I love hearing how different people define healthy eating. For some it means eating the right amount of calories to fit in a certain jeans size. For others it means cutting out carbohydrates after 5:00pm. I’ve never written out an exact definition for what healthy eating means to me, but if I had to, I’d imagine it would look something like this:
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Brilliant. Insightful. Not my words. But Michael Pollan said it so well- why try and one up him?
I might also add in a little something about balance, because I’m certainly not one to say no to nachos. 😉
Anyways, this thought brought me to today’s topic: Healthy vs Low Calorie.
I believe most people incorrectly use these words interchangeably. I can’t tell you how many people have tried to tell me that fruit isn’t healthy because it’s high calorie and pure carbs. They are usually the same people that tell me that a McDonald’s cheeseburger is healthy because it’s only 300 calories. My conclusion is that everyone likes to rationalize their choices.
When I try to guide people into making better food choices, I define ‘healthy’ as food that is:
- in or close to it’s natural state
- provides your body with natural nutrition
- minimally processed
- has a short ingredient list of items your can pronounce
Now, one may try to argue that the above cheeseburger fits some of these healthy criteria, but let’s take a closer look at what is in the cheeseburger:
100% Beef Patty
100% pure USDA inspected beef; no fillers, no extenders. Prepared with grill seasoning (salt, black pepper).
Regular Bun
Enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, enzymes), water, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, yeast, soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated soybean oil, contains 2% or less of the following: salt, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, wheat gluten, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, dough conditioners (sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated monoglycerides, monocalcium phosphate, enzymes, guar gum, calcium peroxide, soy flour), calcium propionate and sodium propionate (preservatives), soy lecithin.
Pasteurized Process American Cheese
Milk, water, milkfat, cheese culture, sodium citrate, salt, citric acid, sorbic acid (preservative), sodium phosphate, artificial color, lactic acid, acetic acid, enzymes, soy lecithin (added for slice separation).
They did OK on the beef… but that’s where it ends.
This may mean that my favorite wrap (about 500 calories)
ends up being higher in calories than a Chick-fil-a Original Sandwich (430 calories)
But I don’t see how anyone could argue that Chickfila is healthier.
And the wonderful thing is that a LOT of healthy foods just so happen to be low in calories (like VEGGIES)- wahoo! And the two definitions can happily co-exist.
…But I don’t think you should be scared of an avocado because it’s high fat content and choose the low fat, no flavor, processed American ‘cheese’ slice instead.
What are your thoughts on healthy and low calorie?
Brooke @ Veggie Table says
I love your informative posts! Most people I know have the same misconception – for instance, my co-workers think they are eating super healthy with a Lean Cuisine or SmartOne (check out this list: http://www.foodfacts.com/members/item_info.cfm?id=17062) when the ingredients look like a different language and most are super high in sodium. I totally agree and try to live by your definition of “healthy” also 🙂 P.S. – the veggie wrap looks yum!
Brooke @ Veggie Table says
**check out the link without the last parenthesis – it doesn’t work otherwise, ha! 🙂
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
You pretty much summed it up better than I could. I’m along the same lines as you. Two tablespoons of unadulterated (only peanuts) peanut butter has more calories than a serving of potato chips (in most cases), but which one is healthier? Obviously, the peanut butter. It has more fat, too, but I’m glad we (as a society) are getting beyond that “fat is bad” mantra.
Great post. 🙂
And I love Michael Pollan.
Melissa says
I agree with you Brittany. I do try to eat real, unprocessed foods as much as possible and probably could afford to eat more veggies. But on the flipside, if I am eating out I would generally try to choose the “healthier” option which often is merely less calories not necessarily healthier. I need to check out a M. Pollan book one of these days.
Carly says
I think most people get that low-cal doesn’t necessarily mean better. The ones who don’t will pay in the long run. I just read this Michael Pollan article from a couple years ago: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28nutritionism.t.html. A lot of it is based on how nutritionism has created this unhealthy culture.
I’ve read Omnivore’s Dilemma and really enjoyed it. His In Defense of Food is next on my list.
Rachel @ Rachel's Recipe Reviews says
Amen! Great post! (btw, that bun?!? holy smokes that is a lot of ingredients for a chunk of not good bread!)
Lisa @ I'm an Okie says
Amen.
I’ve viewed health in so many ways.
Less calories means healthier. Less carbs means healthier. No Carbs means healthier. Less fat means healthier. More fat means healthier.
Now, when I eat something I try and ask myself if its adding value to my body. If not, then I ask myself if I really want it. sometimes I do and I will eat it anyways, but it’s still the thought process I go through now.
Jess @atasteofconfidence says
I used to base healthy on low cal when I was trying to lose weight. I still think of healthy as you do- plants, low processed, etc- but if I am going to eat something not as healthy (e.g. fast food)- I’ll think about calories.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I’m with you in that I believe just because something has more calories (ie: veggie wrap vs. chickfila) doesn’t mean it’s not good for you. That is so frustrating to me! Like Brooke@veggietable said I’m annoyed at coworkers eating frozen foods called Lean Cuisine or lean hot pockets and thinking they are eating healthy. Or my all time favorite, drinking tons of diet sodas. I also get really annoyed at people who tell me they don’t eat any fruit because of the carbs. Fruit is still good for you! Obviously if you have a medical reason to stay away from high gylcemic index foods that’s different. I have a cousin who thinks healthy is only eating egg whites, sweet potatoes, and chicken breasts. Although, that’s lean I think our bodies new a wide variety of foods.
This is such an interesting topic and I like reading everyone’s different opinions. : )
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good says
I totally agree! It sounds so ridiculous to have to say it, but I look at things in the store to discern whether or not they are actually food. I’ve gradually shifted toward the more whole/closer to natural state foods over the last couple of years (and the CSA experience really helped push me in that direction). This applies even for “treats.” For example, if I’m going to have chips, I’d rather eat tortilla chips (corn, oil, salt) than Doritos (I won’t actually list the ingredients, but I promise you there are more than three and most are not recognizable as food). I loved that Pollan book and should get around to reading more of his work.
Sonya says
You mentioned Michael Pollen. I just finished reading The Omnivores Dilemma for a Biz Lit class. Have you read it? It has totally changed the way I look at food labels. It has also convinced me I don’t need to seek out corn…
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
I think as young girl we start out thinking low cal and low fat is healthy. and then as we learn more we start to realize that fruits, veggies, and lean proteins are where its at for healty and sometimes a meal packed with those plus whole grains and dairy may be higher calories than a small drivethrough meal… but it outweighs it in the health department =) great post. Pollan is my bfff. we have a very special relationship <3
Caree @ Fit-Mama says
I totally agree with you! I know a particular someone that is constantly eating “low calorie” things and feels they are eating healthy! And a salad to them, is iceburg lettuce with a ton of ranch dressing…
Sarah for Real says
I have always believed that a calorie is NOT a calorie and that our bodies treat each calorie differently. They can utilize natural, whole food calories much better because that’s what they’ve been doing since the beginning of time. Our bodies get confused by chemically modified, processed food calories.
This is not a popular scientific view, but it is my experience that my natural intuitive eating hinges directly on my eating foods my body can recognize.
Plus, the nutritional community who tout low-calorie today were the same ones who touted low-fat-except-for-certain-fats, low-carb-except-for-certain-carbs, yesterday and all-fats-are-bad, all-carbs-are-bad the day before. How can they be trusted?
Amanda Perry @ Sistas of Strength says
LOVE this…very well said, Brittany! I think with all of the marketing around 100 calorie packs and the calorie counts on menus at restaurants the attitude of viewing things lower in calories as healthier is actually getting worse instead of getting better. I have never been a calorie counter (even when I was trying to lose weight several years ago). I find that focusing on healthy foods (a mix of low and high cal) and keeping the amount of processed foods and treats to a minimum works for me without making me feel like I am missing out or having to spend hours on end counting up my daily calories. I have so many friends/clients who want to count calories (and even some who think that just because something is low fat it’s not bad for you). Lean cusine’s and diet cokes every day for lunch may help you lose weight initially since you are probably cutting calories, but it’s not providing much nutrition and isn’t something that is maintainable for life!
Tina says
I agree whole heartedly! Calories do not showcase a food’s health content. There is so much more to consider and that should be the main focus.
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl says
I love this post and completely agree with you! Calories are not an indicator of healthiness! I would rather have a fabulous wrap than a fast food sandwich! The taste is much better in the wrap and the fact that I could pronounce all of the ingredients goes a lot farther with me! There is so much more than just calories to food!
Karlee @olivewineandfood says
i totally agree with you! it drives me crazy but when people think something is healthy just because it is low calorie, low fat, low sugar, whatever, but don’t eat whole foods because it has too much of something natural.
Katie H says
Love Michael Pollan!
I completely agree with you. To me, it isn’t about calories, it’s about nutrition!
Baking Serendipity says
Such a good point! That wrap vs. chicken sandwich seriously hit your point home. This is a great post 🙂
Corey @ the Runner's Cookie says
Totally agree – I have never believed that low cal was healthy. The Weight Watchers mentality of low cal, low fat really bugs me. You are really good at writing concise informative posts, Brittany!
Cynthia says
I totally agree with you. There was a time when I focused only on the calories and not so much in what actually went into my body. I used to live on Lean Cuisine frozen dinners. I assumed that because they were low calorie, they were better for me. But about a year ago, I started eating more natural foods and I actually read the ingredients for the foods I was eating. I was shocked at how many fillers and chemicals went into them. I still pay attention somewhat to calories because I am trying to lose weight. But I eat foods that are unprocessed and a lot closer to their natural state. And I stay away from things that are low fat, light, or sugar free. Those foods have more ingredients than anything!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Hi Brittany! I just found your blog through Tina’s at FFF and am glad I did for multiple reasons. One, I love your take on food, nutrition, and healthy living, and two, I am a fellow Georgia Bulldog! Goooo Dawgs! Great post, btw – I agree that most people have a huge misconception about low calorie and healthy.
Jocelyn @ Peace Love Nutrition says
Michael Pollan is genius. So simple but so much truth ! In college I completely fell into that ‘low fat/low calorie’ craze. I ate 100 calorie packs like it was my job. Now I realized how important what you eat is. I’m eating real foods and feeling so much better! Great post 🙂
Kelly says
Brad is always asking me which is the healthier option between two choices and I always start by askiing first, “how are you defining healthy?”. “Do you want to eat the thing with the least amount of calories or the thing with better and less ingredients?” Better and less ingredients is my version of “healthy”. Low calorie is usually not what I go for when I go for healthy…unless I just want fruit or vegetables.
Heather @ kissmybroccoli says
Hey there! I just found your blog while catching up on Tina’s FFF Features! Love this post! So many people are confused these days on what is considered a healthy food option. I don’t know how many people I work with (in a hospital, mind you) that chose the Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice meals and 100 calorie packs because they honestly think it is a “healthy balanced meal.” If only they would take a second to turn over that package and try to pronounce more that 5 words from the never ending ingredient list! Why is that the majority of people think that it takes too long to prepare fresh clean meals and their only other choice is to eat the overly-processed ready-to-eat meals??
Heather @ kissmybroccoli says
By the way, I love your little line of fruits and veggies after your signature! So cute!