Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Diet for sale!

Hey everyone. New Year's Day was almost a month ago and new diets are still everywhere. I recently read about the DASH diet and how it was rated the “best diet” according to US News and World Report. That's when I decided that I am officially SICK of people trying to give healthy eating a name that they can make money from, when the info is usually free!. DASH diet or otherwise - healthy eating is ALWAYS being redefined as a ‘diet’ with a temporary connotation to keep people coming back for the next best rated diet, and the next one, and the next one.

The Yahoo article references Dr. Sarah G. Khan, from DietsInReview.com who reports "It's a complete lifestyle change that focuses on lean meats and proteins, low fat, low sodium, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. It's just an all-encompassing bag of good choices."

Here at FoodWhys that's nothing new. No fancy name, no new book to buy with the latest ‘secrets’ needed, just healthy eating plain and simple. I will give Dr. Kahn credit for at least calling it a lifestyle change though, since companies work hard to make the word ‘diet’ a temporary condition.

What do you think? Is it really easier to eat healthfully if your diet has a name like the DASH diet? Or has the word ‘diet’ been transformed into a gimmicky marking ploy to keep people spending money on the newest fads? Post your comments below.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Is Obesity a Disease?



On the radio today I heard a commercial for a group trying to lobby to make obesity a disease. Of course, I totally disagree and do not think it is a disease at all. Now I didn't post this to spit fire, I know it can be a symptom of a another problem like depression, glandular issues and so on but the it just seems like another attempt to remove personal accountability from people's lives. What do you think? Should obesity be considered a disease? Weigh in with a comment below!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Four Ways to Save Money on Food



Today I want to ask you all a question. We all know times are tough out there so what do you do to save money on your food? If you saw my meal planning show you already know that's a great way to save - but what else is there? To start us off, I’ve made a list of the top 4 ways I save money on food.  



First . Know your food - the more you know about the food your eating and WHY you should eat it, the more easily you can use different foods interchangeably. This helps save money because it broadens your food options making it easier to take advantage of the sales while still ensuring nutrition.

Second. Do it yourself - The more work you do, the less work you have to pay for. Dried foods like beans, pasta and grains are all less expensive then their pre-made counterparts because work is required to prepare them. Buying whole cuts of meat , cutting it up and de-boning yourself can save a lot money. And cooking for yourself is a given,you can control the portions to curb waste and its much less expensive than pre-made meals. Most importantly- you have control over whats inside

Third on my list is eat inexpensive food :) - seems obvious right? Well the dried foods I mentioned earlier are inexpensive and can and should be worked in often. Meats can be a little more expensive but if you know your cuts and shop for sales you can save a lot of money and still eat well. Same goes for fresh produce, but if you don't see anything you like on sale frozen works just as well. 

Lastly, buy in bulk - For many people, its a great way to save money. Just make sure you know how to properly store your items for the long haul to avoid spoilage. I buy only freezable or non-perishable items in bulk just for that reason. I don't want to stress if i cant eat a 5 lb bag of broccoli before it goes bad.



Something that didn't make my list but is worth mentioning is Coupons - I find most coupons are for pre-made or processed products that i don't eat . So i just keep my eyes peeled for the sales. 

What do you think? Do you use any of these methods or do you have other ways to save money that i didn't mention? Please post your comments below.