How important is eating healthy to you?

[RubberDucky451]

As i sit here hungry, I thought of this thread. To me food is pretty important and i try to eat as healthy as i can. Whenever I eat a fast food burger my stomach stages a riot and I feel miserable. Therefore salad has become a close companion.

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

 

[Tyria]

As i sit here hungry, I thought of this thread. To me food is pretty important and i try to eat as healthy as i can. Whenever I eat a fast food burger my stomach stages a riot and I feel miserable. Therefore salad has become a close companion.

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

1. Every day thing

2. Nope.

3. Yep.

4. If I don't eat, I'm not fun to be around. I tend to get snappy when I'm hungry or tired.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

As i sit here hungry, I thought of this thread. To me food is pretty important and i try to eat as healthy as i can. Whenever I eat a fast food burger my stomach stages a riot and I feel miserable. Therefore salad has become a close companion.

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

-Recently it has become almost every day (I've dropped 17lbs since May) but i'll still eat my favorites too. I'm not big on fast food as it doesn't taste all that good to me. It doesn't cause digestive problems or anything.

-If they didn't tend to be more expensive, I'd get them more often but I can't say it is all that important if all things were equal.

-I try not to.

-You don't want to be around me when I'm really hungry.

 

[Waterstiller]

I try to eat healthy. I could vary it a bit more, but I generally eat healthy in comparison to most people. I'm far from a health nut; Twice a week I find myself at In-N-Out for their grilled cheese and fries. I rarely, if ever, drink soda. Water, juice, and unsweetened iced tea. I have a fruit and potato addiction and like to eat veggies n ranch for snack.

That said.. sometimes I'll eat cookies or other crap just to try to keep up my curves if my weight is more than 5lbs under my favorite weight.

I don't care about eating organic. I don't even think I ever have.

Food production matters. Unlike most americans I absolutely hate greasy food (french fries being one of the very few exceptions). And I hate that most foods sold have meat or meat flavoring in it.

I feel better with good food in me. I don't really need food though. Sometimes I'll forget to eat until I realize it's 9pm. But as soon as I realize I haven't eaten or I'm reminded of food, I'll get incredibly hungry.

 

[Jaico]

-I try to eat healthy most of the time, mainly by cutting out junk food (i.e. potatos, chips), eating less meat, and eating fruits and vegetables. I'm not a rabid health food fan, but if I'm not tempted too badly, I'll always take the apple instead of the cookie.
-There's a farmer's market near where I live, so I get lots of my fruits and vegetables from there. That said, I wouldn't raise a storm about having to eat "non-organic" stuff...
-Unfortunately, sometimes I do...and it's not pleasant. All of the additives/junk/way that the animals are killed can sometimes put me off a bit.
-I tend to think/perform better (at all sorts of tasks) when I don't eat a lot, or only have a small amount of sugar in my system. Like Waterstiller, I usually don't even notice being hungry unless something (like this thread) brings it to my attention. Speaking of which...time to eat my dinner/snack of cereal

 

[Ermine]

I don't give it too much thought, I eat hardly any red meat, candy, junk food, fast food, or overly processed stuff. It all makes me sick if it becomes a part of my daily diet. And thanks to my mom's home cooking, I have a special place in my stomach for all things made from scratch, whether they are healthy or not. Even if it isn't healthy, it still makes me more able to make healthy choices. For example, with homemade cookies, I'm able to say that 2 sticks of butter and 2 cups of chocolate chips are in that batch of cookies. It gives me a better picture of how much fat and sugar there is than nutrition facts labels can.

And organic food isn't really an issue for me. I'm personally content with the "containing carbon" classification of organic food.

 

[Firehazard159]

It's a daily thing for me.

Organic is a tricky issue for me, no, I don't obsess over eating organic but I definitely prefer it, I stick with that or natural 80-90% of the time.

I do think about how food is produced, but then, I grew up on a farm, and now work at a natural foods store. Pretty much, I prefer to eat food that I know is safe, I don't want chemicals and other junk in it, because that seems only condusive towards cancerous developments. And as far as genetically modified foods, tend to be worthless overall. Raw foods are the best, because they have a lot of the things we need that GMO foods lack.

Pretty much, just like we don't know all there is to know about our brains and other aspects of our bodies, we don't know what all in food does to help (or harm) our body, and want interactions between whats in the food is required for our bodies to properly process food. I can't remember the specific example, but there is a certain vitamin that without the proper other nutrient (another vitamin or enzyme or something) it becomes indigestible. Things like that are constantly being discovered, and updating our awareness of our bodies and interactions between foods.

Energy, I don't really notice, but I have felt mentally better overall since eating healthier. I also went from 180lbs down to 150 by changing my diet to a more healthy one, that also, in my opinion, tastes much better.

 

[Miss Led]

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

I have consistently worked on changing my diet to include more healthy foods over the years. I eat about 80% more fruits and vegetables now than I did in my 20's. Not only for my own health, but in realizing that my son's future will be much easier for him if he is taught good eating habits at his young age (7).

I am not particulary worried about organic or non organic. Mostly because I am extremely thrifty, and have a hard time paying extra money for things that arent necessarily essential.

Only in the past few years have I been noticing the effect of food on my physically. I definately feel energized when I eat fruit or vegetables, or a smoothie (and even candy bars!) The only issue with candy is that I tend to feel quite down not long afterwards.

We keep a bowl of apples in the living room. It has become standard that if one is hungry they will reach for an apple and eat that before wandering off to the kitchen to hunt down some grub. It is amazing how many apples we eat now!

 

[Ermine]

^ Me too. I could easily eat an apple for every meal if I had to. Same goes for nectarines.

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

1. I eat healthy most of the time when I can afford it. I have adopted a mostly gluten-free diet due to skin conditions/stomach issues/anxiety/depression/ mental-fog that seems to be exacerbated by gluten. I also try to stay away from high fructose and I very very rarely eat red meat anymore.

2.organic is not as important as what nutrients/ingredients are in the food for me, I prefer local food when possible

3.sometimes, a difficult thing to think about, sometimes I'd rather not know

4.definitely, gluten and high fat foods makes me sluggish and tired. High fructose gives me bad breath.

I have not been diagnosed with Celiac's, tested once but I still feel that gluten does have a negative effect on me. Sometimes I suspect yeast as well
Chicken, Fish, Rice, Potatoes, Yogurt, Green veggies, Carrots, some Fruits, and Cheese are my main foods. I use lots of spices that supposedly have anti-inflammatory properties. I also like to eat hemp oil/seeds/powder with cold desserts as it tastes great with cold, sweet foods and the Omega-3s break down easily at high temperatures.(wish I could have the real stuff complete w/ THC and the full range of cannabinoids) Sometimes I mix it in with microwave meals.(mostly gluten-free) I switched to drinking diet soda last year after I realized it doesn't give me bad breath and really doesn't taste that bad. I still get a sweet tooth/the munchies every once in awhile so I do eat chips and candy sometimes.
I still don't eat as many fruits/veggies as I should but my body doesn't digest uncooked veggies as well as boiled or cooked.

I have really taken a lot of interest in health in the past 2 years and have done much research. I am taking a nutrition class in college this semester. I hope I learn some new things.

 

[Firehazard159]

I also avoid gluten when I can, but I can't stay away from my pasta's, I do tend to use more rice noodles, or udon / soba noodles, stuff like that. Avoiding gluten is what's contributed to a lot of healthy weightloss for me though.

 

[Zaij]

I eat pretty healthy (I only get take away when I'm out on the piss with mates), tend to cool my own foods etc. I don't really have a variety of things I cook though because everything has to pass through an effort-time-taste ratio that few meals pass. One of the things I cook most often is burritos, takes me about 45 minutes for the first time and then I put the rest of the meat in the fridge which lasts me about 5 more meals at 5mins reheating/preparing so all up it's 6 solid dinners for 80 minutes work, includes lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

Organic is a marketing label. Fuck em. Thought about how my food is processed and so on (especially beef mince), but I don't care. Put simply, I could probably stare a cow in the face and blow it's brains out to get at the beef if I were hungry enough.

It's not the eating that perks me up, so much as the cooking. I actually quite enjoy the process.

 

[truthseeker72]

As i sit here hungry, I thought of this thread. To me food is pretty important and i try to eat as healthy as i can. Whenever I eat a fast food burger my stomach stages a riot and I feel miserable. Therefore salad has become a close companion.

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

1) Nutrition is an important part of my life- you bet its an every day thing.
2) I wholeheartedly agree that organic foods are a total rip-off, I avoid them.
3) Occasionally, but I focus more on their macronutrient profiles (i.e. protein, carbohydrate, and fat content). I stay away from processed foods anyway.
4) Absolutely. More than three hours without eating leads to very dark thoughts.

 

[tashi]

I've been a vegatarian since I was 7, so nutrition has been an important part of my life, because I have to be more wary of my protien intake then others. So generally, I eat fairly healthy for a teenager, but I do occasionally go a bit wild with the chocolate =P

 

[preilemus]

I eat whatever I'm in the mood for. Bacon has been a key inggredient in my lunches for the past week, so that ought to give you some sort of idea about my level of concern for healthiness.

 

[Van]

Food isn't something I pay much attention to, let alone worry if it's organic or not. I couldn't eat healthy for the sake of it, but I like fruits and veges so it kind of happens naturally, plus it takes less time & effort to pick up a piece of fruit than to make a roast chicken or something. Actually I'm too lazy to eat at all half the time, but I feel tired and very unfocused if I haven't eaten enough.

 

[Darby]

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
On occasion, but more because of my lack of funds, i always eat as healthy as possible

-Are organic foods important?
not particularly

-Do you think about how food is produced?
Yes, I work at New Seasons Market, which is like health food central here, I don't have much choice

-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?
Yes, during the summer I worked almost everyday, and I always ate at the store, I felt about 10 times better than I currently do now that school is in session again

I realized that I said I didn't care about organic food, and then said I pay attention to how food is produced because I work at an organic food store, I should rephrase because we are more of a specialty health food store, and although we boast our organic-ness, it's not everything we do

 

[Zero]

I am extremely unhealthy and random when it come to both eating and sleeping. I'm not a particularly healthy eater, because Eating would be the first step. I pretty much refuse to go to fast food places though (absolutely refuse to go to McDonald's). I also don't drink unfiltered water.

When I do eat my tendencies are towards more healthy foods than average I suppose. I like fish, I like suhsi, I like soups, I love sweets and I eat quite a few sweets. I'm particular towards muddy-buddies/puppy chow (Chex mix with peanut butter, chocolate and a little butter. I make it with Almond butter (I like almonds better, I've almost lost my taste for peanut butter) wheat chex mix, whipped butter and semi-sweet chocolates).

I do not like milk, I am lactose intolerant so I always drink soy. I don't eat a lot of meat. I like it every once in a while, but it's hard for me to digest. Pork isn't too bad, it seems like I always get sick if I eat beef.

Eating and what is eaten affects everyone. I tend to be fatigued (maybe depressed) when I don't eat (well). I apparently have a sensitive stomach as quite a few things will upset my stomach.

 

[shoeless]

this topic is a pretty... i don't want to say hot-button, but... it's an important thing to me.

i have like, serious bipolar issues about eating. in every way you can think. i go from overeating, to undereating; from eating really healthy, to living off of fast food and processed shit. i'm going through a healthy cycle right now, which is good. started keeping a food diary again. yeah...

organic foods... i dunno. i've got nothing against organic at all, and often times i will pick organic over non-organic, but i don't necessarily think it's "superior" or whatever. it's just meh.

i used to be obsessive about food production, and what exactly goes into the foods i'm eating (one of those people who scours the ingredients list; if it read like a chemistry final, i'd kill myself before eating it) but like i said, it fluctuates. sometimes i just don't give a damn.

and absolutely food effects my energy levels. i'm so much happier and more energetic when i'm on a healthy swing (preferably healthy + eating normal levels of food). when i'm eating shit and/or under/overeating, i'm tired all the time, and irritable, and blah blah blah... yeah.

i has issues?

 

[Nicholas A. A. E.]

I'll worry about eating healthy once I've figured out eating. It's kind of a problem. Thing is, I'm so lazy when it comes to getting food, PLUS I get really distracted and don't eat food once it's in front of me. I eat most meals either at school, where I have friends to talk to, or at home either in front of a movie with the family or in front of a computer. I'm almost never "just eating." And almost any other activity can distract me 100% away from my food.

Consequence is I'm like 120 pounds, and probably losing weight. Not in serious underweight territory, but moving in that direction. -_- The last few days have seen a particular downswing in the biomass intake.

Good news is this will not matter in college! Most of my food will be made for me.

I think very little of the emphasis of "natural" over "artificial."

 

[chaos85652]

As i sit here hungry, I thought of this thread. To me food is pretty important and i try to eat as healthy as i can. Whenever I eat a fast food burger my stomach stages a riot and I feel miserable. Therefore salad has become a close companion.

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

1) On occasion

2) Nope

3) On occasion

4) Yes...

 

[warryer]

Usually I am pretty good about eating. I'm not health food conscious or anything. I just know that when I eat so much fast food, I start to feel bogged down and sluggish. Not a good feeling at all. That's why if I eat fast food its usually Subway; BMT lettuce, pickles, onions, tomato... oh god.

Thanks to my mom I have a taste for home cooking. Even if it does take an extra hour or so it's totally worth it. If you are going to eat, might as well make it something worthwhile I say.

I find that I actually enjoy cooking extravagant meals because a) its usually not that expensive (relatively) b) its nice to say 'i made that.'

 

[ckm]

Everyday thing, and yes to the others. My mother runs a health food shop so I'm very accustomed to eating healthily. I don't eat dairy or sugar.

 

[Melkor]

Not as important as Kinder chocolate.


^_^

 

[Yellow]

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

-yes, but not really on purpose.. the healthier ones are just more appealing to me
-it depends on the type of food... anything from an animal, absolutely.
-no.. it disturbs me
-food doesn't affect me much, I sometimes go all day forgetting to eat, and other days I'm constantly eating.

 

[KazeCraven]

I have gone through food problems myself, never gaining or losing considerable weight, but seriously overeating and undereating/fasting has occurred a few times in my life. For a while, I wished I didn't have to eat (actually, that would still be pretty convenient). I have done juice fasting, which I'm not sure it did much except make me extremely irritable from being undernourished.

Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?

If eating cooked vegan wraps (beans, grains, vegetables, etc.), fruits, and cooked nuts is healthy, then everyday. Else not really.

Are organic foods important?

Too expensive, though I'll go organic if it's not much more (rare).

Do you think about how food is produced?

That's why I went vegetarian (quasi-vegan). Still not sustainable, but it's a big payoff for little effort.

Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

Absolutely. My diet rarely undergoes a massive shift, but even eating too much at an odd time can sometimes cause difficulties, especially with stomach acid.

 

[AmitaF]

-Do you find yourself eating healthy on occasion or is it an every day thing?
-Are organic foods important?
-Do you think about how food is produced?
-Does food have a reasonable effect on your energy level or well being?

-when I'm in the mood for food, I do choose healthily (though I'm far from being frantic about it), I hate fast food 'cause I don't like how it tastes or smells, exept for fries -depending on the source-, I eat mostly veggies and fruits, I hate red meat and fatty food 'cause of the taste, I eat white meat though, but not a lot. some unhealthy stuff I eat and not interested in quitting: candies, cookies, chips, rice crackers, though I don't eat much anymore.

-I never gave it any thought

-sometimes, which is why I'd be totally grossed of some food.

-not really, 'cause my diet is pretty random and unstable (in portions and content), I think it's my mood that affects my food intake, not the opposit.

 

[bananaphallus]

I'm weird this way, I sort of go through phases, like for four months or so I'll literally eat/drink nothing but trash, soda, and heavy cream/crisco. Then out of nowhere, I'll come to see the err in my ways, become incredibly conscious of what I'm putting in my body, seriously consider going before my town's representatives and arguing against the fluoridation of the water supply, and consume literally nothing but tuna on rye, pb + j on wheat, and water/milk/OJ - this usually lasts for about a month, but towards the end of this month I'll, without fail, start to care about eating healthy/everything less and less, and revert to jamming my face with trash and crisco.

As for the relationship between quality/quantity of food consumed and energy/general well-being, I've found that a heavy breakfast is never a good idea (save once or twice every two months or so, when you really want it), I always end up feeling 'heavy' and lethargic after 'wholesome'/grossly plenteous breakfasts. I try to eat light for the most part, not so much fat, but I do take in preposterous amounts of sugar/HFCS/caffeine daily (Monster energy drinks...why'd they have to go and be so effing tasty), I should probably stop doing this - although I've found that I'm generally more consistent (not sure if I like being consistent though)/pleasant after starting my morning with a hot/iced cuppa' joe. But I also go through phases with coffee consumption - 3 or 4 months without so much as a thought about coffee, followed by three weeks where I become a flippin' coffee-jerk.