Friday July 25th, 2008
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What I Had For Lunch Today
Posted by Gary Markowitz on October 18, 2006 - 7:35am.
Mira recently told me that watching me eat lunch was like being at a child's birthday party—with pizza, french fries, cake and candy filling out my daily menu (and dripping from my face, presumably). Funny thing is, I never realized that I ate so poorly. Sure, I'm no health food guru, and I like a good burger every once in awhile. But it's not like I'm eating at fast-food chains every day (or ever, really).
Since then, I've been diligently observing what I eat for lunch, and I've been a bit horrified. That sandwich I get from the deli across the street isn't necessarily any better than its McDonald's brethren, and the can of carbonated corn syrup that comes with it is pretty nasty, too.
So here's my plan: in a bid to become more self-aware about what I eat for lunch, I will be posting my selections to the world every day, with an explanation of why I bought it. My thesis: it's really tough to get a good meal on-the-go, even in the middle of Midtown Manhattan. But it is possible, with a little thought and effort.
But to make this work, I need the help of you, the studio audience. As I post my food selections, I ask you to post below whether you believe that I'm "living the change," as they say, with healthier, more responsible food choices, or not. I will also be more than happy to take suggestions, relying on the wisdom of crowds to guide me towards a better diet.
Also, if any of you want to play along with me, feel free to post your own experiences doing the same. Maybe we can all get a "virtual lunch" together, and order the same thing on the same day. Or maybe we'll invent some kind of new lunch food that will change the world, just like the Earl of Sandwich did, back in the day.
Topics:
Yes it is definitely the way to go. To watch what you eat -- because as you get older your doctor will definitely be on your case to tell you to watch your diet and take responsibility on eating the right things and to avoid certain foods.
Your body definitely changes as you get older -- when your a child your body needs to taste and try all kinds of food to prepare its immune system in order to avoid allergies.
When you're a teen it is definitely pizza, burgers, snacks. When you're in your twenties and thirty's it's trying different foods exploring different nationalities or traditions of food.
When you're in your forties and fifties, this is where you have to really watch what you eat to prepare it for the sixties and seventies and longer. Also i've noticed people in their older stage they really turn vegetarian because they eat like birds.
Marianne Scott
I ate Chinese take-out, with alternating pizza and meatball heroes.
Good times.
I did something similar about a year ago and inadvertently lost 10lbs (they found me again, somehow). One of the best things you can do is pack your own lunch. Yes, it's a PIA and requires an extra 15min in the morning, but it's so very worth it.
Now I'm working on understanding my own body's signals for when to eat, how much, and when to stop.
Good luck!!
But if I were to make my own lunch, it would consist of one of the following things: turkey sandwich, eggs, spaghetti. I'm not exactly the best cook.
That Kmark can sure cook good, tho. Maybe she'll make something for me.
Hard boil them and eat only the whites. AT 24 calories each and 6 grams of protein, they are an excellent addition to any lunch sack. I also like string cheese. It feels like I'm being bad, but is actually good for you.
The turkey sandwich could be good also, but watch out for the sodium in the lunch meat. Better to cook a turkey breast on Sunday and make your own slices. And always use whole wheat bread!
Hi Boys and Girls:
Gee can you tell what I do for a living? I run a child care center in central Nebraska. The Stones said a long time ago "you can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you may just get what you need" So much for the lyrical side of me but seriously how hard is it to keep a few organic apples, and a few boxes of the same in raisens and granola bars(the good stuff) packed away in your car or desk drawer? That's what I do and get away with fifty percent of the time. Hey everybody's got to eat out once in awhile just to avoid becoming socially awkward. Even in Nebraska recently we are starting to see quite a few organic items on the shelves of our local grocery stores, and even finally one Health impacted downtown restaurant with some organics and a good massage available reasonably. Well that's all I have for now. Thanks for listening.
Dex
I've been the target of rude remarks for years because I don't eat (standard) fast-food or any generally unhealthy food. Because this sometimes means checking out several places before a meal, my hungry/angry companions have often turned on me. (Good thing cannibalism is outlawed.)
So how have I managed to survive into my fourth decade? Reading and research. Read food labels, read restaurant nutrition lists (trans fats and high fructose are forbidden as are red meats, pork products, and processed anything). And research is more of the same, but on foot... be sociable, go with friends to their place of choice and challenge yourself to find the edibles: for example, at Wendy's I get a chives-only baked potato, a salad or a turkey multi-grain sandwich and a fresh-brewed iced tea.
I keep this challenge to myself (preachy people, especially foodies, are SO annoying), but it's my chosen discipline and I treat it like a game of optimism: Every place has something edible, if you look hard enough. Sometimes the meal turns out to be strange or lacking or slightly compromised, but in our steroid, additive, flavoring, colored, preserved, processed world, a healthy meal of any description is a blessing. And, ultimately, it just makes me more eager to get home to my kitchen full of goodness.
And ultimately I know that my health is my responsibility, not McDonalds'. So, instead of cussing all the bad that surrounds us, I make sure I've always got good things on hand: fruit, raw nuts, whole grains, and plenty of water.
Healthy eating on the run is a discipline and a challenge and a decision that becomes a lifestyle. Good luck! You can do it!
Seriously? From Wendy's?
Listen, Chives-only, if you've gotten your healthy self all the way to McFoodland, I say do as the McFoodies and burger up! Take down a Frosty. Fritter away some fries. Repent with running, or biking, or goddamn hula-hooping if it moves you.
Yes, it's Mira, of the aforementioned children's birthday party comment. And no, this is not a direct contradiction. I think people should eat well most of the time, have the occasional foray into rampant processed excess, and recover with their senses of humor and health intact. It's called living.
But for the record, I do admire your keeping healthy snacks on hand, and I will actively see out your kind in the event of a natural disaster.
Sing it, sister!
Since I make healthier choices most of the time, the pub grub I indulge in twice a month balances out.
It does get annoying when the guy with the 12" Meat Meat and More Meat sub laughs at me for my vegetable stirfry, though.
I seem to remember an incident where Kirk orders a chicken salad and coffee, and winds up with a tray full of tribble. Eww.
That said, I understand that tribbles are high in fiber, and not bad with a little gravy. Maybe a future blog entry.
gmark, you, living the change around the lunch ing business - is a great loss to humanity.
you inspire everyone around you with your culinary choices
don't stop !!