Most Frequently Asked Q's Answered by a Real Life Dietitian

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

I get emails and comments asking a lot of questions about clean eating that I have no idea how to answer because I'm not certified in anything food related- I'm just a total nerd who loves to look at data, read research, and experiment in the kitchen. SO when I was at the happiest reunion of my life last week in ATL I forced convinced one of my college franz Carolyn, who is also a real life Registered Nutrition Dietitian, to answer some of these questions.

Bonus: she is hilarious and really needs to have her own blog. For now you can check out her website that has informational videos and services. She specializes in weight management for men and women with a focus on real, unprocessed foods (umm hello yes!) and offers all kinds of services like cooking classes, nutrition counseling, grocery store tours, or you can go to her Battalion Boot Camp class (scary!). Check out here services here. AND she's on TV just look:


Now onto the questions:



Q: What kind of meats should I be eating?

CB: I do think that meat is a place to splurge rather than save. Organic meats will be free of hormones and antibiotics which is great, but to ensure the highest quality you want to look for pasture-raised (for any meat) or grass-fed (for beef). This is NOT the same as "free range" or "cage free".

Animals raised on pasture have healthier fats, including a fatty acid called CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) which can actually help to reduce stored body fat. CLA can also be found in grass-fed dairy and butter. This is how I would rank quality of meats:

  1. Organic and pasture-raised/grass-fed
  2. Pasture-raised/Grass-fed (non-organic)
  3. Organic (non pasture-raised)
  4. Antibiotic- and Hormone-free (don't buy anything less than this)
Ed note: I am writing all of this down and taking it to the grocery store this weekend.


What kind of seasonings are clean??

CB: Most seasonings are "clean" as long as they are pure and not blends. Example would be taco  or ranch dressing seasoning packets - those often have MSG and other junky ingredients. You're better off buying the individual ingredients and making your own blend to store in a jar. 

Ed note: You can find my recipe for taco seasoning here



What should I eat before I exercise?

CB: The best pre-workout snacks are high in carbohydrates and low in fiber, fat, and protein. The carbohydrates are going to provide an immediate energy source for your exercise since their digestion won't be slowed down by fiber, fat, or protein. Examples include bananas, melon, toast with jelly, and graham crackers. You'll ideally consume this snack 30 minutes to an hour before exercise. Test your tolerance to see what foods work best - everyone is different!




Can I eat dessert slash WHAT CAN I EAT FOR DESSERT????

CB: Good news - technically you can eat any kind of dessert you want! With dessert it's important to remember that no food is completely off limits. Restriction/deprivation can often lead to intense cravings so it's important not to eliminate any foods you truly enjoy. That being said, you do want to limit refined sugars as much as possible because they can be addictive on a physiological level (i.e. birthday cake once every few months is okay but donuts every Friday at work... not so much). Some "clean" dessert options include dark chocolate (70% cacao or greater), berries, homemade granola sweetened with honey, and dried fruit


What's the deal with snack bars? Can I have energy bars? Protein bars? Energy gel? WHAT IS ALL THIS???

CB: Here ya go:

See more of Carolyn's informational videos here.

Want more information on weight management? Hit up Carolyn's website!

Tell me: what other questions about clean eating do you have? Do you eat snack bars and if so what kind? What is your favorite pre-workout snack?

Linking up today at WOW, Weigh In Wednesday, Humpday BlogHop 

29 comments :

  1. Battalion Boot Camp class? hot damn. I want to do that please.
    i am not a huge meat eater, but i do eat it sometimes, so thanks for sharing the ones i should be buying, i had no idea!
    off to check out your taco seasoning, we definitely use a lot of the packet stuff! ew.

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  2. I love posts like this because I usually end up learning something! I need to make my own taco seasoning, I use the 40% reduced sodium kind but I know it would be so much better to make my own.

    I like Quest bars. They taste like a dessert and deliver on fiber and protein.

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  3. I love that she said no food is off limits as this leads to deprivation and intense cravings. SOOO true. I've learned to enjoy dessert, just a healthier version so as to avoid eating a whole cake in one sitting

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    1. YES! I completely agree! Haha the whole cake in one sitting thing is tough .. (:

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    2. That was my favorite part as well!!! I have been making "better" versions because I believe in living life! Also, she is really funny!!!

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    3. Oooh Jillian I want to see what some of your better versions are!!

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  4. So much great information. I am taking the meat list to the grocery store with me.

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  5. These tips were so helpful! I'll definitely be looking for the "organic and pasture-raised" type of meat. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. This is so great!

    ~Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  7. This was a great post! These are all questions we ask ourselves, and there is so much conflicting article information on it. Nice to hear from an actual dietician!

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  8. I am a meat mouth I can eat meat and nothing else and be perfectly happy. I know, odd esp when your mum and sis are vegetarians! Its also pretty good for you!

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  9. GREAT, GREAT ARTICLE. I have recently learned about meat myself, now I only EVER buy organic, CAGE FREE, grass-fed items. The things I have witnessed and seen disgust me. Our food industry is pathetic, truth be told. This is a post that needs to be spread people desperately need to learn. Meat is good for you, for America is ruining it. Sorry - the entire article is great, the meat part specifically is just so important to me.

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  10. yes to organic meats! it's all i buy and although i gripe about it every week, i still suck it up and dish out the dollars for it because all that shizz in non-organic meats scare me. my friend and i want to go halves for a whole cow. there are organic farms who do this - they butcher and flash freeze it for you so you have meats for like, a whole year!

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  11. I really enjoyed reading this. I am definitely going to think about all this next time I go to the store.

    Leslie

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  12. The hardest part of clean eating for me is finding a bar that is edible. Suggestions?

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    1. I like Rise bars - only 2-4 ingredients and around 20g protein. They sell them at Whole foods but you can also find them on Amazon. The carob chip is the best in my opinion.

      Perfect bars are also tasty and clean - they are often in the refrigerated section of health food stores.

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  13. Wow this was a really cool post! I see a dietitian and she's been an amazing resoiurce for me. I didn't know about the meat hierarchy though, I will definitely keep that in mind! I'm starting to try toast and jam as my pre-run meal, last week it worked pretty well! Thanks for all the tips! #wowlinkup

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  14. This is awesome!! I'm going to check out her website - any idea what she does for meal planning?

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    1. I offer customized meal plans - I typically talk with clients to discuss food preferences and lifestyle to make sure it fits! There's really no "one size fits all" approach when it comes to nutrition. You're welcome to contact me through my website if you want to chat :)

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  15. Excellent information. Thanks for sharing with us!!!! I have to experiment with pre-workout eating because typically liquids and food give me stitch cramps if I ramp up the intensity. #wowlinkup

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  16. wonderful post thanks for sharing

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  17. Oh I DEFINITELY splurge on meat and fish!!! I WOULD NEVER SKIMP - that would be horrific!!!! I hateeeee all that gross beef in the generic super market however I do love that these places are catching on and offering up some grass-fed/finished meats!

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  18. Great info! Love this, thanks for sharing! #wowlinkup

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  19. Pinning this post. It is great to get advice from an expert. #wowlinkup

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  20. Came over from last month's #WOW link up and this is great info!

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  21. Is it possible to keep a good forum on a diet? NOT. DIET is a TEMPORARY thing! If you need PERMANENT RESULT, then you need PERMANENT EATING HABITS! In other words, you need to ALWAYS want to eat only that and in such quantities that makes you better, not worse. This is not at all as difficult as it might seem. Matter of habit. You have good results, you inspire me a lot. now i know how to get rid of fat

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Love to hear your thoughts and opinions, let's chat!