Okay, so I borrowed the title of this post from one of my favorite shows, “What Not To Wear.” I’ve always wanted to be on that show – and I kept asking my family to nominate me but they refused!! Anyway, I was watching that show the other night and thought about the fact that although I preach moderation in food choices and not depriving oneself, there are certain foods that I don’t eat much of, or avoid altogether.
My list includes some of the following:
♦ Partially hydrogenated oils
♦ High fructose corn sugar
♦ Bleached foods, like white pasta and rice
♦ Salt in excess
♦ Foods that I can’t tell what they used to be
♦ Unhealthy fats
♦ Diet sodas and artificial sweeteners in general
I’ve said before that the process of having my tastes change and working towards getting healthier has evolved over time. When I was first working on my weight goals just switching from regular sodas to diet sodas was a big step. However, over time I cut them out completely. The same thing with including more fresh foods. Here’s a funny story – when John and I married he had never had fresh green beans. The first time I made them he said, “What are these beans?” I said, “They are fresh green beans.” He said, “You mean like from the ground?!” Too funny.
The hardest thing for us is the partially hydrogenated oils because they are in sooo many things. But the more I make things from scratch the less that comes into play so that’s nice. The bleached food thing wasn’t too bad except for the fact that at first my five youngest kids hated brown rice. But now they are used to it and seem to enjoy the dishes I make with it. What about you? Do you have any foods you try to avoid? Diane
I think my list is pretty much the same as yours. Growing up my mom made everything from scratch, and my dad was addicted to whole grains. What can I say, he was before his time I guess. So my mom ground her own wheat in an electric grinder, and then baked our bread.
The only drastic thing I’ve changed is getting rid of hydrogenated fats.
.-= JourneyBeyondSurvival´s last blog ..Fueling Souls =-.
My list is very similar to yours. When I first started out on my journey, the language of the list was different. For example, instead of “avoid processed foods,” it said, “NO CHEETO’s.” After detoxing myself from my old habits and learing more about the way our food is produced/processed, I changed the language of my list!
I LOVE What Not To Wear! I would love to be on that show and at this point I have no clue how else I would ever be able to pay for the new wardrobe I need because of the weight loss. I really wish someone would nominate me too (I generally have an autroscious sense of style – pay no attention to my ‘new outfit’ pic; I assure you it’s an anomaly – lol)!!!
Anyhow, I don’t think there are many foods that I try to avoid, but rather I work at keeping away from large amounts of certain items. I won’t buy myself even a small bag of chips, for example, because I would feel obliged to eat the whole thing. I would, however, munch on a few from a friend’s bag. Likewise, I will have a bite of my husband’s chocolate bar, but I won’t buy myself a whole one. I guess it is just using moderation as a tool in a different way.
.-= 266´s last blog ..My, Oh My, What A Wonderful Day =-.
Similar list to yours only I don’t avoid them completely, just in them as little as possible.
What I find is that once I get in my daily amounts of dairy, fruits, veggies, lean protein, whole grains, there’s not a lot of calories left over to indulge in less healthy foods!
My list is very much like yours as well…also happened over time, actually since the new year and my stint in the hospital with suspected MS I made the most changes and feeling so much better, I’m also sleeping so much better – something i had been struggling with for a while..
Lovely entry…thanks for sharing.
My list , like yours, has evolved over the years. And like yours it is similar
1. No High Fructose corn syrup
2 No Trans fat
3. not artificial colors
4 no more than 15 grams of sugars
5 No refined carbs( white rice, white pasta, white bread)
6 No genetically modified fruits of veggies( they begin with a number 9 on the label)
7 no fish or shellfish ( for me personally due to an allergy)’
8 No hydrogenated fats
.-= Diane´s last blog ..ooop…and WOO HOO ! =-.
In addition to the things on your list, I don’t eat meat at all, very rarely eat a bit of fish (usually to be polite when at someone’s house), and only very occasionally eat eggs or cheese, but don’t use other dairy. I made this switch mainly for health reasons, but also to benefit the environment, animals and people in developing countries. If anyone is interested in learning more about the health benefits of this kind of diet, there are lots of recent books out there; the one that changed my life was “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Training for your first half marathon (or 20 K)! =-.
Haha! I want to be nominated for What Not To Wear, too! I love Stacey and Clinton!
I would say I am much more aware of high fructose corn syrup and do try my best to avoid buying things with that in it. It does seem to be in everything, though! Even bread!
The main thing that I have eliminated from my diet is Splenda. I didn’t realize how much I was actually ingesting between coffee and other junky products. I’ve been Splenda/artificial sugar free since Sept and I have never felt better! I do notice a difference in my energy in the afternoon and I no longer feel achy! I wondered why I was achy ever afternoon and would feel like I was coming down with a cold or something (seriously for like, years!). Since Sept…. no more. Weird, huh?
.-= Marisa (Loser For Life)´s last blog ..It’s All About The Tools =-.
Yes! We are a brown rice, wheat bread, wheat / multi grain pasta family now – no white comes in here!
Also as far as artificial sweeteners go, the only one we use is Splenda, and I am trying to scale back on that one, too. I have BAD reactions to Aspartame (seizures), so its been gone for a long time.
We have cut out HFCS also, and I have been on the lookout for the partially hydrogenated oils as well. Its still a work in progress, but we’re a long way from where we used to be!
.-= Pam´s last blog ..Going Old Skool =-.
I pretty much stay away from many white foods…white flour, white rice, white potatoes. That’s old hat for me now. I have issues with other foods now like NUTS…I overeat them and while they are a good fat, I tend to overdo it!
.-= Joanna Sutter´s last blog ..Coconut is So Delicious =-.
I’d wish I could be on What Not to Wear too but I’m afraid they would make me get rid of all my t-shirts.
My list of foods to avoid is similar to yours. I gave up my daily Diet Coke addiction over 2 years ago and don’t miss it at all.
I’m amazed how much HFCS is in our food supply. I went to use a marinade on my chicken last week and HFCS was the FIRST ingredient. I threw it away and used a little Italian dressing instead.
My list is quite similar to yours. I have also cut out chocolate and all sweets. I notice a huge difference in my moods and energy levels. Anything packaged is pretty much off limits! Funny thing is, I’m not really missing them that much anymore!!!
.-= Carla´s last blog ..More surprising benefits of a healthy lifestyle =-.
Diane, too funny. I love WNTW & I have nominated myself & my hubby, I think, had also. He is so tired of me wearing the same 3 outfits. I don’t buy for myself. I have clothes that are soooooooo old & now I have no clue about fashion since it has been so long since I bought regular clothes!
As for avoiding foods, I am like you in the types of things you do not eat. I really am not a fan of frozen dinners & those things & the packaged stuff, even those 100 calories things. I try to stay with real foods as much as possible but as you said, you can’t avoid everything & I don’t get freaky about that. I am bound to have something with the saturated fat or HFCS at some point. If it is only a tiny % of my food in total, I am fine with that.
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Past Catching Up With the Present =-.
I “want” to be able to avoid the diet pop, b/c when I want a diet pop I have to have something with it, and it’s usually something sugary, and probably unhealthy! I have set a goal of trying not to have a pop for a week, and so far that hasn’t happened!
I don’t have any specific things I try to avoid, but at home I make only brown rice and wheat pasta.
.-= Lauren @ Eater not a runner´s last blog ..these are a few of my favorite things =-.
Like you I first changed to diet soda, but now have stopped even that. I do use artificial sweetners in my coffee though. I don’t seem to have a problem with that. I have switched from processed to whole foods as much as possible.
Your title makes me miss cable t.v. – I used to LOVE watching “What Not To Wear!”
Our lists of foods to avoid are pretty much identical. I used to drink a LOT of diet coke but finally broke the habit a few years ago. I haven’t had any diet coke in over a year. In the past, when I drank diet coke after diet coke all day long, I really didn’t think it was possible for me to give it up. But I cut it out slowly, and there came a point when I didn’t miss it anymore.
.-= Andrea@WellnessNotes´s last blog ..Portion Control and Making Healthy Choices =-.
Diane – you are too put together to be on What Not To Wear.
My list is pretty similar to yours. I avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague.
I try really hard to avoid HCFS, but it is in everything. I had to spend 10 minutes at the store just looking for a BBQ sauce that didn’t have that on the ingredient list… jeesh!
And I avoid mushrooms LOL!
.-= Lori (Finding Radiance)´s last blog ..Shape magazine called…. =-.
I must watch those carbs! Bread/pasta/tortillas/cheese/most desserts!
I successfully lost 70 lbs 2 years ago by almost completely eliminating these. I let them back in and gained 20 pounds! So it’s back to what I know works!
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Box of Chocolates =-.
That’s a good list of things to avoid! Mine are caffeine (for the most part). I’ve been going like 3 or 4 weeks now without coke and I feel great. Fatty fried food I generally try to stay away from. I really try to avoid the meals you heat up in the microwave….they are loaded with calories and fat. If I do have chocolate…I try to limit how much I have of it! Thanks for sharing!
Jen
Honestly, I am still making my list. I gave up sugary sodas last year and trying to move away from boxed and processed foods but I am still in the learning stages of what not to eat.
PS I love that show too!
.-= Jules – Big Girl Bombshell´s last blog ..Does the Spirit Move You? =-.
I really wish I could cut out high-fructose corn syrup. My husbands just inching his way onto the healthy eating bandwagon and it’s all I can do to get him to avoid a daily hamburger. Baby steps. But since he buys food with HFCS I end up eating it. If I were rich, though, we’d have separate foods. I did put my foot down the other day when he bought pre-packaged sliced chicken deli meat, which I will never eat. I read him the ingredients so he understood how disgusting the stuff was. Want to know what a main ingredient of that chicken was? Chicken flavoring. I can’t even think about it anymore.
I’m definitely in the everything in moderation boat. However, I do not salt my food anymore. This is coming from a girl who could and did regularly put salt in my hand and lick it out regularly. I try to mostly go low sodium but don’t get crazy about it. (love A-1 too much).
My changes have been more about adding foods rather than restricting. Fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I still occasionally eat white bread (french toast YUM) but not regularly.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Back in the Saddle….. and Product Reviews! =-.
I was helping a friend recently put a meal plan together because she has kidney problems and has to have less than 1500 mg of sodium each day.
I use caloriecount.com, and never even looked at my sodium intake – I added that to the list and was shocked that one day I had over 6,000 mg! So that is on my radar – but now I’ve never thought of partially hydrogenated oils – I’ll have to put that on my radar too!
.-= Biz´s last blog ..Fat Wednesday =-.
I like the concept of What Not To Eat and I think it’s funny that your family wouldn’t nominate you for What Not To Wear. Hmmmm, maybe a task for your blog readers?
I try to avoid just everything that’s on your list, especially HFCS and it’s in so many products.
.-= ‘Drea´s last blog ..Dot, Period, The End =-.
I try to avoid the same as you, though I use Splenda in my coffee, and I LOVE sushi, which is very hard to find with brown rice. I’ve found it occasionally, and it is a different taste, though I could get used to it. I really enjoy a crusty sourdough sandwich, occasionally. I don’t eat much meat, very little candy, and I try to avoid deep fried, which is a little harder than the other two, as I actually like deep-fried. I’ve never liked meat, most candy is too sweet. I like sweet, of course, but try not to overdo it. I don’t even pretend that I want to give up sugar.
.-= julie´s last blog ..Too tired to be #*&^% with! =-.
1. Trans fat. I do.not.buy.it. if it has any trans fat. EVER.
2. White rice.
3. French fries
4. diet sodas. All of them.
5. Sugar-free-yet-artificially-sweetened crap. I get enough chemicals without trying to fake my body out with MORE.
6. Excess sodium. If it packs more than 300 mg. in, per serving, it’s off my list. The lower, the better.
7. desserts. Unless chocolate is involved. Which is funny, because I HATED chocolate until last April, at the ripe old age of 57.5. Caramel was my dessert flavor of choice. I allow myself 150 calories of chocolate a day. But I HAVE those 150 calories worth. It keeps me sane, and allows me to be faithful to the rest of my healthy eating plan for life.
I think that about covers it.
.-= Sunny´s last blog ..When Worlds Collide! =-.
A great list!
I found that my taste for things have changed since losing weight. I crave veggies and whole grains now. I also prefer to make it myself rather than have a restaurant (aka fast food) make it for me.
~Kellie
.-= The Chubby Girl Diaries´s last blog ..Love Thyself First =-.
My list looks alot like yours. Basically, I try not to eat/consume chemicals. I am not fastidious about white things but because I do most of the cooking, I know that I am consuming very little refined sugar/flour.
This past weekend, we went to an Italian restaurant for V-day. I indulged in my favorite pasta with garlic cream sauce and husband and I split the chocolate cake (another favorite). I felt horrible on Monday. I am pretty sure it was all the sugar in that dessert because I felt similar another day that I had a chocolate cake with whipped cream.
Of course I agree with your list, Diane
What I have done with things like pasta and rice, is mix the “white” product with the whole grain, especially in the beginning. I think that’s a good way to make the change. Same with regular soda to diet to water. In my opinion it doesn’t have to be all or none, although with the trans fats, like cig. smoke, there is no safe level.
Your list looks like the one I have in my head. The main 2 things for me are salt and sugar as they are what I’m most addicted to!
.-= John´s last blog ..Listen to Your Body =-.
I’m taking one step at a time and my first challenge is to abandon chips out of my life. Haven’t had it in three weeks now. And I’ve cut down on everything that has aspartame in it. This means I drink one glass of soda with sugar at night instead of light. Yes it’s got sugar in it but as I only drink one glass and it tastes so much better than light soda’s it’s okay. I’m not really into cutting all sugar out of my eating plan and I won’t do that either.
.-= Fran´s last blog ..A day in my life: Monday February 15th 2010 =-.
The one thing I’m really strict about is partially hydrogenated oil. But even then, I’ll on rare occasion have ice cream with it, or pre-packaged cookies with it. HFCS is another one I will avoid, but I’m a liiiitle more lenient on that one so long as it’s not in something I eat on a regular basis (ie, I would never regularly eat a nutrition bar with HFCS). I also watch my sodium and artificial sweeteners. Mostly because excess sodium makes me reallyreally thirsty, and artificial sweeteners give me tummy aches. I don’t put a definite “NO” on any food, but there are a bunch that I consciously avoid when given the choice.
.-= Susan´s last blog ..‘F’ is for Balance =-.
As a general rule, I don’t avoid anything. Exceptions to the rule though is food just not worth eating – if I’m going to splurge and get a burger and fries, it’s NOT going to be from chain fast food, it’s going to be real tasting beef, homemade buns, hand cut fries, etc. Same with pizza. No grody lukewarm Dominos – but if I’m craving it, it’s gotta be the deep dish super meaty supreme local delivery from down the street. Sheet cake? No thanks. I’d rather have some really nummy homemade stuff every once in a while.
I figure if I eat healthy 80-90% of the time, and make sure that 10% is worth the indulgence, it ain’t gonna kill me.
Diane, I forgot to tell you that I finally watched the Dr. Oz show & you did so good!!!!! Looked great too!!!! How exciting!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Past Catching Up With the Present =-.
I avoid pasta ALL the time. I avoid different groups at different times. I change it up
Even the 100 cal cocoa almonds have HFCS in it!
.-= April´s last blog ..You are what you eat =-.
anyone trying to move kids over to healthy foods – my suggestion is to substitute and then keep increasing the percentages SLOWLY.
Mashed potatoes are my best example.
Ours are now WAY MORE cauliflower than potato.
But they started mostly potato with a bit of cauliflower.
HINT: steam the cauliflower and then puree in the food processor before adding to the mashed potatoes.
.-= vickie´s last blog ..Might I be the only mom thinking – don’t feel you have to give up a single thing for Lent – ? =-.
I try to avoid french fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, going out for Mexican (dangerous because of nachos!) and really anything fried (chicken, mushrooms, etc.)
I try to avoid sugar at all costs, even the artificial sweeteners as you mention. I’m still taking baby steps in that area, so sometimes I have artificial sweeteners, but I hope to one day not feel like I need anything sweet. It’s such a vice of mine!
.-= Anonymous Fat Girl´s last blog ..Comfy exercise t-shirts: your opinions please =-.
My list is very similar. I don’t worry about white rice or pasta since I have it about twice a year.
A great site for finding hfcs-free products: http://www.stophfcs.com/list.html It’s not all-inclusive, but it’s a good place to start.
.-= Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..My First Lent, My Way =-.
I don’t eat meat, with the exception of fish. Other than that, I just eat “bad” things in moderation.
.-= Tricia´s last blog ..Mind Games =-.
my list is like yours. It’s hard though, so it’s a slow process. and someday I hope to get to 100% natural…
.-= Mackattack (Beth)´s last blog ..Ravioli with spinach and bacon =-.
My list of foods to avoid looks pretty similar to yours. My family is so picky that I tend to not make some of the healthier choices that I know we should all be eating. It’s so not fun making two meals, one for me and one for them.
.-= karen@fitnessjourney´s last blog ..Rewarding Yourself For a Hard Workout =-.
It IS really hard to find foods without partially hydrogenated oils. I’m also more conscious about foods that have artificial sweeteners in them. Have you ever tried Truvia?
.-= Alissa´s last blog ..WI at Work Day =-.
Pretty much everything you listed including gluten and most other grains most of the time, soy, dairy, eggs, high GI fruits and sweeteners in general, starches.
.-= Carla | Green and Chic´s last blog ..Giveaway: EcoSMART Home Pest Control =-.
At this point in my journey, I’m trying to control portion sizes and sugar intake…:) Otherwise, I make a lot of our food from scratch and so some of the other stuff we just don’t get…however, it IS sneaky and you have to watch thing! I would like to incorporate MORE veggies…just need to learn to prepare them better!
I LOVE WNTW, btw!
I’ll nominate you! How do I do it? 
.-= Amy´s last blog ..…serve the Lord with gladness =-.
My list now includes gluten, corn and dairy products. Definitely is challenging when eating out! Doncha love the propaganda High Fructose Corn Syrup commercials?
Please tell me that Dr. Oz has a website with episodes on it! I dvr’ed the only episode that showed up on my schedule for Tuesday and it was about men who cheat! I was NOT happy!
.-= MamaBearJune´s last blog ..HYC check in – 179.6 =-.
All you fashion challenged bloggers need to find a friend who always looks well put together and get her to take you shopping. Her innate fashion sense will enable her to pick things that are right for you. She won’t try to dress you like she dresses. She also will go back and pick out other sizes and colors when things don’t work so you don’t have to keep dressing and going back out. She’ll encourage you to try things you would never have found on your own, and sometimes they’ll be great. She will be flattered that you chose her to help you too.
I have been a fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain girl all my life. I am still overweight, so my next plan is to cut down on the amount of meat I eat. My dad was a meat cutter so I have emotional ties to meat that I need to break. Also, just because it’s whole wheat, doesn’t mean you get to eat more carbs. I should have told myself that last night.
All of the above! Also sugar, caffeine and alcohol. You’re right, taking it one step at a time is the best way to do it.
.-= Hanlie´s last blog ..My weight in perspective =-.
I’m a big What Not To Wear fan! I think there’s allot of us who would like to be nominated, especially after losing weight and truly needing new clothes. I save the episodes of people with a similar body type as mine and really try to incorporate the tips into my shopping trips. Slowly I am getting a Stacy and Clinton approved wardrobe and I look way better for it. Even though I’ve still got 25 lbs left to lose, I look almost like I’m at my goal weight when I wear things that are right for my body, instead of yoga pants and a t-shirt.
I am glad I read this today because it has inspired me to stop eating/drinking all fake sugar. I’ve been trying to cut it out of my eating habits for a while now but I just need to stop cold turkey. Especially when it comes to Diet Coke which I LOVE and have one 3-4 times a week. Agh! It’s my weakness but it’s sooo not good for me.
Thank you for the inspiration!