Vote! Food Choices

[emma1325]

Please tell me how you would categorize the following foods, good, neutral, or bad.  Please feel free to give any additional info that you deem necessary to clarify your answer.

good - necessary, healthy

neutral - won't help, won't hurt

bad - avoid, unhealthy

Whole grains

Processed grains

Beans

Legumes

Nuts and Seeds

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes

Meats

Processed meats such as hot dogs

Fish

Full fat dairy Products

Low or non-fat dairy Products

Soy Products 

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.)

Starchy Vegetables

Non-starchy vegetables

Fruits

Non-organic foods

Organic foods

Tap water

Well water

Bottled spring water

Bottled distilled water

Bottled drinking water

Sugar

Honey

Agave nectar

Maple syrup

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia

Canned foods

Frozen foods

Boxed foods

[blueridgewoman]

Whole grains-- neutral (if soaked, properly prepared etc. That said, I need to avoid- they don't agree with me)

Processed grains-- bad

Beans-- neutral

Legumes-- neutral

Nuts and Seeds-- good

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes-- good

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes-- good

Meats-- good (if grassfed/pastured, neutral to bad if not)

Processed meats such as hot dogs-- bad

Fish-- good

Full fat dairy Products-- good in moderation

Low or non-fat dairy Products-- neutral to bad (if factory farmed)

Soy Products-- bad

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.)-- neutral if not soy 

Starchy Vegetables-- good

Non-starchy vegetables-- good

Fruits-- good

Non-organic foods-- depends on what it is 

Organic foods-- depends on what it is

Tap water-- neutral

Well water-- good if tested negative for pathogens

Bottled spring water-- good

Bottled distilled water-- good

Bottled drinking water-- neutral/bad if fluoride is added

Sugar-- neutral in strict moderation

Honey-- neutral

Agave nectar-- neutral to bad- too high in fructose/overly processed

Maple syrup-- neutral

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet-- bad

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia-- neutral

Canned foods-- depends on what it is/how it was canned

Frozen foods-- depends on what it is 

Boxed foods-- generally bad if processed but, like, coconut water comes boxed, so some exceptions.

[littlest birds]

Originally Posted by emma1325 

Please tell me how you would categorize the following foods, good, neutral, or bad.  Please feel free to give any additional info that you deem necessary to clarify your answer.

good - necessary, healthy

neutral - won't help, won't hurt

bad - avoid, unhealthy

Whole grains    neutral

Processed grains    neutral

Beans   neutral not necessary but can be good

Legumes     neutral

Nuts and Seeds       good

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes   neutral

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes    good but not necessary

Meats     good

Processed meats such as hot dogs   neutral the preservatives are bad but okay in moderation

Fish    good for safer species

Full fat dairy Products    good

Low or non-fat dairy Products     silly

Soy Products    bad

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.)   neutral just a convenience

Starchy Vegetables    neutral

Non-starchy vegetables    good

Fruits    good but in moderation due to sugars

Non-organic foods     neutral or bad depending on the food

Organic foods    good

Tap water    bad but better than nothing

Well water     depends on the well

Bottled spring water    bad for packaging

Bottled distilled water    good as far being clean, bad for packaging

Bottled drinking water      bad for packaging, but filtered water is good

Sugar   neutral to bad depending on quantity

Honey   neutral to bad depending on quantity

Agave nectar     don't know

Maple syrup   neutral

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet    bad

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia      neutral

Canned foods   neutral or good

Frozen foods   good

Boxed foods    depends/neutral

This was a weird thing to answer because most of these it really depends on what your options are and what your wider diet picture is.  I felt like putting exceptions on all of my answers.

[emma1325]

I suppose I should have said "in your family..."

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by emma1325 

Please tell me how you would categorize the following foods, good, neutral, or bad.  Please feel free to give any additional info that you deem necessary to clarify your answer.

good - necessary, healthy

neutral - won't help, won't hurt

bad - avoid, unhealthy

IN MY FAMILY-B-C I hate being a judge of others

Whole grains-good

Processed grains-bad

Beans-good

Legumes-good

Nuts and Seeds-good

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes-good

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes-good

Meats-bad

Processed meats such as hot dogs-bad

Fish-bad

Full fat dairy Products-bad

Low or non-fat dairy Products-bad

Soy Products-neutral-depends on brands processing ect

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.)-neutral-depends again

Starchy Vegetables-good

Non-starchy vegetables-good

Fruits-good

Non-organic foods-neutral-again depends

Organic foods-good

Tap water-neutral-I've got a filter so mines ok. Do I like the kids drinking out of fountains ect? NO

Well water-neutral-depends on well

Bottled spring water-bad-tho if all available they drink it over sugary drinks

Bottled distilled water-bad

Bottled drinking water-bad

Sugar-bad-again depends. A little I can deal with

Honey-good

Agave nectar-good

Maple syrup-good

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet- BAD Horrible bad bad

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia-Neutral

Canned foods-Neutral/bad

Frozen foods-Neutral

Boxed foods-Neutral tho again depends

[Keri Bedke]

*good - necessary, healthy

Beans

Legumes

Nuts and Seeds (exception for allergies)

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes

Meats

Fish

Full fat dairy Products (even better is fresh RAW dairy)

Non-starchy vegetables

Fruits

Organic foods

Honey

Maple syrup (the REAL stuff!)

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia

Frozen foods (whole foods frozen is second in quality to fresh, avoid processed frozen foods)

*neutral - won't help, won't hurt

Whole grains (unless you show signs of being sensitive to gluten)

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.) (except avoid soy)

Starchy Vegetables

Non-organic foods

Sugar (just remember that too much of anything can be unhealthy)

Agave nectar

Canned foods (some are better than others, watch out for BPA lined cans, buy glass when possible)

*bad - avoid, unhealthy

Processed grains

Processed meats such as hot dogs

Low or non-fat dairy Products

Soy Products 

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet

Boxed foods (most are highly processed with lots of additives and preservatives)

*The following depend on their source.  I highly recommend testing your water supply annually and make decisions about purchasing water or water filtration systems accordingly!  Personally, we have good quality clean well water and I prefer that over any other. 

Tap water

Well water

Bottled spring water

Bottled distilled water

Bottled drinking water

[meemee]

i have a very complicated answer.

Whole grains - GOOD if local, BAD if not - like quinoa (though truly not a grain) from Bolivia

Processed grains - BAD

Beans - GOOD or BAD depending on your sensitivity to lecithin

Legumes - ditto beans -

Nuts and Seeds - BAD if consumed daily, but not really. too much healthy fat so limited amount is ok. once or twice a week ok. honestly there is so much variety do we really need to eat that much nuts. 

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes - GOOD. for the environment. less fuel used. 

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes - GOOD - live food - even better eaten raw. 

Meats - complicated answer.  BAD environmentally speaking and also due to the choice of foods we have we can do without it.  GOOD a few times a week or in limited amounts. 

Processed meats such as hot dogs - BAD

Fish - mostly BAD - mostly due to environmental factors and overfishing - not nutritionally speaking. fish farms BAD BAD BAD. 

Full fat dairy Products - BAD ethically speaking

Low or non-fat dairy Products - BAD (however dairy by itself is bad in my books) ethically speaking

Soy Products  - BAD. we dont need it coz its using too much of good land to grow it. and its a poor soil food. 

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.) - BAD - coz its a processed food. do we really have to buy into teh eat cereal and drink milk philosophy?!!!

Starchy Vegetables - GOOD and BAD - good in limited amounts. bad due to source. for instance pesticide and ethical. tomatoes are BAD BAD BAD off season as they are grown under slavery conditions in florida - mostly. 

Non-starchy vegetables - same answer as above

Fruits - same as above. bananas should be banned as they are grown in sweat shop conditions and the amount of pesticides required (even organic ones) to make sure no bugs come with it into the country. we have SO much variety in our own area - do we really need to get tropical fruit so cheap. why does a banana cost 30 cents when it comes from MILES away when a local orange which is growing profusely here costs the same or more. not less. 

Non-organic foods - BAD for what's on it AND what it does to the environment. 

Organic foods BAD non nutritionally for the lack of access to everyone. for distance it travels. for ethical reasons. but that is the way to go. so GOOD nutritionally if grown locally. 

Tap water BAD

Well water depending on where you live could be GOOD or BAD

Bottled spring water BAD BAD BAD environmentally

Bottled distilled water BAD environmentally

Bottled drinking water BAD env. 

Sugar BAD

Honey BAD except as medicine

Agave nectar BAD

Maple syrup BAD environmentally. consuming a little is GOOD. 

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet - why even go there

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia - why even go there

Canned foods - GOOD in places where growing season short, BAD where food is plentiful around the year. 

Frozen foods BAD 

Boxed foods BAD

[MelissaMarie]

I question the need to label foods as "good" or "bad."  I think a lot of parents judge some foods too negatively too harshly, and pass negative attitudes about food onto their kids.  So many adults have emotional baggage surround food as a result of the way their parents handled food growing up, and I am trying my best to avoid passing that kind of baggage onto my kids.  I want them to have a healthy relationship with food and eating.  

For our family, I try (though it is admittedly hard!) to avoid labeling food as "bad" or "junk." If a child really wants a piece of candy, even if it doesn't contain ingredients typically viewed as wholesome, is it better overall to let them happily enjoy a sweet, or to tell them it is "junk food" and make them feel bad for wanting candy?  Eating a chicken nugget won't have long term negative effects, but the sting of your mother's disapproval can last a lifetime.  How would you feel if your spouse passed judgment on all the foods you ate?  I find it helpful to talk to my kids about food in much the same way I would like other people to talk to me about food.

In our house, I talk about how it is healthy to eat a wide variety of foods.  I tell my kids that it isn't healthy to eat only candy and nothing else, but it is also unhealthy to eat only broccoli and nothing else, or only cheese and nothing else.  So I offer my kids a wide variety of foods and they eat a wide variety of foods according to their tastes at the moment.  

[erinmattsmom88]

Originally Posted by emma1325 

Please tell me how you would categorize the following foods, good, neutral, or bad.  Please feel free to give any additional info that you deem necessary to clarify your answer.

good - necessary, healthy

neutral - won't help, won't hurt

bad - avoid, unhealthy

Whole grains   Good, although I'd like for us to go to a paleo diet at some point soon.

Processed grains   Bad

Beans   Good

Legumes   Good

Nuts and Seeds   Good

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes   Never did it, so can't vote on this one

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes   Never did it, so can't vote on this one

Meats   Good

Processed meats such as hot dogs   Bad, although we allow the kids to eat hot dogs on special occassions a few times a year (summertime usually)

Fish   Good as long as it is wild caught, just wish kids would eat it

Full fat dairy Products   Good

Low or non-fat dairy Products   Bad

Soy Products   Bad, miss tofu

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.)   Good

Starchy Vegetables  Good

Non-starchy vegetables   Good

Fruits   Good

Non-organic foods   Depends on what it is. I try to buy the dirty dozen organic all the time. The rest I'll let slide usually.

Organic foods   Good, as long as my wallet can accommodate.

Tap water   Bad

Well water   Never drank it

Bottled spring water   Good, minus the plastic it sits in

Bottled distilled water   See above.

Bottled drinking water   Good, assuming it has been filtered. Bad for the plastic.

Sugar   Raw turbinado, good. White cane, bad

Honey  Good

Agave nectar   Never tried it

Maple syrup   Pure from New England, good

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet   Bad

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia   Never tried it.

Canned foods   We use canned beans and tomatoes, so good. Otherwise, bad, too much sodium

Frozen foods   We seldom eat frozen veggies and frozen pizza (organic if it's available), so good for that. Otherwise, bad.

Boxed foods   Bad for the most part. I do get Ghiradelli brownie mix from time to time. Actually, I am making that for dessert tonight!

[phathui5]

Originally Posted by emma1325 

Please tell me how you would categorize the following foods, good, neutral, or bad.  Please feel free to give any additional info that you deem necessary to clarify your answer.

good - necessary, healthy

neutral - won't help, won't hurt

bad - avoid, unhealthy

Whole grains- Neutral. They get such mixed reviews that I don't know what to think.

Processed grains- Bad.

Beans- Good.

Legumes- Good.

Nuts and Seeds- Good.

Soaking grains, beans, seeds and legumes- Good.

Sprouting grans, beans, seeds and legumes- Good.

Meats- Neutral/Good.

Processed meats such as hot dogs- Neutral/Bad.

Fish- Good!

Full fat dairy Products- Good.

Low or non-fat dairy Products- Neutral.

Soy Products- Neutral. 

Milk Alternatives (almond, rice, coconut, etc.)- Good.

Starchy Vegetables- Good.

Non-starchy vegetables- Good.

Fruits- Good.

Non-organic foods- Neutral/Bad.

Organic foods- Good.

Tap water= Neutral/Good.

Well water- Neutral.

Bottled spring water- Neutral

Bottled distilled water- Neutral/Good.

Bottled drinking water- Neutral/Good.

Sugar- Neutral/Bad

Honey- Neutral/Good

Agave nectar- Neutral

Maple syrup- Neutral

Sugar substitues such as splenda and nutrisweet- BAD!!

"Natural" sugar substitutes such as stevia- Neutral

Canned foods- Good

Frozen foods- Good

Boxed foods- Neutral/Bad