Thursday, May 28, 2009

Eat This, Not That

While I recognize that I'm at least a week late on the Take It and Run Thursday topic from Runners Lounge, I figured I'd at least give it a go since the topic is near and dear to my heart.

When I'm able to be in control of my food, I've been able to eat healthy (at least since I started to eat healthy, that is).

Eat this

For breakfast, I'll often have:
  • eggs over easy
  • Weight Watchers bagels
  • smoked salmon (for lox & bagels)
  • oatmeal
  • bananas
For lunch, I've been quite consistent:
  • lean sandwich meat (chicken, turkey, ham)
  • low-fat cheese
  • high-fiber, low fat bread (Weight Watchers has a couple excellent variations)
  • 1/4 cup of almonds (pre-measured and in bags so I can take it and go in the morning)
For snacks, I've been consistently going to chips and salsa. The Baked Tostitos are good and salsa is significantly low in calories. I eat this snack often as opposed to potato chips.

My normal dinner diet consists of:
  • grilled boneless, skinless chicken (with some sort of rub)
  • grilled salmon (often pre-seasoned)
  • swordfish
  • tuna
  • shrimp
  • turkey tacos
  • lean hamburgers (90% lean or more) -- probably turkey meat
Like Leana, I've largely sworn off red meat, with the rare exception of a steak when I go out to a nice restaurant. I don't have red meat much more than 12 times a year. I just don't get a craving for it anymore. In fact, my body tends to punish me when I do eat it. I always wake up in the middle of the night sweating and I never sleep well after steak. I just think my body can't process it very well.

Not That

When I'm in control of what food is in front of me, I'm quite good at eating healthy. I know that my willpower comes at the grocery store, not at home, so I just don't bring bad food into the house, unless I'm hosting a party.

I have completely gotten rid of regular soda (though Diet Coke and Diet Sunkist still play a major part in my day). I have no taste for pasta and only have to eat it come pre-race fuel time. And when I do, I get the whole wheat stuff.

I substitute turkey meat for beef and haven't missed red meat at all. I substitute fat-free shredded cheese (for tacos, nachos, etc.) for regular cheese. I substitute Weight Watchers sandwich rolls for regular, heavily starched rolls.

For me, I ask myself one simple question: do I want to spend the calories I worked so hard to burn on a fuller-fat roll or a regular Coke? That's an obvious no. Do I want to spend the calories on beer or wine? That answer's not so obvious.

4 comments:

Mel-2nd Chances said...

great post and choices! I'm the same with red meat and eat a lot of salmon and chicken too :) Chips and salsa are a fav of mine too.

Marlene said...

Better late than never!

Your 'meal plan' looks a lot like mine... when I'm being good, that is.

I completely agree that the decision-making needs to occur at the grocery store. I simple can't have the bad stuff at home.

I try to save the treats for when we're out with friends or at a party, when I don't have as much control.

Thanks for posting!

Petraruns said...

I really like this post. It's set me off thinking. I think I'm going to reinstate my petracooks blog and focus on runners-friendly food..

I am so with you on all of your food choices. The only thing that still bothers me is that I drink diet drinks. That aspartane is poison, I reckon...

Runner Leana said...

Love the post Greg. Thanks for the good ideas. I really stay away from pop, the only time I drink it, it seems to be for a purpose. I don't actually drink the diet stuff though, so that is good incentive to not waste calories right there.

Beer and wine? Oh, those aren't wasted calories...so long as it is in moderation!