Hubman and I are both working on improving our eating habits so we can loose weight and be able to have sexier naked pictures for everyone. As part of this effort, we are using Fit Day to track what we eat.
This leads to the after dinner conversation of "How many calories are in...."
We have come to realize that those dinky little Jiffy Mix Corn Muffins have 170 Calories each! Maybe a skosh less since I use 1% milk and the recipe on the box does not specify the type of milk used, but still- 170 calories for a dinky muffin. That definitely gives me pause before getting a supermarket muffin.
I was also thinking about a side dish today. I am going to make some pork tenderloin for dinner tonight and was debating what to make with it. I grabbed a box of Rice a Roni I had bought with the thought of using it in a casserole.
Then I read the nutrition information.
I was shocked. I never realized that Rice A Roni was so fattening. Its not even a favorite, but Hubman likes it so every once in a while I grab a box.
Then I grabbed a box of Macaroni and Cheese and Checked out its nutritional value:
Obviously Mac N Cheese is never considered to be a nutritional powerhouse, but learning it had less calories (not much less- but still) than Rice a Roni and 1/2 the fat was a shocker.
Becauase if I were to place these two items side by side and ask, which one had more calories:
I think that almost all of us would pick the Macaroni and Cheese.
Moral of the Story: Read the nutrition labels.
I think your implication that the Mac & Cheese is a better choice is off base. The differences in total and in fat calories is marginal. Also, I know that for me I'm more likely to eat more than a serving of the Mac & Cheese, more than negating the caloric "benefit" of choosing that over Rice-a-Roni.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not kid ourselves, both are highly processed foods of dubious nutritional value.
It can be quite shocking. SM has been reading the labels to me for a while and I am continually amazed at how many calories and fat is in quick foods. Things we thought were a snack or side dish have more calories than a main course. They try cheating now by reducing what they call a portion, but we do not eat that way.
ReplyDeleteSM's rule of thumb with processed food, if she cannot pronounce the ingredients, she doesn't buy it. A bit harsh, but effective. She lives by a book called The GI Diet. It has worked wonders for her and I.
TTFN
Mr. No Name
There is a website I visit called FitDay dot com. It helps me keep track of all of that, and it is free. I am seriously thinking about not posting it online but getting a copy of the software as it has other benefits as well, like helping you track BMI.
ReplyDeleteIf your shocked ad the caloric and fat levels of processed foods, you should try looking at the sodium levels. Last January I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and started looking at sodium levels in all the food I buy. There are a lot of things I don't eat anymore because of how much sodium is in the box/can. But after a year and 50 pounds lost I don't that "junk". :)
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