Happy Weekend everyone!
Updates since last time:
- I made a snow angel on Thursday night, as Nick and I were walking back from our treacherous trip to the grocery store.
- Nick and I were up really late on Thursday because he had a migraine (the first one he's had since I met him 5 years ago) and we figured out it was from the bleach he used to clean our shower!
- I slipped a bit on one of my 2010 goals, but I got right back up the next day, and I'm not beating myself up over it. No biggie. I can, and will, still succeed!
Nutrition and Health Update
Updates since last time:
- I made a snow angel on Thursday night, as Nick and I were walking back from our treacherous trip to the grocery store.
- Nick and I were up really late on Thursday because he had a migraine (the first one he's had since I met him 5 years ago) and we figured out it was from the bleach he used to clean our shower!
- I slipped a bit on one of my 2010 goals, but I got right back up the next day, and I'm not beating myself up over it. No biggie. I can, and will, still succeed!
Nutrition and Health Update
Do you know what this year is? It's five years after the last Dietary Guidelines for Americans were released! What does that mean? Well this year they are releasing the new ones (they are updated every five years).
(The picture below is just an example of another food guide pyramid, not the one used for the Dietary Guidelines. I just thought it was pretty!)
(The picture below is just an example of another food guide pyramid, not the one used for the Dietary Guidelines. I just thought it was pretty!)
The Dietary Guidelines are a combination of recommendations for healthy Americans to follow, which are based off of scientific evidence, and are meant to help promote health and prevent disease. The Dietary Guidelines are what are used to create MyPyramid.gov. They also include the latest evidence for fitness recommendations.
Anyone is allowed to publicly comment about the Dietary Guidelines (either positive or negative comments). Many Americans believe the guidelines are biased and that the food and pharmaceutical industries are too involved in the creation of the guidelines. As quoted in Today's Dietitian, "The American Dietetic Association would like more focus on food-based recommendations and eating patterns over supplements and nutrients". Another criticism is that 5 years is not enough time for good, thorough research. Some say it should be extended to every 10 years.
The biggest problem with the dietary guidelines is that there is so much information, and people don't know how to use it. They get overwhelmed, and evidence shows that Americans don't even understand how to use the MyPyramid.gov correctly (which was created to help make the dietary guidelines easier to follow!). Also, people don't realize that these are goals that should be established gradually. You will burn out if you try to go from a fast food diet, to a Dietary Guidelines-based diet over night, it's just not feasible.
It is estimated that only 3% of Americans follow the dietary guidelines. If you want to start following the Dietary Guidelines take baby steps. Also, meet with a dietitian to go over the guidelines and get a better understanding of how they pertain to you, and your personal needs and lifestyle.
Source: Today's Dietitian, December, 2009
Question: What are your thoughts about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? Personally I like them, but I do think 10 years worth of research would make for a much reliable and accurate list of recommendations. I also think that if America is going to work hard to put out these guidelines, they need to work equally as hard to make our society healthier (aka, do something about all the cheap and unhealthy food that gets served at restaurants and fast food restaurants, and all the high sodium and high sugar processed crap that is so easy to access at grocery stores and convenient stores!).
New Dinner
I made my second dinner for my 2010 cookbook. Check it out!
Recipe #2 Egged Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients
(makes 1 serving. Double or triple if desired)
Spaghetti squash (1-2 cups)
1/2 cup other vegetable
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
1 egg
1 dollop of plain Greek yogurt
garlic and pepper
My Rating: 7 out of 10
This was really good, but sort of bland. If I make this again, I will add a tiny bit of salt (1/2 t) and maybe some red pepper flakes.
Possible ModificationsUse whole wheat spaghetti
Use light sour cream
Add any other vegetable you choose
Add different/more spices
Nutrition
The following nutrition facts are an estimate, and they will depend on which products you use (such as low sodium spaghetti sauce vs. regular) , and whether you add more or less vegetables!
1 serving
PLUS- 225 grams of Omega-3 (I use Omega-3 enriched eggs)
- 2 servings of vegetable
Coming Up
Today I am doing a major grocery shopping trip and then tonight Nick and I are going to see Avatar! Stay tuned for my next post, which will contain another "Random Nutrition and Health Tidbit" about reduced fat vs. regular peanut butter, and a fun new gluten free product!
45 comments:
I have had a spaghetti sauce sitting on my counter for 2-3 months. This looks so yummy! I just haven't decided to use it yet, but I think I am going to try this recipe.
Totally agree on your thoughts about the guidelines. We offer so much cheap, fatty, fast food that even if some people want to change, there are so many temptations around!!
I love your posting schedule. Each post is so informative and you can tell you are really passionate about helping others. Have a great grocery trip girl - those are my favorite. :)
We ate Spaghetti Squash for dinner last night, too! Ours had Avocado Pesto, steamed broccoli, and baked Spinach and Turkey Meatballs!
I think if people would only eat the rainbow and use common sense they would naturally eat the proper food pyramid. Unfortunately, people were raised eating white, processed foods out of cardboard boxes. They don't know what real food is suppose to taste like. It hurts my heart!
This is the first I've heard of the food pyramid redesign. Thanks for the heads up. It will be interesting to learn the details of the new recommendations...specifically the fitness rec's.
And thank you for another idea on how to prepare spaghetti squash! You rock!
I like the dietary guideline, but I definitely eat more fruits and veggies than advised! I love your spaghetti squash meal. spaghetti squash is probably my favorite squash, I love it!
Can't wait to see your next post about peanut butter. I'm an addict - I've never had reduced fat peanut butter though.. I have tried better n' peanut butter and PB 2 but don't consider them to be the real stuff.
Have a great time grocery shopping!
The biggest problem is the guidelines are totally influenced by lobbyists from Agri-business corporations. The same corporations that are making us sick with the processed and faux foods that line the shelves of the supermarkets.
Looks like a great dinner. I think I would really enjoy that one. I did a major fridge cleaning yesterday and replacing with all new produce since got knows how ling some things had been in there for.
As for the DGA, I think 10 years is good too. The actual document even my students have a hard time getting through and taking all the ponts from it, so it is a lot of information, even if you understand it all. I think getting people to start with the food guide pyramid is a good start and then they can learn about the fine details in the guidelines. I think it is also good for the RD to know these so when making goals for a patient in counseling the RD can incorporate the guidelines in to the patients goals and the patient doesn't really need to know that they are adhering to guidelines. It can at leats be used as our guide.
The spaghetti squash recipe sounds good. I'm always looking for ways to change it up. It can get boring even though it's delicious! Thanks!
I'm still forming my opinion about the food pyramid. Based on some research that I've done, it seems as if the guidelines are often based on politics. But in general, I think they're a decent framework for eating.
i've been seeing so many uses of spaghetti squash around lately! i seriously have to pick up another one :)
have fun at avatar tonight! i really need to see it soon but it's just so espensive! hope you're seeing it in 3d imax, i've heard theres nothing that compares to that.
have fun with nickypie this weekend hahaha
What a great recipe Gina! I've never made spaghetti squash before and feel intimidated by it... don't know why.
I have mixed feelings about the Dietary Guidelines. I agree that people get overwhelmed by them... and don't really think about following them. I agree with you that if it's expected of American to follow the guidelines, A LOT of changes need to be made regarding all the unhealthy food that's served everyday.
Love spaghetti squash! I agree with you, something needs to be done about all of the cheap, unhealthy food that is served in restaurants and fast food chains. There are so many changes that need to be made.
Love the egg on your spaghetti squash dinner!
I think you make a good point that people should make changes slowly. Only slow changes will stick and be "doable." I think the overall message should be for people to eat real, whole, unprocessed foods whenever they can. That cuts out most of the sugar, fat, and sodium. And people can become familiar with all the specifics little by little.
Have a great weekend!
Those guidelines aren't super objective...they are created with a LOT OF INPUT from interested parties. As always, those reading them aren't really the people who need the most education. Really, the best advice for people not nutritionally oriented is to eat either a fruit OR a veggie at each meal. Imagine that. Simple!
I definitely think food industries play an overly large role in dictating the dietary food guidelines...in particular, the meat and dairy industry!! I think the guidelines are pretty poor, which is why so many other nutritionists have created their own healthier versions.
Your spaghetti squash looks great!
Oh I didn't know about this update but thanks for sharing! i don't follow the pyramid too closely but if I think about it my food actually fits pretty well with it!
Wow, this looks delicious. How do you make the cool nutrition fact label you put into the blog?
I'm glad they are coming out with new guidelines this year. I do agree they need to make them easier. I think the #1 reason people don't eat healthy is because of lack of time, and I doubt someone who feels really busy all the time is going to spend the time it takes to figure out the guidelines...
I think the dietary guidelines provide great guidance, but I also think that they can be a bit complicated, especially for those who are new to healthy eating. I also love the Harvard School of Public Health's Healthy Eating Pyramid, because it's based on excellent research and unaffected by outside business interests. I think both pyramids are guidelines, not rigid structures that need to be adhered to exactly.
dietary guildlines are confusing.. yes, great advice.. but i guess you have to have ... a well mind..? to grasp it. It is a great mold for healthy eating though.
Dinner #2 looks wonderful! The nutrition information is awesome, too! : )
I'm excited to see the new guidelines. I don't have a strong preference in terms of 5 years vs. 10 years. Probably depends on what size task force is at work and how definitive new research is (can't predict that!). 3% of Americans following the guidelines, however, is PATHETIC. So sad..
spaghetti squash sounds so good!1 & i like the food pyramid guidelines..they are helpful to many
I love spaghetti squash, but my boyfriend wasn't a fan of substituting it for pasta....I may try to do half pasta, half squash next time. I like the variation with the egg...great idea!
Dietary guidelines....I don't know - its all obsession....I just want to eat and stop the obsession! :)
Have fun at the movie.
Haven't tried spaghetti squash yet...sometime soon I suppose.
I like the guidelines as a guide, but there is so much information for most to understand. I could see how 10 years would provide enough time for substantial evidence since everything changes all the time.
I was so bummed that TJ's didn't have spaghetti squash when I went! I want to try to make it this week too. I scrolled down and I just made the 25% less Annie's tonight! That stuff is addicting :) have fun at the movie, let us know how you like it.
oh yum. I actually have a spaghetti squash Ive been wanting to use. Thanks for the awesome recipe! Great idea!!
Im going to have to check out the new food guide. I wasnt aware there was a new one. I do agree that sometimes its way too much info. I honestly dont pay too much attention to the food guide pyramid. I eat mucho veggies, stay in my recommended protein intakes and eat as clean as possible. Thats pretty much what I live by. Oh and mountains of workout sessions. haha. I know I dont eat perfect but its ok for now. Im kind of curious and will have peek around on the website for sure to see what the new recommendations are. Thanks! I hope you are having one fabulous weekend. Oh and I would love to hear what you think about Avatar. I thought it was absolutely one of the best movies Ive seen in a looooong time. Have a great time!!!
Hey love! that spaghetti squash looks so good, especially that close up picture. food porn at its very best!
I hope Nick is feeling better
I hope you are enjoying the movie chickie!
Looks delicious! Love that second pic with the fork cutting through it! Hope your hub gets rid of the migraine :-(
Cory and I want to see Avatar in 3D! Let me know how yall like it :)
I'm excited to see the new guidelines. I could not believe it's estimated only 3% of Americans follow the current guidelines!!!
Holy crap. That egg was made for me. With that fork poking it and letting the yolk run out...I think all thoughts just about flew out of my mind when I saw that amazing, glorious picture!!
Whoa! Only 3% of Americans follow it? But then, what DO they eat? Mostly meat? Mostly sweets? Not enough veggies? I guess being in the blog world too much have made me forget about how other people usually eat...
And I hope to God you are against that reduced fat PB thing! Ewww...
that looks so good! unfortunately, the only time i have tried spaghetti squash, i found it to be really crunchy and not to my liking :( i probably just cooked it wrong! maybe i'll try again with that dish :)
♥ lindsey
I love spaghetti squash! I actually made something very similar...sort of a spaghetti squash casserole.
What do you use to make those nutrition labels for your dishes? I want to try it!
I agree with the idea that the food guide pyramid is too biased due to lobbying in the food industry. However, I also think that its a good start for people in helping them make better choices and agree that they should meet with an RD to gain a better sense of how to do this.
amen to everything you said!
great spaghetti squash recipe..i love it! its amazing how much squash just ONE serving is!
LOVE your posts! You seem like someone I'd like to hang out with :) Have your own unique style. Squash - yummers - I'm not going to lie - sometimes I buy frozen butternut squash that's cubed ;)...it's still good for you...low in sodium !
That's it only 3% follow the ADG? wow...
Your posts are always very informative.. I really enjoy reading them.
It's hard to know what to do w/ the dietary guidelines. I think they're outdated, and I can't wait to see how they're changed this fall. The bad thing is that if only 3% of the population is currently following them, we're in for trouble. I agree, more attention to teaching Americans how to use these guidelines is needed. Maybe if healthcare shifts more toward preventative medicine, and we can get our consulting services covered by insurance, we can actually move toward this goal!
always on the look out for new ways to use speghetti squash other than just with pasta sauce! this looks so great!! I agree with emily about the health guidelines, I think they are outdated and I can wait to see how they change!!
thats crazy statistic that only 3% of people follow the guidelines! what ARE they eating? cant wait to read yoru next post!!
I completely agree that the dietary guidelines need to be made more user friendly - whenever I try to refer a patient to mypyramid.gov or tell them about the food pyramid, they immediately say "oh, that's too complicated, I can't figure all that stuff out." Now, I'm not a fan of "dumbing down" our society, but for something as integral as daily nutrition accessibility should be an important consideration.
Your spaghetti squash with an egg looks fabulous!! I love the idea - YUM!
Looove this recipe, especially with the egg on top!
Personally, I don't follow a "pyramid" or "guidelines". I know what works well for me, I know what my body likes being fed, I know what I like- and I'm just lucky I don't like drive thrus and "processed crap". ;) hehe
Have a good one Gina.
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Well... that's interessting but to be honest i have a hard time figuring it... wonder how others think about this..
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