{"id":472,"date":"2013-04-10T19:24:13","date_gmt":"2013-04-10T19:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blessedinthemess.com\/blog\/?p=472"},"modified":"2013-04-10T19:24:13","modified_gmt":"2013-04-10T19:24:13","slug":"processed-food-rant-alert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.blessedinthemess.com\/blog\/processed-food-rant-alert\/","title":{"rendered":"Processed food… RANT ALERT!"},"content":{"rendered":"

So I have two clients\u00a0 doing a clean eating challenge this month and so far they are kicking butt!\u00a0 You guys rock!\u00a0 Because of this, we have had numerous discussions\u00a0 as to how DIFFICULT it is to eat clean in our society.\u00a0 They are right.\u00a0 It is possible, but annoyingly hard.\u00a0 It seems that every where you go, people eat crap because that is all that is offered and that is the norm.\u00a0 This is something that has always frustrated the hell out of me.<\/p>\n

Let me give you an example.\u00a0 I had some back to back college fairs yesterday and usually the high schools offer a hospitality room, treats or breakfast for all us college reps.\u00a0 What do you think kind of food is brought in?\u00a0 Doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies, bagels, chips…JUNK.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the gesture from the schools, but this is the reason I bring all my own meals and snacks to fairs- despite the weird looks I get.\u00a0 What do you think the college reps who were perhaps running late into the fair, had not eaten breakfast yet or eaten all day for that matter and are exhausted are going to do?\u00a0 Eat the junk, because it’s there and everybody else is eating it, so it can’t be that bad right?\u00a0 Processed food is taking over.\u00a0 It is taking over so much that people THINK they are making a healthy choices by eating things like lean cuisines, or Chex Mix.\u00a0 These are not healthy.\u00a0 If you are in a bind and need something, fine.\u00a0 But consuming things like this on a regular basis is NOT GOOD.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/a>A “goody bag” from a college fair <\/em><\/p>\n

I am convinced that the reason this country is so disease ridden, is because of all the chemicals and crap we put in our body on a daily basis. Now, please know I am just a mere blogger and I have no research to back this but I still personally believe it. \u00a0 Ever look at the back of an ingredient list?\u00a0 If there are several things you cannot pronounce and have no clue what they are, avoid it.\u00a0 When shopping at the grocery store, the majority of your items should come from outside of the aisles.\u00a0 The more you go into the aisles, the more processed it gets. Now, clearly by now you all know I love me some sweets, so I am guilty just like the rest of them.\u00a0 However, this is a rare treat\u00a0 for myself and absolutely NOT an everyday occasion.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/a><\/p>\n

“Low fat” Cheddar Chex Mix.\u00a0 Nice marketing ploy, disgusting.<\/em><\/p>\n

What IS clean eating?\u00a0 Check this diagram out below, it is pretty clear cut.\u00a0 If you are buying any packaged foods, check the ingredients on the back.\u00a0 If there are more than 5 ingredients, put it back down.\u00a0 Even if it says “low fat” or “healthy”.<\/p>\n

\"clean<\/a><\/p>\n

I am constantly frustrated at the lack of choices provided to people who want or are trying to eat clean.\u00a0 But that being said, I am also frustrated by people who complain about how they look and then continue to make poor choices.<\/p>\n

“But JILL, I am SO busy, I don’t have time to cook.” You know what that says to me?\u00a0 “My health and my family’s health is not a priority.”\u00a0 Might sound harsh, sorry if it does.\u00a0 But there is someone out there busier than you, making healthier choices.\u00a0 Fact<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 Set yourself up for success by planning out your meals each week, so that you don’t find yourself in a situation where it is 1pm, you realized you have not eaten all day, your blood sugar is low and those M & Ms sound like a great idea as a lunch.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/a><\/p>\n

Eat simply and Eat fresh.\u00a0 No that does not mean you have to live off salads.\u00a0 There is an amazing amount of yummy clean food out there that will satisfy you.\u00a0 You will have to order off the menu sometimes.\u00a0 You will get weird looks.\u00a0 You will get people that say “Are you on a diet or something?” or my personal favorite “You can afford to eat that, you workout”.\u00a0 Why is it SO wrong for us to put good things in our body just because?\u00a0 WHY do we have to make a big stink about it when others are trying to make healthy changes?\u00a0 I don’t care if you have weight to lose or not, eating right is not about having a model body, it’s about treating this one body you have with respect, so that you can be your best self.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again, this does not mean pizza and ice cream and alcohol are the devil as I indulge in all three of those things.\u00a0 It is about making sure at least 80% of what you put in your body is good, that 20% can be fun as long as it is not everyday.<\/p>\n

Look around… there are more people overweight and unhealthy than there are NOT.\u00a0 It is sad.\u00a0 It is a problem.\u00a0 Having chronic health problems is now a norm of our society and that makes me seriously enraged.\u00a0 TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR OWN HEALTH.\u00a0 Being healthy unfortunately means you might be the minority.\u00a0 I know it is tough,\u00a0 it is a constant battle,\u00a0 a constant choice to not give in, believe me I KNOW.\u00a0 But if you are willing to make the commitment, it is worth it.<\/p>\n

Rant over.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So I have two clients\u00a0 doing a clean eating challenge this month and so far they are kicking butt!\u00a0 You guys rock!\u00a0 Because of this, we have had numerous discussions\u00a0 as to how DIFFICULT it is to eat clean in our society.\u00a0 They are right.\u00a0 It is possible, but annoyingly hard.\u00a0 It seems that every where you go, people eat crap because that is all that is offered and that is the norm.\u00a0 This is something that has always frustrated the hell out of me. Let me give you an example.\u00a0 I had some back to back college fairs yesterday and usually the high schools offer a hospitality room, treats or breakfast for all us college reps.\u00a0 What do you think kind of food is brought in?\u00a0 Doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies, bagels, chips…JUNK.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the gesture from the schools, but this is the reason I bring all my own meals and snacks to fairs- despite the weird looks I get.\u00a0 What do you think the college reps who were perhaps running late into the fair, had not eaten breakfast yet or eaten all day for that matter and are exhausted are going to do?\u00a0 Eat the junk, because it’s there and everybody else is eating it, so it can’t be that bad right?\u00a0 Processed food is taking over.\u00a0 It is taking over so much that people THINK they are making a healthy choices by eating things like lean cuisines, or Chex Mix.\u00a0 These are not healthy.\u00a0 If you are in a bind and need something, fine.\u00a0 But consuming things like this on a regular basis is NOT GOOD. A “goody bag” from a college fair I am convinced that the reason this country is so disease ridden, is because of all the chemicals and crap we put in our body on a daily basis. Now, please know I am just a mere blogger and I have no research to back this but I still personally believe it. \u00a0 Ever look at the back of an ingredient list?\u00a0 If there are several things you cannot pronounce and have no clue what they are, avoid it.\u00a0 When shopping at the grocery store, the majority of your items should come from outside of the aisles.\u00a0 The more you go into the aisles, the more processed it gets. Now, clearly by now you all know I love me some sweets, so I am guilty just like the rest of them.\u00a0 However, this is a rare treat\u00a0 for myself and absolutely NOT an everyday occasion. “Low fat” Cheddar Chex Mix.\u00a0 Nice marketing ploy, disgusting. What IS clean eating?\u00a0 Check this diagram out below, it is pretty clear cut.\u00a0 If you are buying any packaged foods, check the ingredients on the back.\u00a0 If there are more than 5 ingredients, put it back down.\u00a0 Even if it says “low fat” or “healthy”. I am constantly frustrated at the lack of choices provided to people who want or are trying to eat clean.\u00a0 But that being said, I am also frustrated by people who complain about how they look and then continue to make poor choices. “But JILL, I am SO busy, I don’t have time to cook.” You know what that says to me?\u00a0 “My health and my family’s health is not a priority.”\u00a0 Might sound harsh, sorry if it does.\u00a0 But there is someone out there busier than you, making healthier choices.\u00a0 Fact.\u00a0\u00a0 Set yourself up for success by planning out your meals each week, so that you don’t find yourself in a situation where it is 1pm, you realized you have not eaten all day, your blood sugar is low and those M & Ms sound like a great idea as a lunch. Eat simply and Eat fresh.\u00a0 No that does not mean you have to live off salads.\u00a0 There is an amazing amount of yummy clean food out there that will satisfy you.\u00a0 You will have to order off the menu sometimes.\u00a0 You will get weird looks.\u00a0 You will get people that say “Are you on a diet or something?” or my personal favorite “You can afford to eat that, you workout”.\u00a0 Why is it SO wrong for us to put good things in our body just because?\u00a0 WHY do we have to make a big stink about it when others are trying to make healthy changes?\u00a0 I don’t care if you have weight to lose or not, eating right is not about having a model body, it’s about treating this one body you have with respect, so that you can be your best self. Again, this does not mean pizza and ice cream and alcohol are the devil as I indulge in all three of those things.\u00a0 It is about making sure at least 80% of what you put in your body is good, that 20% can be fun as long as it is not everyday. Look around… there are more people overweight and unhealthy than there are NOT.\u00a0 It is sad.\u00a0 It is a problem.\u00a0 Having chronic health problems is now a norm of our society and that makes me seriously enraged.\u00a0 TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR OWN HEALTH.\u00a0 Being healthy unfortunately means you might be the minority.\u00a0 I know it is tough,\u00a0 it is a constant battle,\u00a0 a constant choice to not give in, believe me I KNOW.\u00a0 But if you are willing to make the commitment, it is worth it. Rant over.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t