Often times, what’s on the surface doesn’t tell you the whole story. Judge a book by its cover if you want, but don’t neglect the finer details of your nutrition. What looks good to the eye may be causing problems under the surface.
(I do not own the above picture and never have I ever, in any shape or form, attempted to make such filth.)
Take a look at the above “healthy” recipe. Wait hold on, let’s shy away from that term which is very loosely used and interpreted.
The above recipe looks good using all “clean” foods.
Wait. Hold up. “Clean?”
Yeah, that’s another difficult term to understand.
Well shit, how am I suppose to go on without using such misleading jargon?? I guess I’ll just have to give you the truth. I’ll be the black sheep of the fitness industry (somebody’s gotta do it, I suppose).
Alright. Back to the matter at hand.
Most people would consider the above recipe to be a better alternative to a candy bar. I disagree. Let’s break-it-tee break this down real quick!
The above recipe yields the following macronutrient composition:
| Food | Kcal | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Fats (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banana (3 ripe ~378g) | 330 | 3 | 87 | 0 |
| Apple Sauce (1/3 cup ~40g) | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Oats (2 cups ~200g) | 600 | 20 | 108 | 10 |
| Unsweetened Almond Milk (1/4 cup ~60g) | 8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| Raisins (1/2 cups ~50g) | 34 | 0.3 | 8.5 | 0.2 |
| Totals | 989 | 23.5 | 203.7 | 10.7 |
Since most would consider this a better alternative to a candy bar, they would have no problems devouring the whole thing or at least half.
Half:
494.5 calories
12 g protein
102 g carb
5 g fat
Now, let’s take a look at the following items that most would consider to be unhealthy. In fact, that’s the very reason why the above creation was made. It’s suppose to be healthier.
| Food | Kcal | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Fats (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snickers Peanut Butter (2 small bars) | 250 | 4 | 30 | 13 |
| Whey Protein Shake (ID Life 1 scoop) | 130 | 23 | 7 | 2 |
| Totals | 380 | 27 | 37 | 15 |
Would you lookie there. You could have a snickers peanut butter bar and a protein shake which would provide more protein, less carbs, more fat BUT you’re saving 115 calories. You’ll be more satisfied with the shake and snickers than the former thanks to the increase in protein, albeit not much.
Remember, that’s only eating half of that concoction.
(I’d rather not get into to the micronutrient argument here so if you internet trolls could keep it down, that’d be great. That’s a battle for another day. One that I am equipped for, mind you.)
So, how do you feel about “healthy” recipes now? Perhaps, you should look at the whole picture before you blindly throw “healthy” ingredients together to make a snack. Better yet, why are you still eating snacks? Do what I do and eat 1-2 large meals a day, IF style.
Don’t get me wrong. Both of these scenarios are horrible. Stick to quality food as much as possible. Lot’s of meat (i.e. chicken, fish, turkey, steak, eggs), complex carbohydrates (i.e. rice, potatoes, oatmeal) and veggies as much as you can.
Be careful of those “healthy” recipes, as often times they aren’t much “healthier” for you and are a lot more work. Occasionally indulge in some straight up junk. Live a little bit and enjoy life. If you’re eating well 90% of the time, that 10% won’t make a difference. Be honest with yourself though. You are the only one to blame if you’re not where you want to be.
Stop letting health and fitness take away your happiness. Fitness is suppose to enhance your life not make it more stressful.
I don’t mean any offense to anybody out there other than those internet jockeys or keyboard rangers who read an article or two on nutrition and think they can make notable inputs on such matters.
Just to clear things up:
Being #Relentless doesn’t mean we spin our wheels doing pointless stuff. Being #Relentless means that we strive to do things that will give us the advantage. It doesn’t mean that we over do it or pointlessly sacrifice. Be #Relentless about your planning, about efficiency, about doing the right things, and doing them well.
Until next time, my friends.
#Relentless
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