Good evening!
Hope you are having a hoppy day ;)
The Easter Bunny found us last night and we came out to this…
Score!
My breakfast was a huge fruit bowl, cereal, and an English muffin.
Split with Eric…
and some handfuls of cereal (not photographed).
Eric has made a couple healthy switches to his diet recently. He now eats Nature’s Path Raisin Bran instead of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran. He also drinks skim milk and occasionally almond milk instead of 2% (which he swore he would never drink that ‘water’!). He is discovering that he actually likes the taste of these foreign health foods. He can surprise me with flowers or clean up the kitchen for me, but nothing pleases me more than seeing him make healthy changes to his diet on his own free will! He used to suffer from really bad migraines and he hasn’t had any for over a year. Now who is to really know what caused them, but I would like to think that some of the healthier food choices had something to do with it.
My mother in law has made a lot of healthy changes to her diet (and dropped several pant sizes)and my sister in law has recently lost 30 pounds. I love witnessing positive changes in other’s lives. Kudos to all of you who are working hard to make changes to your own diet and health…it is hard work, but it is also what I consider FUN work because the rewards are immense.
As you can see, the Nature’s Path (below left) doesn’t have 1) glucose-fructose (aka glucose-fructose is what Canada calls HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!) or 2) hydrogenated vegetable oil like Kellogg’s Raisin Bran (below right). Eric says that Nature’s Path tastes better anyways!
However today he had a big Irish Easter breakfast! ;)
Then it was time to go outside…and play in the warm sun!
I’m like a plant after a long winter… :mrgreen:
My niece had an Easter egg hunt!
She did well! I’m sure the parents had a lively drive home. ;)
My healthy hottie…
BENNY! Golden’s are the happiest dogs, aren’t they? Eric and I have a special voice that we use just for this breed. It goes like this…’Ahhhhhh DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH.’ lol.
Then we flew a Tinkerbell kite…what more could you ask for? ;)
Is he grabbing her butt?!
A late lunch was enjoyed…an Ezekiel wrap (officially obsessed!!), curry stir fry, olive oil, lentils. I must apologize dear Ezekiel wraps for I judged you prematurely. They are awesome. I actually now love how chewy they are!
With tomato paste of course.
And dinner was leftover curried stir-fry with an Amy’s veggie burger crumbled in.
With a bunny spoon OSGMOM got me while in Florida…
Steam, steam, steam.
As much as we enjoyed the restaurants and cafes we went to while on vacation, I am really happy to be back cooking my meals in my kitchen! Not only does it save a TON of money, but it is really satisfying to create healthy meals that are quick and easy.
I have also been munching on these dark chocolate rounds all day too…I think I had about 5434 of them today. ;) Hey, it’s Easter!
They are green tea dark chocolates from Teavana…I may or may not have bought 3 tins of them!
Today’s question- Do you avoid High fructose Corn Syrup (or its’ other names such as glucose-fructose here in Canada)? Have you given up any products or brands because they contained HFCS?
I’m off to unpack (again!), finish laundry, and wish my family a Happy Easter.
NIGHT!
Happy Easter! It’s so great to don’t try to make your man eat like you do, and that changes he makes are the ones he chooses. Definitely the best approach.
Ezekiel wraps are the bomb-diggity. I like to swaddle them in a damp paper towel and microwave for a little bit. Awesome.
HFCS…I believe if you eat a healthy, clean diet almost all the time, then some HFCS isn’t going to hurt you. It puts more stress on your liver than normal sugar, but in the grand scheme of things, there are worse substances. But for typical Americans whose diets are overloaded with processed garbage, I think HFCS is absolutely a problem and should be addressed. Peoples’ bodies are already overtaxed and having to compensate for daily Big Macs–HFCS really could mess with them. Also, the corn industry is utterly wretched, so I don’t like HFCS for those reasons.
Man I can’t believe they put hydrogentated vegetable oil in cereal, well in anything really but I wouldn’t expect to see it in cereal. I’ll have to check out the glucose fructose name over here in England because I didn’t know that was another name for high fructose corn syrup and I think I might buy stuff with that in occaisonally.
This is such a cool experience to have with family/friends and beyond.
Ever since I started changing my lifestyle with regards to diet and exercise, my fiance has totally ramped up his choices and so have many of our closest friends! Now that I’m blogging as well, I have been getting emails from family members and friends about new things that they are trying after reading what we are doing over here.
It’s incredible how awesome people feel with small health changes!
I do try to avoid HFCS (as it’s called in the States).
Love Skinny Cow ice cream products, for instance, but they contain HFCS. Same with most of the fave protein bars like Fiber Ones & Kellogs — never even tried them because of that.
Of course, since I’m trying to avoid processed foods as much as possible probably wouldn’t buy them anyway, but there are times I look longingly at them.
Yes, we try to avoid HFCS or anything else with hydgrogenated anything. Gross.
It looks like you had an amazing Easter!
I try to avoid everything with HFCS. It makes it a lot easier for me to avoid eating bad things because the only stuff it’s in is processed food anyways!
The two unbreakable food rules I have are no HFCS and no trans fat – if it has it, I don’t eat it. It’s amazing how many products use HFCS! My husband recently made the switch for his daily PB&J from using Jif and Smuckers (both have HFCS!) to Teddy’s Natural PB w/flax and Polaner All Fruit – so proud!
Angela, not long after my husband and I moved in together I started to get serious about clean and healthy eating. One of the things I took on was HFCS, and I flat-out refused to buy him brand-name raisin bran any more. He actually threw a temper tantrum (!!!) but I stood firm. I bought him every brand of organic raisin bran I could find so he would try them all, and it turns out his favorite is the Cascadian Farms brand. Now, I buy that for him, he’s happy because he gets his raisin bran and I’m happy because he’s not eating that garbage any more!
That wrap looks awesome!
I just got some Annie’s organic ketchup for my 3-year old (she likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs). I feel a lot better about her eating that than the HFCS kind, and it’s really good, too!
How annoying. Is that really necessary, Kelloggs? I avoid hydrogenated oil and partial hydrogenate oils much more so than HFCS. But I pretty much hate both :)
I do avoid high fructose corn syrup but I didn’t know Canada called it glucose-fructose. Thanks for sharing that tid-bit!
I love Ezekiel wraps..so good! Love your wrap contents too…yum!
so nice that others are making positive changes as well. yes i avoid HFCS like it is the plague-ugh! can’t believe it would be in cereal-scary.
i agree it is nice to have home cooked food after eating out all the time.
happy easter!
Wow, great eats and beautiful pics – looks like a perfect day! It’s so great to see family members make healthy changes.
I love hearing about significant others making healthy choices!!! :D And I am a food nerd.
I got rid of *almost* all products with HFCS in my house. I few things occasionally sneak in with the hubby, but for the most part, we’re done with it.
I agree with the whole eating out thing… I love a great meal out, but I much prefer making my own creations at home (that’s why I started my blog HEHE!)
Have a great week!
-Mary
It is amazing to learn that there are so many things that contain HFCS. I have not been actively looking for that in the foods I’ve elected to buy, however, this will make me more diligent. I did not even realize that Skinny Cow ice creams have it but I discontinued purchasing them a long time ago. I’m trying really hard to become more aware of the nutrition facts in our foods and am learning what is good and what is not. I eat a lot of Kashi and notice that their bars don’t contain HFCS…Yea!
Okay Angela, where did you find the green tea dark chocolates? I love dark chocolate and had 3 dk choc Dove eggs on Easter as well. Yum! And yes, you need to post the stir fry recipe. I agree.
As for lifestyle changes of family members including the DH, yea, my hubby does not like to be told to do this or that, he’s made his own choices for the good and I think it helps. Now if I could just get him to slack back on the beer, he might lose some more weight.
Glad you had an awesome Easter!
I love how Canada disguises several ingredients like that! What a lot of people don’t understand about the food labels on specific cereals, they often don’t worry about or brush off. My dad just skims labels looking for key ingredients like HFCS and if he can’t find it, he’s happy, but recently i had to write down a slew of ingredients for him to avoid (HFCS, Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, Aspartame). I think it is great that you reminded people of that. I think it is MEGA important for people to know that the order of the ingredients matters as well. Sugar as a first or second ingredient is never a good thing, even if it is “organic evaporated cane juice” ;)
We’ve pretty much given up buying items with HFCS. I may have Ben & Jerry’s once in a blue moon, but that’s pretty much the extent of it!
Ha! My hubby said the same thing about skim milk but he drinks it now, although I’m into Almond Breeze. I couldn’t believe all the foods that have HFCS in them. I have changed my eating/buying drastically. Stuff I never thought would have it did. Cinnamon applesauce for example. It’s just brought me closer to more organic and natural foods. Now I make the time to make things myself. I love homemade cin. applesauce and I freeze it in single serving portions.
I love the changes I’ve made, now I don’t crave the sweet stuff like I use to!! You’ve helped me with that transition too, THANKS!!!
What a busy time for you!! Glad you had a good Easter:)
That’s awesome Eric’s being healthier on his own. I’m still waiting on my hubby LOL
I am also addicted to Ezekiel wraps. In fact, I just gobbled one up here at work! I used avocado (so creamy!), cucumber, tomato, onion, lettuce, and red pepper today. Yummy!
I won’t buy something if I see it has HFCS in it, but if it happens to slip by my radar I don’t refuse to eat it. I figure it won’t kill me in moderation, but I certainly try to stay away.
I have been avoiding HFCS for a while (and hydrogenated oils) but am only now finding out why! Also HFCS is just something they came up with when they found out that combining glucose & fructose together at the right ration (more fructose hence the name) exactly imitated the taste of sugar. I am currently reading Michael Pollan’s “The Ominvore’s Dilemna” and knowing WHY HFCS was even INVENTED is a scary thing!!
Steve said to me this morning “are you making a green monster today?” to which I replied yes. He then said.. “wanna make me one?” Normally I have to offer him one!
I avoid HFCS as much as possible. I stopped buying store brand bran flakes cereal because of it, although the Post brand and organic brand don’t have them. There are probably some other cereals I have stopped buying due to the fact that they contained HFCS as well.
Looks like a lovely Easter weekend. You must be so proud of your husband for making those healthy changes :) I just checked my cereal boxes as I eat bran flakes (the kellog’s ones) I’m in England and strangely enough they actually have different ingredients over here!
Our kellog’s raisin-bran (ok it’s called sultana bran but the same thing) has no oil or hfcs in!
Ingredients
Wholewheat, Sultanas (27%), Wheatbran (15%), Sugar, Salt, Honey, Barley Malt Flavouring, Niacin, Iron, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin (B2), Thiamin (B1), Folic Acid, Vitamin D,
Vitamin B12.
Crazy right?
I do avoid high-fructose corn syrup, yes. And now I am also avoiding Agave Nectar. Did you know agave has even more fructose than HFCS??? (and fructose is the not good ingredient in HFCS) Agave is about 90% fructose while HFCS is about 55%.
I discovered agave recently and really like the flavor, however, I learned at my nutrition class (I am studying to be a nutritionist) that agave is not all that good for you. Plus, they make it sound way more natural than it is. The processing involved in making agave is very similar to that of making HFCS.
Just wanted to let you know because I have seen you using agave around here.
From what I learned in nutrition sugar in moderation is the best sweetener, along with honey.
I also do avoid any and all forms of hydrogenated oils, they are the worse kind of fat there is, so I do steer away from it. Checking labels is really important, thankfully I consume minimally processed foods so it is not hard for me to check for unwanted stuff in my foods.
Ana
Oh, and I forgot to say, I loved the looks of your curry wrap, made me really crave some curried veggies now!!!!
Ana
I’m the same way about eating out! I love all the great food I enjoy out when traveling for work or fun, but nothing tastes as good as coming home to your own home cooked meals!
Thanks for the great post Angela! Wow… I never realized glucose-fructose was THE high-fructose corn syrup we keep hearing about!! (and I was starting to wonder what the big deal was as I almost never saw hfcs on ingredient lists, but glucose-fructose is everywhere!!!).. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for that from now on.
I recently read this article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jonny-bowden/debunking-the-blue-agave_b_450144.html where a comparison is made between agave and hfcs, that it’s basically the same thing. All this time I tought agave was a healthier sweetener alternative. What do you think about that?
Regarding the husband discussion, I am also hoping that my husband will continue to improve his eating habits. He has changed his habits in the past few years, slowly, as he’s realizing how crappy he feels when he’s not eating well. He just started using Almond Breeze and making smoothies (altough not green… yet)!
First, I have to say I love the cute spoons you seem to use in your photos and I am now obsessed with tomato paste. It is just so yummy as a spread. I would have never used it that way without reading your blog. Thank you. =)
Yes, I avoid HFC as much as possible and because I have been following the Eat Clean way of eating for several months it is a lot easier. But I agree with Ana a few comments above about Agave. I recently started using it just to find out how terrible it is! I was so shocked. Anyway, I am back to pure Stevia for a little sweetness when needed.
I don’t “avoid” any food really but I try to eat mostly clean and everything in moderation.
Just a question – why do you encourage skim as opposed to 2% milk?
No saturated fat :)
Sounds like you had a wonderful Easter!!!
I do try to avoid corn syrup as much as possible, as well as anything that is really refined.
It’s banned in Australia. Products made here can’t be made with it, they have to use real sugar.
I remember seeing once, ‘maple syrup’ in the states being markets as ‘not containing corn syrup’
it’s a sad day.
Glad to see that your healthy choices are rubbing off on your loved ones. I had a hard time convincing my family too–and sometimes still do. The BF is on board with me but we have yet to move in together so we’re struggling with our own families right now.
I avoid anything with fructose-glucose as it’s a migraine trigger for me. I’m currently on daily preventative meds plus actual migraine meds and while those have helped decrease my migraines, I’d like to one day be able to stop relying so heavily on them. The only thing I find difficulty in is grocery shopping. Now I have to read labels and be a lot more careful with what I eat. I also have to politely refuse a lot of food offered to me at work if I don’t know what’s in it.