Why Is Healthy Eating So Hard?

Meal planning and preparation for sure…and sometimes it’s about portion control of those healthy foods (i.e. nuts!)…that is sometimes a sticking point.

Definitely planning meals and shopping! Because of his job, my hubby is home in the winter months more than I am. As a result, I haven’t been to the grocery store in MONTHS! It’s so nice not to have to go, but then, despite my educating and pleading with him, we still end up with things like Hamburger Helper, white bread, chips, yogurt with corn syrup and other convenient, sugary snacks for the kids’ lunches. He IS trying – he now knows that there is an organic yogurt and that I won’t eat the kind with fruit already in it – but he’s got a long learning curve. Also, with two young boys, a puppy, a husband, and a more-than-full-time job, I have difficulty finding time to prep healthy foods to take with me to work – sometimes breakfast, lunch AND dinner PLUS all the snacks! I fall back into the old habit of rushing out the door, grabbing the healthiest “convenient” meals and snacks that I can.

I know what to eat. I guess it wold be portion sizes. My husband eats whatever he wants and is pretty thin. He eats ice cream a lot and that is what I like most of all and it is hard to so no. I have gotten him to eat more fresh fruit and smaller portions and he has lost some weight. The cost of fresh foods are a problem also being we are on a limited income, and where we live in the country.

Planning is definitely my downfall. I know we are going to be on the run most of the week, and has been that way for years for me and the kids, but I need to plan better.

HOlly, I was wondering if you would share your Lime Chicken recipe and also your salsa recipe you showed on one of the NYTC videos?

THank you!
Deb

Its hard for me due to lack of ideas, and cost-effectiveness. the pricing structure in South-Africa is very different from what you’ve talked about on your blogs with regard to econo buys. It is therefore easier to just make a sandwich, and not worry what to eat. Bad, I know (at least its brown bread not the best, but has some fibre)

Eating out makes it hard for me…..we get together with friends often and there just aren’t a lot of healthy choices at restaurants…yes, the may have salmon but its not wild rather farm rasied (cheaper). No one has organice products on their menus either. also so many tempatations that I don’t have at home.

I find that I have the hardest time eating healthy when I eat out. In the past I habitually ordered the high calorie fried foods. I am now consciously making an effort to find something on the menu that is healthy – not fried – not sugary – and not made with white flour, but it takes considerable effort not to give in to burgers and fries.

At home the hardest part of healthy eating is planning ahead for the week.
I’m used to buying produce and meat that is on sale and then I fix meals based on what I have on hand and what I’m in the mood for.

I just plain love food and love cooking more. I am a stay at home mom of 3 small kids and cooking is “my time” and a hobby for me. The more gourmet the better. I like to drink a little wine while I’m cooking too (bad, I know…well there goes 130 calories right there). Well, when you are only eating chicken breast with steamed vegetables it gets boring and not as much fun. I find many ways to dress it up but really how many ways can you cook a chicken breast or any lean meat or fish for that matter? So…we do our best but it’s sure more fun to cook AND eat the fun comfort food!Ha

The hardest part for me is portion control. I love healthy foods and find that they are very easy to prepare with a little planning. My husband helps out in that department because he likes to cook too. He is thin and can eat as many helpings as he wants because he works very hard during the day outdoors running cattle, cutting and splitting wood, etc. I sit at a desk all day and the snacking gets really out of control. I find that if I put nuts and other healthy snacks in those little snack size baggies, I do better, however, I’m always looking for something to pop in my mouth while I’m working. It really gets out of control some days.

NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!
There is absolutely nothing hard about eating healthy.
Unfortunately for some they tell themselves it’s hard and therefore refuse to try.

Society can ruin it too. Especially when we tell fatties that it’s ok to be ‘who you are’.

Then there’s the dress shops to cater for large people… that’s just telling people it’s ok to be that way!!!!!!!

Portion control I guess, especially nuts. Also getting home from work and getting dinner ready, I am so very hungry when getting home I generally snack on all the wrong stuff while preparing tea.

I usually do not find it difficult to turn down food I know is not good for me. Simply thinking of the effect a few days of dietary indiscretion would have on my waist line is sufficient motivation for me to eat healthy! My present challenges include creating the time to do quality shopping and proper preparation of my meals – since I’m so busy. I’m grateful to have ready access to organic fruits where I live, so I really do capitalize on this.

I eat breakfast while getting ready for work or while making my lunch. I’m a retail merchandiser that gets busy and forgets I was to eat lunch or just have a snack. Then get in the car and eat while driving to the next store. I need simple food that I can eat with one hand,and don’t touch because my hands are always dirty if I try eating while working. I rely on health bars and nuts in a platic container that I can pour into my mouth.

Preparing meals! I’m so busy and when I have a moment to myself I tend to sit in front of the tv and veggitate when I should be preparing meals for the next day. So every day at work I eat a turkey sandwich and fruit. If only I had a live-in chef….maybe after I win the lottery!

Right now for me the hardest thing for weight loss is the fact that it is winter. With the cold I crave more starchy carbs and heavier food, I really feel the loss of sunlight and it seems my metabolism slows down. Interestingly research has shown that most people put on 3 to 10 lbs in winter and, in part, we are genetically programmed to do so. An ‘lite’ article that may be of interest is at http://www.askmen.com/sports/foodcourt_150/167_eating_well.html

In general I find I have two issues. Firstly I am wheat intolerant and a bit carb sensitive, but as these things always go, I crave starchy carbs when I get really hungry. If I give in and eat the starchy carb I bloat and put on weight. To manage this I try to eat a mid level starchy vegetable such as pumpkin, celeriac or squash when I am most likely to be affected which, for me, is dinner time. This stops the boredom snacking before bed.

Secondly, like many other women, I have a husband that has more fortunate genetics than me. I guess also being a lot bigger than me he has more calories to play around with. I have struck a deal with him that on Wednesday and Saturday there can be a treat in the house but if he wants to do it any other day it must be done while he is at work. We now only have a dessert on Saturday although I have learnt to make muffins and “bread” from oats, applesauce and fruit / vegetables with no sugar, fat or flour. This freezes really well and while it sounds a bit ordinary it is really pretty good.

My problem is that I am the only one who wants to eat healthy! My fiance loves greasy, fatty (and mostly delicious) foods and it is hard to find my carrot sticks appetizing when staring at him devouring a plate of sticky ribs with chips and onion rings!!!

I too find healthy eating difficult, organisation is a problem – I’m an adult with ADD and being organised and planning ahead is really quite difficult. On top of that I have discovered that myself and two of my sons have food intolerances and some of these are to natural healthy foods! For myself and my oldest son amines in food are a problem, for my other son it is salicylates.

For instance, if I eat tinned tuna within the hour I will have a severe headache or migraine and I become moody, grumpy and easily stressed, while my son will become aggressive and violent (on top of his Asperger’s Syndrome sensitivities). Other foods that have this kind of effect on me and my oldest are bananas, avacados, pineapples, citrus fruits, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, broadbeans, all nuts, seeds and all meat (especially when roasted or slow cooked).

For my other son there are many fruits and veggies that have a similar effect, although many of them are different – berries, apricots, most apples, broccoli, capsicums, mushrooms, carrots, corn, zuchinni etc. He ate a ripe peach today picked from the tree with no pesticides or nasties and all organic and by tonight his behaviour was stressing me out!

But in saying that, most junk food is out for us too because so much of it is full of preservatives, flavours, colours, sulphites etc that also have negative affects on us. All the food restrictions just make it hard to have interesting meals, especially when so much has to be done from scratch – we make our own bread, yoghurt, pear jam, pear ketchup, (pears are something we can all eat without negative effects) icecream, biscuits, and cakes (which we don’t have too often because I’m not organised enough for main meals let alone treats!) We are finding that growing our own organic fruit and veggies is the best and healthiest option for us and is good for the environment too.

But I find it a real struggle most of the time – sometimes all i want is take out, most of which I can’t have and when I do, isn’t as nice as the stuff we make ourselves – we do homemade pizza, hamburgers, chicken nuggets & chips and it is so much nicer but so much work!!

I guess for me it is just making time to plan, so that I am not always winging it.

Like so many women I am a full time working Mum, and that brings it’s own pressures. I am fortunate to have a little fridge in my office which I have stocked with healthy supportive snacks, so during the day I am ok, it is when I get home and get caught up in the whirlwind that is our family life that sometimes it can be difficult to get nutrition right.

What has helped recently though has been Holly’s tips about cooking, about being creative with your food, and about portion sizes. I am getting there, and know that it is a constant learning curve.

Hubby is now very interested in my stir fry veges with garlic & onion and paprika mmmmm delish!!!

Oh and the other thing is we have a pretty active social life on the weekends and that doesn’t always lend itself to supportive nutrition. Guess I just gotta learn to say “No”!

Making time to plan is the key.

The hardest part of eating healthy is choosing healthy foods and portion control.

I love to eat healthy but it is hard. The grocery shopping, prep time, so on and so forth. Right now I am the caregiver for my husband who has cancer and have three active kids. No family near me. Everything falls on my shoulders. If I can get to the grocery store I try to make good decisions but alot of times I don’t get to prepare the food so it ends up getting wasted. I love fresh veggies and fruit – unfortunately they don’t stay good as long as other canned or fast frozen quick less healthy options. I would love for someone to give me some realistic ideas that I could do. I just don’t have any time and the little time I do have I am tired and would like to sit down. Trust me right now I don’t have a weight issue. It would be nice to have time to eat!!!

eating the healthy stuff isn’t my problem. i love fruits, veggies & chicken!! my problem is that i also love a good yeast donut, brownie – almost anything chocolate!!

Figuring out what to eat for a quick breakfast is difficult. I don’t’ have time to cook in the morning and I don’t like eggs very much, so the hard boiled egg idea is out. What is a good easy protein to have for breakfast?

For me it’s avoiding the temptations when I’m with others. It’s next to impossible to be out with friends/colleagues and NOT indulge in something that is off plan. Fortunately those don’t come up too often.

I struggle with how to incorporate some favorite foods without blowing a whole day’s worth of “good” eating. It’s hard not to go overboard on a planned indulgence.

Having a husband and son who eat meat and want it for dinners is the most difficult situation in my life. I do not eat meat and have not for over 30 years, yet I prepare the meal for my family and eat the vegetables, casseroles, fruits, salads, etc. I am at a point in my life where I want to go RAW and have been reading lots about it and bought a great book I’ve been reading to help prepare me for my eventual transformation to the RAW side!! I know I’ll have to spend even MORE time shopping and preparing my meals, but at least I’ll be preparing what I want to eat. I’ll be cooking for them and NOT cooking for me. Wish me luck! Getting ready to stock my kitchen to be RAW friendly.

Migrating to a healthy lifestyle is a learning experience. It takes time, effort, research, planning. Why? Because the typical American lifestyle loves what is fast, easy, and convenient. You can’t be very productive or satisfied, however, if you feel lousy.

To maintain healthy eating for my large family of 9, I have joined co-ops, sought out farmers, formed friendships where we help each other (from picking up CSA veggies/eggs/meat to providing information), and followed blogs that inspire me with recipes, resources, and research. We get the best prices, have friends that are supportive, and stay in our tight budget. We keep our meals simple but packed with nutrition. A smoothie becomes a powerhouse of nutrition and a simple fajita meal becomes a vitamin-packed delight. Yes, my young kids will try veggies and fruit and reject some. But, eventually, as they get older, they eat whatever is placed before them.

It can seem daunting and confusing, but it’s really quite simple. And, you need supportive friends around you to keep inspiring and helping you.