14 April 2011
Politically Correct Food
Despite the never-ending diet wars, there are a few foods that almost everyone can agree on. I call them “politically correct” food because no one is going to argue much about their nutritional value. No matter which diet you follow, these foods are almost always part of the plan.
PC Food #1: Non-starchy vegetables
If you were to randomly take a poll asking people what they thought the most healthy food is, I’m guessing at least 90% of them would name some kind of vegetable.
Why they live up to the hype: Veggies are varied, full of nutrients, fiber, and flavor. You can use them in limitless dishes and preparations, and they add flavor and texture to meals without adding tons of calories.
Why they’re overhyped: Sure, veggies are low-cal, high-fiber, and full of nutrients. But despite the fiber, veggies aren’t that filling or satisfying. If your meal is 75% veggies, I guarantee you’ll be hungry again in a couple hours. Also, veggies aren’t “magical.” They don’t cancel out the other crap in your diet!
PC Food #2: Avocado
Even though avocado has plenty of fat and calories, any diet guru will tell you it’s “good” fat, and as long as you watch the portion, avocado can be part of any healthy diet.
Why they live up to the hype: Avocados are a great source of “healthy” fat (to me, any unprocessed fat is healthy!). And they can take the place of cheese or mayo to make foods taste creamier and richer. Plus, they’re full of nutrients.
Why they’re overhyped: I love avocados, but using avocado as your only source of dietary fat probably means you won’t feel as satisfied as you could. Even if you’re vegan, using olive oil, coconut products, and other non-animal sources of fat will go a long way to helping you feel satisfied.
PC Food #3: Egg whites
Everyone except vegans will agree that egg whites are a perfect diet food: low in calories and fat, chock full of protein.
Why they live up to the hype: Egg whites are a good source of protein, and can be added to other foods without overpowering the taste (the texture, though, might be altered).
Why they’re overhyped: I’ve never felt full or satisfied after eating a bunch of egg whites. Egg yolks contain most of the egg’s nutrients (and fat!), so skipping them means you’re not getting the most of your eggs.
PC Food #4: Berries
Though people are starting to realize that fruit really is nature’s candy bar — and sometimes has as much sugar as real candy! — because berries are lower in sugar, they’ve kept their pristine reputation. And we can’t forget about those antioxidants!
Why they live up to the hype: Berries are absolutely delicious and lower in sugar. If you’re craving sugar, berries are a better pick than almost anything else that’s naturally (or non-naturally) sweet.
Why they’re overhyped: Again, berries aren’t magical. Their antioxidants won’t cure diseases, and eating them won’t make up for a diet that’s otherwise lacking.
PC Food #5: Oatmeal
Oatmeal might as well be the official breakfast of healthy eaters. It seems like everyone is behind this trendy hot cereal.
Why it lives up to the hype: As long as you’re eating non-processed rolled oats, oatmeal can make for a satisfying breakfast. It can also be added to baked goods and other dishes to amplify the health factor a bit.
Why it’s overhyped: Oatmeal has no fat and not much protein. Without some additions to your breakfast bowl, a plain bowl of oatmeal will not only taste boring, but it won’t leave you very satisfied. Also, oatmeal isn’t that much healthier than other grains (or flour), so tricking yourself into thinking oatmeal raisin cookies are better than chocolate chip is just silly.
So what does this all mean? Eat politically correctly if you want (there are good things about all PC foods!), but know that sometimes, these foods are just too neutral to do much for you.
