar there is even in the healthiest of brands. I save my sugar intake for home baked goods which i usually bake something weekly.

I eat lots of vegetables every week. For instance, for lunch today, i have a whole wheat pita with a homemade black bean spread and i stuff the pita with a homemade salad consisting of cherry tomatoes, red onions, cannellini bean, flat leaf parsley, artichokes, red pepper, feta cheese, black olives, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and pepper. It makes for a great lunch item.

I also believe keeping away from pre-packaged processed items is a huge key to eating healthy. If i want soup, i either buy amy's organics or make a pot of soup. If i want something sweet, i bake it (with real butter, eggs,and sugar - i try to use less refined sugars and then cut the recipe by atleast 1/4 cup). It takes time but it is worth it.

kate · BCBG

as far as fat goes, i tend to feel like moderation is the key. like i'd prefer to try to be healthy by avoiding processed foods and trans fats than avoid fats altogether. partially hydrogenated oils are something else to avoid...it messes with the chemical structure of the fats and turns them into something that doesn't occur in nature and has been shown to be bad for the heart...:(

i love yogurt too, so as hotcocoa suggested, non or low-fat versions are always a good option. i LOVE and am obsessed with the fage brand of greek yogurt from whole foods. i usually get the low-fat variety but the nonfat is also pretty good...they are just incredibly rich and creamy and fill me up a lot more than regular yogurt. plus they have a ton of protein in each serving, so it feels like the benefits sort of outweigh the fact that there is some fat in there.

granola itself also tends to be very high in fat and sugar, so you might try putting something plainer in your yogurt. like you can make your own granola with less oil and less sugar, or try just using fruit instead (berries are great). also whole foods must have some options of crunchy-type stuff that would be a good yogurt topping.

other healthy things i like:
--spinach (any dark leafy greens, like kale etc are good sources of calcium, since calcium supplements have trouble being absorbed by the body)
--blueberries
--bell peppers
--tofu

i love sunshinegirl's idea of putting a salad into a whole wheat pita for lunch--another good thing is to mix a yogurt-cucumber sauce in with chopped up veggies and stuffing that in a wrap or pita as well.

i agree, it's so confusing to try to stay healthy because there is SO much conflicting research about what is good/bad for you!

Drew · Gucci

Yogurt can be good, but generally is full of sugar so I think it belongs in the treat category, despite having those lovely live cultures. A good alternative to yogurt is 1% cottage cheese. You get almost no sugar, very little fat, and lots of calcium and protein. Also, if you are looking for good calcium sources I HIGHLY reccommend San Faustino mineral water. Drinking a 1 Liter bottle provides 40% of your daily calcium requirements. Also, I enjoy snacking on salt-free nuts. I usually buy organic so I end up toasting them at home (on 350F for about 25 min, stirring occasionally) so they taste sweeter. Also, I keep some dried fruits on hand for munching when I want sweets. A couple almonds stuffed in dried figs are absolutely heavenly. You can also dip nuts (I prefer walnuts or pecans) into honey for a little treat. I eat about five or six nuts at a time for a healthy, nutrient packed snack. Of course there is fresh fruit like apples, bananas, and berries. Stay away from eating too many tropical fruits as they have the highest sugar content. Also, try drinking water before eating; you may be thirsty and not even realize it; again, I like San Faustino because it has no sodium but one of the highest mineral contents, I also like Smart Water. If you are a meat eater you may want to try snacking on a slice or two (not more!) for lowfat and high protein. You may also want to try eating a tablespoon of peanut butter on 100% whole grain bread or with a few carrot/celery/apple sticks. I like whole foods (the grocery store too, but I'm talking about food), not prepared stuff as I find it is more filling, tastier, and ultimately satisfying. If you try to stick with whole foods when snacking and keep portions in control, you won't have to worry about eating "bad" foods too much.