Went To The Grocery Store Today....
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Went To The Grocery Store Today....
| Sat, 11-15-2003 - 6:17pm |
Hi everyone! I went grocery shopping today, and found a few things that I thought would be interesting to share. I was reading the label of the canadian bacon that I have been using, and happened to pick up a package of ham slices by the same company (Jones). In comparing the labels I found that although the ham slices have 1 carb (canadian bacon, 0), they have fewer calories and less fat! Maybe a better choice? Wandering down the ice cream aisle, looking for the sugar free fudge bars (that don't exist - only no sugar added), I found Turkey Hill makes fat free, no sugar added ice cream in half gallon containers. There were only a couple of flavor choices, but I picked one up to satisfy the sweet cravings (probably not for P1 SBDers). One other note: A&P stores have labels on their shelves indicating which products are low carb. You still need to use your own judgement, but doesn't this send us all a message that this is the RIGHT eating plan??? Good luck to all!!!!
Karen
Karen


The one thing that we have to keep in mind (not meaning to rain on anybodies parade :)) is
that remember when low fat diets were thought to be the way to go --- the food industry
jumped on the band wagon and look at the amount of "fat free" items that are out there.
They added sugar and used un-nutritious ingredients in order to make things taste good and so forth. The pendulum is now swinging the other way.
These companies know where the money is -----
I think we will be seeing just about anything you can think of with a low carb substitute
I guess the bottom line is we have to really read the labels and decide if the ingredients in some of these low carb items are what we want to have in our bodies.
Don't get me wrong --- I buy and try a lot of these too, they are convenient and taste good---- but I guess what I am trying to say is that we need to exercise caution if we really want to lead a healthy lifestyle. I try and eat 90% of the time food that has not been touched --- meats, eggs, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, cheese and so forth and keep the ready-made products as a smaller portion of my diet and for those days when I definitely am just too busy to cook :)!!!!! or when I want my LeCarb icecream :)
Ellen
I was at Trader Joe's today and spoke with 3 "low carb" shoppers in the store, and one clerk who was on a "low carb" diet. The clerk said that the chain has been stocking less of the Atkins convenience products, because they are so expensive, and sticking to other foods. She also said that there are so many low carb choices for stores to carry now, that they are careful what they pick up (they want to make money on things people will actually buy, obviously!). One of the customers was a woman who was just told by her doctor that she is in a "pre-diabetic" state and was buying everything low-carb and trying to figure out what to do. She wasn't sure where to begin, and thought she probably needed to go check out some of the websites and books her doctor had recommended (Atkins and South Beach were among them). Another was a woman who had been on a low carb diet for about 2 years, and was buying the things she liked, but trying to keep everything healthy and fresh. She said she started out as a pure Atkins person, and was now into adjusting the diet to fit her lifestyle. Another woman was interested in low carb dieting, but confused as to where to start and trying to find foods that actually tasted good. One woman gave her the Atkins website for reading, and I gave her the hippodamia.com reference, as well as ivillage.com and Prevention.com.
A few things I found at Trader Joes that fit the SBD lifestyle:
1) The salmon was sold either in individual packs or family size--I think there were six or seven steaks per package. It was fresh frozen from Alaska, without food coloring fed to the salmon to make it look "nice". (all phases)
2) Whole wheat noodles. They were cheaper at TJ's (as many things are). (phases 2 and 3)
3) A jar of powdered Stevia. I hadn't found this anywhere--not at GNC or Vitamin World. (all phases)
4) The aromatic rices were still there. When I saw the packages, I remembered that one of my favorites was the three rice medley (two brown rices and a wild rice) and another was the aromatic Basamati (short grain). All are local rices--not sure if they're available everywhere or not. (phases 2 and 3)
Trader Joe's stock seems to vary widely with region,
I just to clarify what I meant about the low carb products. I know there are products that are specially produced as low carb. And, yes, I am VERY skeptical about them. What I saw in the A&P is shelf markers on those products, but also those that are naturally low carb. They have markers on everything from string cheese to tuna fish. So, it is comforting to know that these eating plans are being recognized as healthy, and that there are already choices available that are not specially produced!
Karen
dinners had cooked spinach as their main vegetable (which I hate :) ).
It is great that suppliers are starting to realize that lower carb, healthier carb is the way to go-- that is wonderful that A&P is helping by bringing attention to those choices. I read the Ruby Tuesday post below also and I think it is awesome that this WOE is catching on and we will probably start becoming more mainstream than not and hopefully other restaurants will start making SBD/lower carb menu choices. I know I will be going to Ruby Tuesdays the next time I want to go out to eat --- I want to see how their smashed cauliflower tastes :)
Ellen
I think you were reading my mind! that's what worries me about the surge of low carb items on the market these days. You're right, the same thing happened with low fat. The companies don't care about our health. They care about the bottom line. I too try to stay away from prepared foods although my weakness has always been ice cream and Carb Smart has never caused a stall or gain for me so hey, what can I say:)
Good post,
alison