- To eat fake raisin bran (with barely any actual wheat bran in the cereal… more like frosted flakes with raisin bits)
So, when out of town this weekend, I had no choice but to eat sugary sweet cereal (I haven’t eaten cereal this sweet in probably 10 years). Seriously, 20g sugar. Most raisin bran’s tend to have higher amounts of sugar because of the raisins (natural sugar), but if you look at the label there are 10 sources of sugar. In addition, this cereal contains trans fat. Even though the first ingredient is a whole grain, and it contains 4g fiber (pretty good!), this cereal is not really raisin bran in my mind. If you look at the label, actual wheat bran is way down near the end (meaning there is little actually in the cereal).
Ok, now to the this is why your unhealthy, America rant: this packaging should be considered false labeling for putting a healthy happy My Pyramid on the back of the box. Way to get people to think this is a healthy choice. No, this cereal will not help you rise to the challenge. A healthier cereal choice would be 5g of sugar or less, at least 4g of fiber (which this one has), whole grains, no partially hydrogenated anything, no saturated fat, a few grams of protein, and low sodium (less than 140g). I think raisin bran is generally a healthy cereal, I eat it all the time. But, you need to watch out for the sugar content, and make sure the main ingredient is whole wheat bran.
- To eat wild hog
I am a big believer in trying everything once. How do you know if you don’t like something unless you’ve tried it. I think I have tried everything that I now say I won’t eat or don’t like. Even if I think the food is unhealthy I will still try it. The wild hog was smoked and made to have as BBQ this 4th of July weekend. It did look quite suspicious, but I tried it and it was ok. - To eat a hamburger
I don’t normally eat red meat for health reasons (maybe 2-3 times per year), and I don’t even like the taste of steaks and most red meat. But, I do enjoy a nice grilled burger every once and a while–this was one of those occasions! - To run a 10K for the first time and come in 9388th place
So there were over 50,000 runners (Peachtree Road Race) and coming in 9388th is not too bad. For a little bragging, my super fast boyfriend came in 177th overall.
Running this race has gotten me motivated to run more races in the future. The race was so much fun, there were crowds lining the street for the entire 6.2 miles. Runners dress up in crazy costumes; most people just run it for the fun of it like I did. I just signed up at the last minute, and was glad I did! - To eat a 90 calorie cookie that is only 2 inches wide
Ok, this may not seem like any big deal. But hello, to eat one tiny cookie at almost 100 calories per cookie is insane. And they are not even that good.
I looked up the nutrition facts for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies (Chips Ahoy):
90 calories per cookie, 5g fat, 2.5g saturated, 10g carb, 5g sugar, 1g protein.
Ingredients: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM OIL, PEANUT FLAVORED DROPS (SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL, PARTIALLY DEFATTED PEANUT FLOUR, SKIM MILK, WHEY, PEANUT BUTTER {PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED AND/OR RAPESEED OIL}, DEXTROSE, SALT, SOY LECITHIN – AN EMULSIFIER), SUGAR, SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHUNKS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, DEXTROSE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN – AN EMULSIFIER, VANILLIN – AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, HYDROGENATED RAPESEED AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR SOYBEAN OILS, SALT), MOLASSES, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHEY (FROM MILK), CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. CONTAINS: WHEAT, PEANUT, MILK, SOY. MANUFACTURED ON EQUIPMENT THAT PROCESSES TREE NUTS.
90 calories per cookie, 5g fat, 2.5g saturated, 10g carb, 5g sugar, 1g protein.
Ingredients: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), PALM OIL, PEANUT FLAVORED DROPS (SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL, PARTIALLY DEFATTED PEANUT FLOUR, SKIM MILK, WHEY, PEANUT BUTTER {PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED AND/OR RAPESEED OIL}, DEXTROSE, SALT, SOY LECITHIN – AN EMULSIFIER), SUGAR, SEMISWEET CHOCOLATE CHUNKS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, DEXTROSE, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN – AN EMULSIFIER, VANILLIN – AN ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR), PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, HYDROGENATED RAPESEED AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR SOYBEAN OILS, SALT), MOLASSES, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA AND/OR AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE), SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHEY (FROM MILK), CARAMEL COLOR, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. CONTAINS: WHEAT, PEANUT, MILK, SOY. MANUFACTURED ON EQUIPMENT THAT PROCESSES TREE NUTS.
This is ridiculous. If you eat 3 or 4 cookies that would be 270-360 calories, probably 2g trans fat, and up to 20g total fat. And half of the fat is saturated. No good.
Anyway, what is important to learn from this weekend is that moderation is what is most important for overall health. I don’t normally eat these types of foods, but eating them once a year will not hurt you. It’s eating these foods everyday that is the problem. To be able to try new things, and allow yourself to eat what you really feel like eating is important for overall health. I knew that when I went back home I would be enjoying my fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and healthy fats once again.
