I have been on a quest to eat healthier- Zone friendly- without measuring portions, since Christmas. So how 'bout that classic go-to pb&j that is so easy to make the kids and then, well, why not eat one myself real quick?
I have the healthiest of breads, Ezekial, no sugar added jelly, 'fruit spread', if you will, and almond butter.
So let's see if it is even close to putting me in "the Zone":
2 slices of bread= 30carbs, 1g fat
11/2 tablespoons fruit spread=15 carbs (I'm estimating on how much I used)
1 tablespoon almond butter=4g protein, 3 carbs, 8g fat
Total carbs:48g to
Total protein:4g
total fat: 9g
Wow! Carb load!PB&J's are a no-no when trying to be in the Zone! Mom's of young children- read this and beware! I ate these for lunch for years before I realized the calorie content alone was not a healthy return. But calories aside, which we do not worry about when doing Zone because favorable Zone foods tend to be lower in calories anyway (natural foods are naturally low in calories, i.e. veggies and fruits and lean meats), this go-to meal has hardly any protein! That is why- get this if you haven't already!- peanut butter/almond butter is not a protein! It is a fat because more than anything, it has a lot of fat!
With this sandwich alone, I had twice the amount of fats that I need in one meal, I need 5 times more protein than I ate, and I had three times more carbs than I need. I hope I said all of that right. In case I didn't and that doesn't make sense to you, readers, if you exist! :), here's what it should look like- what I actually need for a 3 block meal:
Total carbs:27g (3x9g)
Total protein:21g (3x7g)
Total fat:4.5g (3x1.5g)
My solution to balance myself out so that I don't have a terrible mid-afternoon crash and need to take a nap but can't because I will have 3 children under the age of 7 that must be supervised at all times so that they will not get hurt or hurt each other and because they have lots of needs? I must eat a piece of chicken.
About this blog
In other words, the Zone + Crossfit = Optimal Heath!
This blog focuses on nutrition, using the Zone Diet as the basis. However, I often eat Paleo foods in Zone proportions.
I love to investigate anything having to do with food- what we eat and why. And what happens within our bodies, our organs, our brain, when we do? My precious mother struggled with eating disorders. I want to avoid this delimma based on research, common sense, and the natural consequences on my body. The Zone shows me where the balance lies between eating too much and eating too little.
My husband runs a Crossfit gym. Exercise and choosing the right foods have become a mission for ourselves and our children. We don't want to be nerds about it, we just want to be healthy.
I have been asked by several friends what I feed our family, especially our kids. My husband and I follow the Crossfit prescription to nutrition (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar). If you know me, you know that the sugar part of this equation will be a life long struggle given my love for chocolate! Evan adheres to the stricter version known as the Paleo-Zone diet (and I do on my good days!) which requires the same foods in a ratio of 40% protein, 30% carb, and 30% fat. Children require 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. If you're wondering how to figure this out, I do it on a per meal basis and I have a "block" chart from the Zone website.
It seems like a headache at first, but if you're interested, just know that it is not that bad once you practice it for a couple of weeks. All you need is a $10 scale and some determination. It really is quite simple and makes my life easier at the grocery store and when cooking dinner. Most of all, I feel great when I eat well- mentally and physically, and we all know that the physical can affect the mental and visa versa!
Evan and I are hunter/gatherer wanna-be's! This blog will track my journey of health as it should be, and the honest reality of living in a sugar fried culture. When it comes down to it, I get excited to talk about nutrition, but I am definitely not perfect at it! If you have the desire to eat well, but it is often a challenge to overcome the temptations along the way, then you are in the right company!
I hope you leave this blog feeling enlightened and encouraged as you go throughout your day!
hey angela! Followed your Facebook post to your blog....i am a nutrition and exercise nerd as well, so will be interested in reading your blog. I have not followed a certain diet, but have followed the "eat clean" way of life for the last few years (4-5 smaller meals, carb\lean protein with every meal, fresh fruits\veggies\nuts\flax). Your PBJ breakdown is interesting! Ive never picked it apart, so now i will think twice before grabbing the easy pbj..... so, ill be reading! thanks for taking the time to write :)
ReplyDeleteLaura Penney (Harris)
Hey Laura! Thanks for commenting! Please do read and share your tips along the way as well! I never "dieted" before I had the kiddos, and after gaining 52 pounds with my first pregnancy, I was left with 30 to take off. Thus began the dieting. However, I can not say that I have tried them all. I got weight off with Atkins before I got pregnant the 2nd time. After Sophie was born, I went the route of trying to burn more calories than I consumed, but without paying much attention to the food choices I could make, and I was in a treadmill rut. This time I had another 30 pounds to drop. After my third child was born, I only had 20 pounds to take back off. I reached that goal with Zone and in the midst of it, found that I loved the "balance" in mood that the Zone gave me. Then this past Fall, I decided that I was tired of thinking about food portions all the time, so I stopped and I guess you could say I am where you are: "eat clean". However, I don't feel as good as I do when I am paying close attention to exactly what I have eaten. I like to sneak my chocolate in too often, probably. I wrote a post about a week ago mentioning the side effects I have noticed as a result of not caring enough lately. So, back to measuring for another couple of months- however, this is mostly so that I can trully get to my ideal weight and then maintain. I have maintained for a while now, at a healthy weight, but I am wanting to reach my best body composition possible. Like I said, chocolate gets in the way! So I have found what works for me- the Zone- and I will probably continue to linger between being strict and not being strict most of my life. I want to feel good, but I want to eat cookies. The two don't go hand in hand very well!
ReplyDeleteI should also mention that I have other friends, friends who need direction and boundries with their eating like me!, who have found that eating Paleo is a great way to go because they focus more on which foods to eat without worrying about how much of it they can eat. I am sort of a mix. I mostly eat Paleo type foods, like you seem to do, but sometimes deviate. ...I'll keep experimenting!
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