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The Quintanas, Week 3: The Food (and Candy) Confessional
Filed under: Healthy Families Challenge
David and his big, blue cereal bowl. Credit: Victoria Michelle Quintana
Had the nutritionist shown up two weeks ago, she would have found the kitchen of a typical Miami family, complete with a 20-pound bag of rice, lots of beans, and a fridge full of fried and fatty foods.
Which is why, as I understand it, my cleaning house last week was not a good idea.
Thanks to the Healthy Families Challenge, we are working with dietitian Su-Nui Escobar, MS, RD/LD, also known as a what-you-should-eat expert, based out of Miami. Su-Nui, who has a masters degree from Florida International University, also consults hospitals on providing healthy diets for patients, and even weighed in on the Got Milk? campaign.
Inviting Su-Nui to visit our home is what set off my food-cleaning frenzy last week. I have thus far managed to get away with eating an entire king-size bag of Reese's Pieces without anybody telling me it was wrong, but something told me that was coming to an end. While I do desire a healthier lifestyle for my family and myself, I was unsure how I felt about somebody seeing the skeletons, or, well, candy bars, in my pantry.
Su-Nui informed me that in order to accurately assess what we needed to change, she had to see what we'd been eating.
Oops!
I was honest, though. We sat down and I gave her a list. I didn't leave out the fatty fried stuff. Or the Double Stuffed Oreos.
David, my husband, confessed next -- among other bad habits, that he ate his Frosted Flakes out of a large blue mixing bowl, sprinkled with Nestle Quik and drenched in whole milk. Slap on the wrist number one -- okay, she didn't really smack him -- went straight to David. Yes!
Then Su-Nui's gaze shifted to me.
Which is why, as I understand it, my cleaning house last week was not a good idea.
Thanks to the Healthy Families Challenge, we are working with dietitian Su-Nui Escobar, MS, RD/LD, also known as a what-you-should-eat expert, based out of Miami. Su-Nui, who has a masters degree from Florida International University, also consults hospitals on providing healthy diets for patients, and even weighed in on the Got Milk? campaign.
Inviting Su-Nui to visit our home is what set off my food-cleaning frenzy last week. I have thus far managed to get away with eating an entire king-size bag of Reese's Pieces without anybody telling me it was wrong, but something told me that was coming to an end. While I do desire a healthier lifestyle for my family and myself, I was unsure how I felt about somebody seeing the skeletons, or, well, candy bars, in my pantry.
Su-Nui informed me that in order to accurately assess what we needed to change, she had to see what we'd been eating.
Oops!
I was honest, though. We sat down and I gave her a list. I didn't leave out the fatty fried stuff. Or the Double Stuffed Oreos.
David, my husband, confessed next -- among other bad habits, that he ate his Frosted Flakes out of a large blue mixing bowl, sprinkled with Nestle Quik and drenched in whole milk. Slap on the wrist number one -- okay, she didn't really smack him -- went straight to David. Yes!
Then Su-Nui's gaze shifted to me.
I told all, namely that I have a horrible sweet tooth and am, most likely, the worst practicing vegan on the planet, as I'm not too keen on vegetables. I eat veggie patties, sure, but more often I survive on pasta and homemade vegan chocolate-chip cookies. I said before that I was educated, and that's true. I know what I should eat. I just don't eat it as often as I should.
Su-Nui listened without judgment, taking notes as David and I purged our sins. (The children were off the hook as, in this meeting, she wanted to hear from the adults who'd created this lifestyle.) She made a list of all of the things we told her we like to eat, but she didn't cross off any no-nos.
Instead, Su-Nui began another list -- of things we should eat. In a positive tone, she suggested that, until she got back to us with our eating plan, I should eat fruits when I crave sweets. She also encouraged David to wean his way towards 2% milk. We liked her approach. See, like most people, we'd cringed at the thought that she might tell us we'd have to give up things.
Over the coming months, Su-Nui will be participating in an array of activities with our family in order to teach us to make educated decisions, adding and substituting foods that will nourish our bodies correctly. She promised to help us all understand what our bodies need, and how we can enjoy more foods that are good for us. She will not put us on a diet, she said, but will promote a lifestyle of consciousness to our bodies. She pledged to make the experience fun and positive.
Yeah, I know, the Reese's Pieces probably won't make the final cut. But I can have hope, can't I?
Who's the rest of the competition? Check out all the challengers' latest updates here.
How is the Quintana family doing? Check in on their progress!
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 6)
10-30-2010 @ 6:31AM
Carlos said...Why do you need a dietitian when you know what you are eating is garbage, you stated you didn't eat enough Vegetables, too much fried foods and sugar.
What you lack is self discipline and maturity..
Grow up and take care of your children like responsible adults... Geeezz
Reply
10-30-2010 @ 9:11AM
Cara said...I've cleaned out my fridge too! Http://www.suesueandsue.com This blogger is inspiring me to get my life back.
10-30-2010 @ 10:06AM
adlerman said...Carlos
Exactly right. Nutritionists really aren't the people I'd go to- they're still preaching that no-fat, low-fat crap that made so many Americans bigger than their scales can weigh. Most of the meat sold in this country has hormones that add to the problem
10-30-2010 @ 10:31AM
wendy said...calm down carlos, who died and left you so perfect, some times we need a little reinforcement in life, that doesnt mean that we are entirely bad people, open your mind a bit, and try not to be so judgemental, your opinion is not always the right opinion, and sometimes best kept to yourself....... a lil more thoughtfull in norwalk ca.
10-30-2010 @ 11:34AM
sadie said...Hi Carlos and Alderman: I am a nutritionist but not the kind you might think of. I don't advocate the use of any processed foods and that includes low fat stuff. I help my clients transition to a whole foods plan which includes meat, fish, whole milk, cheese along with the fruits, vegetables and nuts and seeds. My clients love the food. It reminds them of bing on a farm. Visit www.westonaprice.org for information on why what most of the registered dieticians in this country recommend as healthy food is wrong, wrong, wrong.
10-31-2010 @ 1:50PM
beth said...As a Registered Dietitian (and yes we in the business know how to spell it correctly) I can say that discipline plays a role, but making good choices and not as good choices should lead you to a balance and enjoying your food overall. Moderation not deprivation is the name of the game. Most people who proport to be Nutritionists give RDs a bad name. They are two separate things. RDs have a degree, Nutritionists dont. My job is to tell people what is good to eat, what to limit (not exclude) and how to prepare healthy food in a safe and nutritious manner. Trust me if you are diagnosed with a disease process, you do want to see a RD. Anything else is like seeing WebMD vs a doctor if you think you have cancer. Happy, Healthy Eating...Enjoy your Food.
10-30-2010 @ 9:20PM
SS said...It is very easy to tell someone "how to live, or what to eat" Sometimes it is better to encourage each other than to cut someone down. I give the family a pat on the back for making the effort. Good Luck
Remember- we all struggle in various areas.
10-30-2010 @ 10:23PM
hmmm said...THANK YOU, CARLOS!
10-30-2010 @ 11:15PM
Amy said...Reeses Pieces aren't Vegan!!!
10-31-2010 @ 12:42AM
Sam said...You wanna give it a rest, wshnshen? You Chinese devil.
10-31-2010 @ 1:49AM
Lana said...You're an ass. You shouldn't assume they aren't 'responsible' simply because they like fatty foods. And you shouldn't assume everyone has the fortitude to keep with a transition into healthier foods. Who decided you were perfect?
10-31-2010 @ 2:57AM
Opihi said...Gad I'm sick of all this babbling about food. The average American just eats TOO much ... that's the main problem. You're never going to get people to live on veggies and steamed food. Forget it. Just train them to be a little more selective. You don't need sodas with every meal, you don't need that cheese glop on everything and don't believe fried chicken, french fries and a fried apple turnover is a MEAL, for heavens sake. Just be reasonable and stop making a fetish over food. Monitoring every morsel you put into your mouth is going to make you a tedious bore. Just slow down, eat less and learn to enjoy eating. What a nation of tedious bores. Fussing over every little health complaint, whining over their flabby bodies and just doing nothing but flap their jaws. Those jaws are the only parts that get exercise. Learn from the Europeans and Asians who enjoy their food and meal times. Appreciatiing the dinner hour and savoring food and conversation.
We've wrecked everythiing from food to sex by mindlessly gorgiing ourselves and not slowing down to enjoy. More is NOT better ...
10-30-2010 @ 6:32AM
Bonnie said...I've been doing a lot of research lately about better ways of eating and from what I've recently been reading I don't agree with taking out the whole milk in favor of 2%. I think you'd be better off eating more real food and staying away from all that processed stuff. Beans are a really good source of protein, so why in the world would you take those away? Also, anything that promises on the package that it's healthy for you almost always isn't. Eliminating foods that contain processed corn is a good step to take, in other words no corn syrup and eat more whole grains. Eating fruit when your craving something sweet helps, as does having dark chocolate on hand to satisfy your chocolate cravings. Having said that I'm still having problems making it through the checkout line without buying milk chocolate or some other crap. At least now it's in the minority.
Reply
10-30-2010 @ 9:02AM
mia said...You're right, Bonnie, everything here is fat free, low fat, what about the sugar content in most things? Lets leave whole milk alone, much better than the 2%, skim milk etc....I too when I need something sweet go to fruit mostly...and if I have to have cake and stuff I bake my own..
11-01-2010 @ 10:20AM
RedHawk said...I agree about the 2% milk. When I saw the statement in the article, I asked, "Why"??? In fact you should be seeking out an organic raw milk source produced by cows kept on grass pasture, IF it's okay in your state. Pasteurization kills the food value of milk. Same thing with nuking your food...we only use our microwave oven as a storage cabinet.
Also, if people don't know to stop eating prepared foods and drinking crap soda with HFCS in it by now, well I guess they are just plain hopeless.
Butter and sugar substitutes are worse for you than the real things.
10-30-2010 @ 6:59AM
longwalker said...You can still eat Reese's Pieces - just not as many and not as often. I was sixty-seven and weighed 334 pounds before I developed a good personal diet. I am now seventy-two and weigh 200. Plan ahead -stick to the basic nutritional plan but allow for infrequent "little pleasures." I can still have a litte "binge" at McD's or White Castle. An infrequent Reese's piece or two can be factored into you diet.
Reply
10-31-2010 @ 9:00AM
Rose said...To longwalker: I would be interested in knowing more about your loss of so much weight at the age that you started. I am struggling with losing about 55 pounds and am 64. Thanks.
10-30-2010 @ 8:14AM
mark said...You can eat as many as you want. This is still America.
10-30-2010 @ 5:45PM
nowalker said...Long walker I would like more info on how u lost your weight. Please!
10-30-2010 @ 7:22PM
John said...Of course you can eat as many as you want. No one's stopping you. But should you?