Sometimes I wonder about the articles I read (and post links to)… I came across “7 Foods a Nutritionist Would Never Eat” by Mike Rousell, PhD on Shape Magazine’s online site. His list includes: rice cakes, fat free salad dressing, seitan, shark, refined/refortified grains, sugar sweetened beverages (He writes, “If you stop eating only one thing on this list, it should be sugar-sweetened beverages”) and grits
While I was reading this, I thought about my friend and favorite nutritionist, Lauren Antonucci (her degrees/certifications: MS, RD, CSSD, CDE, CDN!) Lauren is a busy mom, business owner (check out her business Nutrition Energy here and if you are in NY – check out one of her seminars or make an appointment!), marathoner and triathlete (she did IRONMAN!!). Lauren unwittingly helped me run my fastest half marathon ever in 2005 and was my partner in crime in last years NYC marathon (where the name of the game was FUN.) We spent the first 20 miles chatting and catching up and were talking about blogging and newsletters (check out Nutrition Energy’s awesome newsletters here) and social networking (among many other things.) I decided to email Lauren and see if she would be game to guest post and “react” to the Shape article and because she is awesome, she said “yes!”
So here is Lauren’s reply to my request:
After Erica found this article, “7 foods a nutritionist would never eat”, on SHAPE.com, she emailed me the link to ask my opinion. Erica and I have have been running friends for over a decade. We ran most of the ING NYC Marathon together last year (when we both needed more support due to less than idea Marathon training; me after the birth of my third child, Erica coming off an injury) And since we are friends, and also because I am a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, we talk about nutrition a lot!
So back to the article. I agree with the author, Mike Roussell, that I, and most of us, should avoid fat free salad dressings,shark and tilefish, and refined carbohydrates.
BUT, I put reduced fat peanut butter on the top of my never eat list. By now, I hope we all realize that low-fat is not the golden ticket to either weight loss or overall health. If you are following a low-fat diet in hope of achieving a desired weight loss, or prevent heart disease, what you should be doing is reducing your intake of trans, saturated and hydrogenated fats…not all fats! Reduced fat products, such as reduced fat peanut butters, do reduce the fat content of the product…but they remove naturally occurring fats found in peanuts…and replace it with refined sugars leaving the final product with twice as much total carbohydrate and total sugar for a savings of only 10 calories per 2 Tbs serving. Certainly NOT a great savings, and for a high nutritional price.
In terms of the author’s placing grits on his never eat list, while they can be unhealthy made the traditional way (as he suggested, with butter and gravy), they can be quick, easy and healthy. I made a low-fat “cheese” grits for my family using non-fat Greek yogurt and cinnamon that can be ready in a 5- minute pinch and is both tasty and healthy. And although Rice cakes, when eaten alone, are high glycemic, they can easily be topped with a Tbs of (real, all natural!) peanut or almond nut butter and thinly sliced apple or a few Tbs of low-fat cottage cheese and tomato for a balanced and lower glycemic snack.
My bottom line: Foods must be looked at both individually, and then again as part of the whole picture of each meal and your overall day/eating habits. I would still never buy fat free salad dressing nor would I bring reduced fat peanut butter into my home, but other foods can fit when paired appropriately to make a balanced meal or snack.
Solid advice! I love Lauren’s pragmatic approach and clear thinking. I asked if there were any other foods she would “never eat” and she told me a few but wanted more time to write up the rationale. She gave me 3 things – 2 seem like no brainers, but one really surprised me. Curious? Take a guess! and I will post those soon!
PS. Like Lauren’s advice as much as I do? Check out the Cotton Candy post she wrote on “The 10 Healthiest Foods Ever” or click the Nutrition Energy logo below to view an archive of her newsletters or sign up for the newsletter e-mails!
