Oreos or Oranges

As a triathlete and teacher there are many components of my daily routine.  There is the teaching hours spent shaping young minds, as well as hour after hour running biking and swimming.  Several of these things I have discussed in great detail.  One aspect of my day that seldom gets discussed in posts is my nutrition.  Often this is an aspect of a persons routine that does not get as much attention as the rest. 

    Daily nutrition should be as important to you as your running routine swim time.  Without proper nutrition we as human beings are not going to reach our full potential.  Having said that, I think we as a species have lost touch with what real food is.  Like gluttons we slurp, gulp and inhale anything set before us, very seldom considering what exactly it is we are putting in our bodies.  The majority of fast food and boxed goodies we consume have little if any nutritional value and often times cause us harm.  I’m not implying that we need to return to a hunter gatherer lifestyle, we all know the loin cloth is out.  I am suggesting we need a more thorough and thoughtful about what we allow into our bodies. 

    If you pick up any of the “normal” boxed cookies on the isle you probably see a list of ingredients a mile long.  Grab a burger and fries from your local eatery and you might as well drink lard from a glass.  When shopping at the store, or picking your restaurant you need to be thorough and examine what is actually in that box of goodies.  Dont just accept the labeling on the front as truth.  The world is full of boxes that tell you one thing and hide it in the label somewhere else.  The same goes for fast food.  Evaluate the menu and find something tasty and wholesome.  Don’t misunderstand, I have been known to partake of and enjoy a chicken tender with okra from time to time, but the amount and occurence is way way less than what the world might consider normal.  Look at your food and pick it for its wholesome goodness not just the yummy factor.

Here are somethings to look for next time your at the local grocery store. 

   The Good:
Whole wheat breads and flour.  High in fiber and unprocessed its full of goodness
White meat like turkey and chicken.  These are low in fat and high in taste
Raw unprocessed fruits and veggies, this is a no brainer

   The Bad:
Partially hydrogenated oil, ITS TRANS FAT!!!  Even if a product label says its trans fat-free, if it has p.h oils it has trans fat.
High fructose corn syrup, just because its made from corn doesn’t mean its good for you.  Ethanol is made from corn, do you plan on drinking it?
Any food with an ingredient list that goes all the way down the box.  The more words you can’t pronounce or understand, the worse the food.
White breads and flour, it might taste good but its empty calories with all the nutrition stripped from it.

   The truth about nutrition is that it’s a process.  Sometimes its frustrating, sometimes its down right depressing, but once you have found products that are good for you and tasty it gets easier.  The more the shop for the wholesome food the easier it gets.  Be a more thoughtful person when it comes to your food.  Spend as much time picking your food as you do picking your workout equipment.  The next time your at your local grocer consider what your eating, put down the Oreo and pick up an orange.

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