Foods that *seem* healthy but are not...

**Pretty Butterfly** · October 27th, 2009, 08:50 AM

Dips? I have my suspicions that it probably is best to make your own...I hope I'm wrong.

I'm not sure if dip is actually bad or not, but its yummier and cheaper to make your own!!

Today the kids took carrot, celery and cucumber sticks with dip. The dip was half mayo, half sour cream, tiny dash onion salt & garlic salt.
Sometimes I throw in a little French onion soup mix, but I dont think thats too good either....

**Rooey5** · October 27th, 2009, 01:46 PM

CQueen, I love marmalade, too!

**Phteven** · October 27th, 2009, 02:00 PM

I don't mind nutella. I don't think it's any worse than jam or marmalade. We get it once a month or so, at least it has a relatively low GI.
Nelle, ITA that it's not fat and sugar that suck so much as the chemicals. I'm happy to let my children have juice if they want it, they drink lots of water too so the the odd glass of juice isn't going to hurt them.

**Bathsheba** · October 27th, 2009, 02:01 PM

I agree with pretty much everything in this thread. My blood boils everytime I go to a supermarket. There is so very little real food in Coles and Safeway/Woolies these days. Even the Health Food aisle is full of sugary crap. I said as much to DH last weekend. He said "Huh?" and picked up the closest thing: a sesame bar... and then nodded... full of sugar... it shouldn't have been in the "Health" food aisle!!!

I once said in BB that a jam sandwich made on white bread is junk food and a few members absolutely cracked it claiming that it was a perfectly normal thing to pack for lunch. Normal... but healthy??? I still disagree.

One thing that hasn't been stated in this thread yet is sliced deli meats. I catagorise them as a poor quality food. Full of salt and cereal fillers and a ****tail of preservatives.

I'm not demonising any particular food... i'm demonising the ignorance. Of course processed foods come through our kitchen... but gradually I am trying to move us away from our dependance on them. Most recently we have started a vegie garden. This has already had a big effect on our daily eating habits. For example: instead of sending my kids to school with vegemite sandwiches I go outside and pick some fresh baby spinach leaves and use them with a bit of mayo... they love it!

**Phteven** · October 27th, 2009, 02:08 PM

yep to the white bread Bath.
My sister and I used to always clash a bit over bread when we holidayed together because I like to buy grainy/wholemeal breads and she liked white bread.
Recently on of her friends had colon surgery and was put on a no fibre diet (no fruit, no veges etc). On the no fibre diet she's allowed to have white bread but no wholemeal or multigrain etc. Ever since then my sister has started buying grainy/wholemeal breads.
It's kind of freaky that they have removed all the goodness from bread

That said I do get the odd crusty french stick - I don't mind an occasional white bread indulgence.

**Bathsheba** · October 27th, 2009, 02:12 PM

I'm the same Pony... a white crusty French stick or a loaf of Phillipas Pane De Casa is a treat food! I think some people have forgotten what real bread is! Mix a bit of water with a piece of standard white bread and look what it makes: Clag! (remeber those pots of glue you used in primary school?)

**Rooey5** · October 27th, 2009, 03:04 PM

I once said in BB that a jam sandwich made on white bread is junk food and a few members absolutely cracked it claiming that it was a perfectly normal thing to pack for lunch. Normal... but healthy??? I still disagree.

I agree, we never had white bread at home unless it was something like a french stick or a cob for a special dinner. Dad actually used to make his own multi-grain bread, it was sooo good waking up to hot, fresh bread in the morning on the weekend!

[/QUOTE]Most recently we have started a vegie garden.[/QUOTE]
I can't wait until we have a garden and I can start up my herbs again! I'd love to get a vegie patch going when we have enough room. Nothing beats picking your own peas and asparagus

Pony, I loooove fresh crusty white bread with Mum's home-made pumpkin soup. Yummy

Actually, speaking of soup...can I add those instand cup-o-soups to the list??? I don't think there's much goodness in them, and it's so easy to make soup yourself!

**thepixie** · October 27th, 2009, 03:17 PM

I love marmalade too but only if I make my own. Last two batches have been ruby grapefruit and rose petal, and blood orange. Tastes great but I'm having setting issues

I use less sugar than the recipe suggests, but it's still quite a lot

**Rooey5** · October 27th, 2009, 03:22 PM

Wow Thepixie, they sound yumtastic!

**Bathsheba** · October 27th, 2009, 03:23 PM

Pixie: I make my own jams sometimes too... i also use less sugar than what you are supposed to ie equal weight of sugar to fruit (isn't it crazy!) so instead I used a sachet of Jam Setta. You can buy it at the supermarket... it's basically just citric acid and pectin. It really helps.

**thepixie** · October 27th, 2009, 03:48 PM

Yeah I put pectin in the last batch, but it mustn't have been enough - or do you have to use citric acid too? I might just use marmalade setting sugar next time LOL. The current batch is pretty runny but it's ok if you put it in the really cold part of the fridge. Although I really will have to try to set it, cause I have so much of it... Tastes delish though

**Rooey5** · October 27th, 2009, 03:55 PM

Pixie, when Dad makes a batch of jam that doesn't set properly he just keeps it to stir through his porridge or natural yoghurt, it's delicious!

**Bathsheba** · October 27th, 2009, 04:19 PM

Pixie: I have started a thread HERE so we don't go too far off topic with jam in this thread

I'd love to hear more about your preserving!

**Floweryfields** · October 27th, 2009, 06:49 PM

I agree with pretty much everything in this thread. My blood boils everytime I go to a supermarket. There is so very little real food in Coles and Safeway/Woolies these days. Even the Health Food aisle is full of sugary crap. I said as much to DH last weekend. He said "Huh?" and picked up the closest thing: a sesame bar... and then nodded... full of sugar... it shouldn't have been in the "Health" food aisle!!!

I once said in BB that a jam sandwich made on white bread is junk food and a few members absolutely cracked it claiming that it was a perfectly normal thing to pack for lunch. Normal... but healthy??? I still disagree.

One thing that hasn't been stated in this thread yet is sliced deli meats. I catagorise them as a poor quality food. Full of salt and cereal fillers and a ****tail of preservatives.

I'm not demonising any particular food... i'm demonising the ignorance. Of course processed foods come through our kitchen... but gradually I am trying to move us away from our dependance on them. Most recently we have started a vegie garden. This has already had a big effect on our daily eating habits. For example: instead of sending my kids to school with vegemite sandwiches I go outside and pick some fresh baby spinach leaves and use them with a bit of mayo... they love it!

Bath i agree with you on the jam sandwich - I think it's possibly a healthier option than alot of other things - but seriously, how much nutrition is in it. Basically a tinie tiny bit of fruit, a whole pile of sugar and a fair bit of starch - not a whole lot else.

Lunch boxes are a child care workers worst nightmare! Actually I was very suprised to learn that the local C&K kindy allows all of the above mentioned (roll ups, chips, lollies, etc) in their centres lunches - also don't focus on healthy foods at all.

***charmalea*** · October 27th, 2009, 07:05 PM

i call white bread "poison" in our house , it does nothing but bind my tummy up , gives me pain and makes my hubby over eat !!!

all the foods in the health food isle are a scam ! my DD is intolerant to some foods , but if i want "gluten free " i get sweets and cake mixes ..... grrr

so i just make my own , i do alot of my food shopping at the markets or i only buy food in its original form , if its flavored or instant i dont buy it .. esp pasta sauce its full of salt !!!

and i agree with delimeat ( have you seen the nasty stuff that has a smiley face on it !!!! ) i like to buy ham off the bone , but i find that soooo salty aswell ...

nothing beats home made corned beef on sandwiches !!!

**Rooey5** · October 27th, 2009, 07:59 PM

nothing beats home made corned beef on sandwiches !!!

That was the best thing about Mum making corned beef for dinner, the delicious sandwiches the next day!

**thepixie** · November 5th, 2009, 01:20 PM

Ange - I have just tried your muffin recipe! *droooooooooooooooooooool*

**Inanna** · November 5th, 2009, 02:07 PM

Well I am unashamedly a good food nazi! Like some others have said I love a fresh white cob/frenchstick very occasionally... But as Pony said it's not food that you eat & try & kid yourself that it's healthy.

I have to say neither is corned meat!

Commercial corned meat is so full of nitrates and salts that it's a coronaries best mate! You can buy it without nitrates but it's still full of salt. It was one of my favourite meats - until I realised what I was eating...

I buy St Dalfours fruit spread. It has no sugar in it. It's just fruit, grapejuice concentrate & fruit pectin. I too used to make my own jam but I couldn't cope with all the sugar. I wonder if there is a recipe for sugarless jam??? Anyone???