What's In Your Kitchen?
Lesson 1
Heck, even I have to do checks on the "health status" of my kitchen. Every once in a blue moon an unwanted item seems to creep its way in… and when I am lucky I can take care of it before any damage is done.
Between friends and family and cravings we see our fare share of unwanted sweets and gifted leftovers (my mom loves giving tub-a-ware dinners). Many times these items are just not apart of our clean lifestyle. So what do I do… or what should YOU do in this situation?
Well, first I try to give the food away… either to girls at work or a lucky neighbor. But if that isn't possible it goes into the disposer. Otherwise it sits in the fridge or pantry until way past the expiration date.
But before you can get rid of food… find out what foods are sabotaging your goals and should be disposed of the second you finish reading…
But don't worry… we all have our vices. But be on the look out for the next lesson because I will give you great clean eating alternatives that will keep you satisfied.
The 5 Worst Foods To Have In Your Kitchen
We all want to believe we have a healthy pantry but the truth is, few people get it 100%. It isn't a bad thing, we all need a LITTLE junk every once in awhile but the key words are little and once in awhile.
If you continuously are filling your pantry, fridge or freezer with junk foods then you probably aren't being the best clean eater. Most people do it without even realizing the potential badness certain foods carry. That's why education is so important and that is why I have put together these Top 5 Crap Foods.
1. Soft drinks (including diet): Soft drinks are hands down the worst thing you can have in your home. Not only are they packed with sugar, but they
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Even the diet drinks are not great. Sure, if you read their label it has 0's going down the line but when you get to the ingredients you will see high fructose corn syrup. This is known to promote fat storage and make it harder for you to lose those love handles.
I hate the idea of drinking my food away. Liquid calories are such a drag, wouldn't you much rather enjoy a fresh piece of fruit, some almonds or some frozen yogurt? Stick to water, or even try sparkling water. I am addicted to the stuff.
2. Cookies, cakes, and Little Debbie's: Sure the box says "Little Debbie"
but there is nothing little about those yummy cakes. Sweets like these are
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Throw a box of Thin Mint Girl scout cookies in front of my face and I can have the whole tube gone in a matter of minutes. Resist temptations by resisting the purchase!
These treats will quickly spike up your insulin and promote fat storage, not what you want when you want to promote fat reduction. If you think it is bad for you, then you are probably right. But don't worry there are some healthy alternatives:
- Quaker Rice Cake with peanut butter
- Fig Newtons (stick to portion size)
- Angel food cake
- Frozen yogurt
3. Potato chips (even the no-transfat): Remember the Pringle's
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Potato chips are not only filled with bad fats (saturated fats) they are also simple carbohydrates. These carbs affect your blood sugar levels the most and make shrinking fat cells very hard. Have you ever been to a picnic with chips lying in a bowl lined with a paper towel? Once the chips are gone a big oil spot is left. That grease doesn't just stay on the towel, you just ingested it into your body. Just think about that each time you see a bag of chips laying around. Alternatives include:
- Pita chips with hummus
- Whole wheat pretzels
- Homemade tortilla chips (cut up whole wheat wraps and broil 1-2 minutes on each side)
4. Fruity Drinks: I am talking about pina coladas, daquiris, mudslides, margaritas, you get the picture. These drinks are FILLED with calories and sugar. Sure they taste awesome, but do you want a drinking gut?
Just to put into perspective, the average size frozen margarita has close to 250 calories and close to 30 g of carbs.
Chose drinks with sugar-free, calorie-free mixers such as tonic, crystal light (this is a great mixer), etc. Also go with light beer. Wine actually has several health benefits, so I am all for enjoying a glass of wine with dinner!
5. Processed foods: many (not all) microwavable meals are filled with preservatives, sugars, fructose corn syrups and more. The way I judge food, is that if I can't pronounce the ingredients, then I don't want it. Also if high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils (fancy for trans-fat) is listed then it is a no go.
Processed foods are a secret bad food. I see ladies all the time enjoying their TV meals for lunch and thinking they are eating great and healthy. In reality, not so much. There are a few companies that I have found that make good, natural and organic meals such as Amy's and Whole Foods Brand but the majority should be banished from the freezer.
Fresh sandwiches, grilled chicken and homemade salads are so much tastier anyways. Why eat cardboard, just plan your day the night before when it comes to meals.
So there you have it, my top 5 worst foods to have in your home. When I began eating clean a few years ago, I emptied out all of my negetive foods and let everyone at work enjoy my sweets and treats. I am not a waster and hate throwing food away.
Go through your kitchen and tally up the losing foods. If your bad food out numbers the healthy food, it is time to re-organize! Good luck.
Next up get prepped to learn what you can have keep in the kitchen that satisfies those sweet cravings and fits in with your healthy lifestyle!
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