Boomers: Eating Healthier Than The TV Dinners And Tang We Grew Up On

There are words in today's vernacular that we never heard growing up. Words such as:

Cholesterol
Trans fats
High fructose corn syrup
Vegan
High fiber diet
Low carbohydrate diet

Chicory Coconut Mango Salad

For most boomers, our childhood cupboards were filled with the typical foods of the 1960's:

Velveeta "cheese"
Frozen vegetables
Lay's perfectly shaped potato chips in a can
Swanson's frozen TV dinners
Cap'n Crunch cereal
Tang instant breakfast drink
Devil Dogs, Ring Dings, Yodels or Twinkies.

I grew up in a house with a German born father who enjoyed German meats, or wurst, such as knackwurst, bratwurst and also a good salami. On occasion we'd have salami and egg omelettes for breakfast. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed every bite of them.

Are your arteries clogging by thinking about this? Thankfully times have changed.

Today, we're more aware of the importance of eating healthy, reading food labels, eating in moderation and staying away from foods high in fat, cholesterol, sodium or carbohydrates. We shun high fructose corn syrup after learning about its danger. We limit or cut out white flour and sugar completely, and use extra-virgin olive or canola oil in our cooking.

We grew up relying on comfort food to make us "feel better" during times of stress. Had a bad date? A quart of Ben and Jerry's will make you feel better. Bad grade on a midterm? A bag of M&M's will melt your troubles away. (Okay, sometimes I still do that!)

Are you a master at talking yourself out of sticking to any diet plan?

"It's only one bowl of pasta, and I promise to be good tomorrow."

"There's only one piece of bread left so I might as well eat it."

"I had a bad day and deserve this bar of chocolate/ice cream/bagel/fill-in-the-blank."

"I haven't had this in months. This one time won't kill me."

But wait! Hold on. These are the eating patterns that led to my clothes not fitting and feeling less than healthy. As the numbers on the scale were creeping up, my self-esteem was plummeting. I began hating the way I looked and felt.

I needed to make a change. When the people at Jenny Craig approved my request to be a part of their blogging program, I was more than thrilled. I saw this as a chance to recapture my former self by taking back control of what I eat, of feeling emotionally and physically better. Their meal plan, along with eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking a lot of water and finding time for daily exercise, began my new chapter of feeling better about myself.

I'm on my way back...to me. And it feels good to start feeling good about myself again.

As my Jenny consultant says, it's not the number on the scale that matters but the way you feel about yourself that does. Those are wise words for us all to live by.

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on food for this review. There was no compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

Emotional Eating: I'll Have A Bowl Of Pasta With A Side Order Of Ice Cream, Please

Comfort food (noun): Food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking. (Source: Google)

Do you have a favorite comfort food that you lean on in times of stress?

Do you make a big bowl of pasta?

Or sit yourself down with a delicious bowl (or two) of ice cream?

Or do you want something salty like potato chips?

Most people have a favorite food they think will help them feel better for awhile. Food will ease our stress, and every bite will melt away our problems.

That is emotional eating.

Finally, I'm in a groove of eating healthier, learning new ways to deal with stress other than relying on comfort food. I don’t want to slide backward into the pounds I worked very - VERY - hard to take off. (And it is hard work. Every single ounce of it!)

There's so much in our lives that's not in our control. We all would love to have something that is.

So I’m working hard on fighting my urge to reach for comfort food during times of crisis. It's not always easy. I’m filling my plate with more vegetables, eating more fruit (I love summer fruit and will miss nectarines and peaches), eat at regular intervals (including healthy snacks to keep me from feeling hungry between meals) and drink more water.

According to an article in WebMD, Jane Jakubczak, a registered dietitian at The University of Maryland says that emotions trigger eating instead of the physical symptom of hunger initiating it.

Jakubczak goes on to say that 75% of overeating is caused by emotions.

Wow, that’s a lot of overeating.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t crave what my husband and son eat at dinner. The aromatic smell coming from their plates – heck, from the oven – are enough to set my palate in motion. I’ve had bites of their meals and they do taste delicious! And while those bites taste good, I’m also happy to go back to my own delicious meal.

My nightly dessert: Jenny Craig Triple Chocolate Cheesecake. Photo Credit: Jenny Craig

Being on Jenny Craig has allowed me to learn better eating habits, and there's a lot of comfort in that!

What is your favorite comfort food?

How I'm Trying To Practice Mindfulness in 2014: Are You Mindful About What You Eat?

“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go,There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life

I promised myself that in 2014 I'd try to be more mindful of all that I do by noticing the important and not so important moments that make up my life.

I also want to become more mindful of what I put into my mouth. Mindfulness includes mindful eating, and does not include mindlessly stuffing my face with food whenever I feel hungry. I want to be aware of what I eat, and how I will eat it. Focusing on that will help me feel and look better.

I want to chew every bite more slowly and not rush through my meal. I need to take time to notice the feel and texture of my food, and eat until I feel satisfied and not stuffed. That is mindful eating.

As I try to practice mindfulness, I find it's not as easy as I thought. My mind becomes cluttered with random thoughts that try to distract me from my goal.

The first cup of coffee with social media for breakfast

My days feel like I'm living in the movie Groundhog Day. My mornings always begin the same way: I wake up, grab my laptop, make coffee, check emails and all of social media, answer emails and comments, read others' posts. leave comments, share posts, read articles, begin writing my own articles and, finally, posting them.

Then I make my breakfast.

Being on the Jenny Craig plan continues to make my life easier by knowing exactly what I'm going to eat every day. Truthfully, I've been ~~on a few~~ many diets in my life, and Jenny's cuisine is by far the tastiest and most satisfying.

For me the real test for eating mindfully begins when it's time to supplement my Jenny Craig meals. I choose fresh fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water and, of course, there's my coffee. I add soy creamer from Trader Joe's to it. It's low in fat, sugar and calories.

I said it before and I'll say it again - thank goodness for Trader Joe's!

I admit, I also have a soy latte from Starbucks at least once a week.

But this week that wasn't a problem because I added in more exercise, and burning up calories helps when it's time to step onto the scale. I practiced being mindful while I exercised, focusing on using different muscle groups as I moved around.

During my Jenny Craig consultation we discussed the difficulties of finding an exercise program I am able to do. After our discussion we agreed on a walking plan to suit my specific needs

I took several walks with my husband, trying to keep up to his fast pace. I'm sure, privately, he's thinks it's his slow pace. But since he's always in my corner, he's never said a word.

Everyone at Jenny Craig is so helpful and supportive

My week of mindful eating ended on a high note as I stepped onto the dreaded scale.

(Drumroll, please.)

I lost another pound and a half! I was thrilled. And ready to tackle another week of mindful eating and mindful living.

Do you practice mindful living?

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and a discount on their food for this review. There was no monetary compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Clients following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

How Jenny Craig Helped Me On Christmas Day

The Jenny Craig program has been good for me after my first two weeks. I’ve already lost a few pounds by eating their pre-planned meals, listening to the advice of my consultant and beginning a mindful approach toward eating.

But last week's question, “Am I crazy to start a diet before the holidays?” still looms large for me. In our family, December 25 is a double whammy – Herbmas (Dad’s 86^th birthday) and Christmas.

This day was going to be a challenge.

It all started out fine. I ate my Jenny breakfast along with a small apple, coffee and several glasses of water to fill me up. I worked out a healthy eating plan, in my mind, before we left for our party because I knew there would be lots of tempting food that might derail my diet.

Jenny Craig's Breakfast Scramble
Photo: jennycraig.com

My goals of weight loss and feeling healthy are important to me, and I wanted to be mindful of those goals.

We left for the party, and when we arrived at my brother’s house there was food as far as the eye could see. Not only were we going to be treated to delicacies such as smoked salmon, whitefish and fresh bagels, but also to his girlfriend’s luscious-looking ham.

The table was set for 18 guests, and every inch of it was covered with some holiday delicacy just begging to be eaten.

It was going to be a true test of my willpower. When it comes to food, willpower hasn’t always been my forte.

I was glad I arrived somewhat satisfied, and avoided doing what I usually do. Grabbing pieces of this food or that and sticking them into my mouth “for just a little taste.”

Those little tastes always add up to a higher daily caloric intake than I should have. I want to keep the pounds I’d taken off….off!

When it was time to sit down and eat, I followed what I planned out that morning. I put a pile of vegetables on my plate, along with half a plain bagel, a piece of lox and a smidgeon of whitefish. (They are fish - okay a bit saltier than I should have- but they are healthy Omega's right?)

Then it was time for dessert. Uh oh.

The fruit salad my husband prepared looked tiny (and lonely) compared to all of the other desserts being offered.

Being a chocoholic, this part of the meal was going to be my most difficult battle.

I tried to repeat to myself that later I’d have my delicious Jenny Craig Triple Chocolate Cheesecake to look forward to, making Friday’s weigh-in a happy time for me.

When the desserts were cleared, I felt proud of myself that I skipped dessert. But I still felt hungry.

When my nephew sat down next to me eating a plate of bagel chips, they looked yummy. So what did I do? I got my own small plate, thinking what harm could come from eating them?

After eating the last one, I wondered if I should have opted for more fruit salad instead.

Being on a weight loss plan is not only about losing weight, but it's also about being mindful of what you are eating. That includes knowing how to stay full by making smart food choices instead of filling up on empty calories.

When I go to my Jenny appointment tomorrow, I will thank my consultant for her sound advice, discuss the challenges I faced during the week, and plan the week ahead with her, including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Losing weight and feeling healthy are two goals I’m serious about. So was I crazy to start a diet over the holidays? I'll keep you posted!

*I received a free month on the Jenny Craig program and food products. There was no compensation. All opinions are solely my own. NOTE: Members following the Jenny Craig program lose, on average, 1 -2 lbs. per week.

Am I Crazy To Begin A Weight Loss Program Over The Holidays?

The “W” word. The one word my husband is never allowed to mention to me. Not only because he’s been the same weight for his entire adult life, but also because he knows nothing about weight gain or the need to diet. I think if he ever tells me I’m overweight I might be forced to begin divorce proceedings.

I, on the other hand, have struggled with weight issues my whole adult life. I’ve gone up and down and all around the scale.

I clearly remember my first job in Manhattan when I competed daily in a fierce battle (think “The Devil Wears Prada”) with other young women vying to be noticed by executives. We all starved ourselves to stay as thin as we could.

Vacationing in Acapulco the year I began working in Manhattan, 1981.

Madison Avenue is a jungle.

After perimenopause, I lost control over pounds creeping up on me, and what gravity did with them after their invasion.

It’s such an ugly process.

But after reading my friend Lois Alter Mark’s blog, Midlife at the Oasis, and learning about her success story on the Jenny Craig program, I decided I’d try to take weight matters into my own hands by signing up with Jenny.

It was an Aha moment.

After all, Jenny Craig was the one weight loss program I haven’t tried, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.

I scheduled my first appointment, and before that day arrived I received not one but two phone calls from a Jenny employee. They wanted to offer me words of encouragement.

I was thankful but, admittedly, a little nervous.

My Jenny Craig Manager, Jennifer, greeted me with a big smile. She was encouraging and lovely.

When I first walked through their door they made me feel like a rock star. Four smiling faces greeted me, including Jennifer, the lovely Manager. She gave me a tour of the place and introduced me to my personal consultant.

After taking my (agh!) measurements and then (ugh!) stepping onto the scale, I sat down with my consultant to discuss the entire Jenny Craig program. I learned about their wide variety of health conscious food choices, the fruits, vegetables, heart healthy fats and reduced-fat dairy I would be adding to my meal plan, and the importance of scheduling in some daily exercise.

I talked about my love-hate relationship with food and weight, and she listened intently as I discussed my goals and anxieties about success with weight loss.

This is only a small portion of my weekly Jenny menu. Honestly, I haven't felt hungry yet!

When we finished our discussion, we decided on my meal plan for the week. They were more than happy to substitute meals when necessary (I don’t eat beef), and offered suggestions on how to stay on track while attending various holiday events.

Could I have picked a more difficult time to begin a new weight loss program? Probably not. But I had to start sometime, and I’d rather jump in now rather than gaining five more pounds by the time New Year’s Day rolls around.

So I’m off to a fresh start, with the help of Jenny Craig. I’ve already enjoyed my first days of delicious Jenny entrees, and feel good I’m taking some time to do something positive and healthy for myself.

I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing. Wish me luck!

OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

Other posts you might enjoy:

Other posts you might enjoy:

Other posts you may enjoy: