did they seriously call a california roll a "japanese sugar cube"?

those sumbitches!

discounteggroll

The upside: The article gives you alternate solutions. That way you're not a baked bean lover who is stuck not knowing how to remedy this bad habit of eating baked beans.

The downside: Their suggestions on the California Roll do absolutely NOTHING because one of the reasons some people eat the California Roll (aside from the fact that it is super yummy) is that many people just don't like sashimi, which is the raw fish aspect of sushi. I personally LOVE sushi, but I've never been able to enjoy sashimi because I just don't enjoy anything raw. Suggesting to people that they should stick to sashimi, instead of offering a non-raw alternative does nothing except tell me that the California Roll is sugary goodness. How does the shrimp roll fare? How about unagi or the nutritional aspects of tomago?

CaffeinatedSquint

@brucery: yes, this is a great idea. Unsweetened cranberry juice diluted with seltzer or orange juice is a favourite in my family, delicious.

BackDoorAngel

It's very unpopular to say it, but carbs and sugar are probably more likely to cause weight problems than fatty foods.

Counterglow

If you'd thinking healthy beverages, don't go for a Cranberry Juice Cocktail (or Cranapple, Crangrape, etc.) ;they each have more sugar per fluid ounce than Coca Cola.

Alternative: drink unsweetened cranberry juice. The only downside is that it's painfully tart. Dilute it with water to make it more palatable and make your beverage dollar go further.

brucery

Wow ... if they think the California roll is bad, I'm glad they didn't lay into the shrimp tempura roll. Mmmm, shrimp tempura roll... /Homer Simpson

@CaffeinatedSquint: It sounds like they're fine with tuna rolls or salmon rolls-anything that contains actual fish, as found in nature, and not reconstituted "krab," even if they do say that straight sashimi is the best choice.

Things I used to think were healthy when I was younger and more ignorant: Yogurt-covered raisins (that "yogurt" is just straight palm oil!), bagels, cranberry sauce. Just recently I let myself get fooled by a yummy, creamy Mediterranean style yogurt that had 6 grams of fat per serving, which didn't seem unreasonable to me ... until I took a closer look at the label and found that a serving was 2 tablespoons, and the carton had *SIX* servings. Reading really is fundamental!

galnoir

They're really intent on avoiding sugars in that article. BTW, their alternative for low-fat salad dressings is full-fat salad dressings!

kftgr

Pretzels? Give me a break...

dkong1026

@brucery: if people really want to drink healthy beverages, they should just skip juice all together and stick with only raw fruits and water.

weizilla

@getjustin: An entire medium-sized bag of SmartFood White Cheddar Popcorn has 60 grams of fat. That, sir, is an entire day's worth of fat. Who the hell thought up the company name on that one?

Captain Sassypants

it's getting pretty ridiculous when it's this hard to figure out what's "healthy" and what's not. Every day there's new article that contradicts a "new study" from the month before. Seems like to me it's easier just to eat everything in moderation and go to the gym everyday to make up for it.

weizilla

Better yet, get your 100% fruit juice (no sugar added) and mix with carbonated water to replace soda. You'd be surprised at how little the water dilutes and the carbonation makes it interesting. Still gotta keep the juice to a minimum unless you've got a great metabolism, but it's great for before/after workouts.

Jarick

They forgot white cheddar popcorn, especially that "Smartfood" brand stuff. Stuff is worse than potato chips covered in bacon and then fried again for texture.

getjustin

what about all the foods sweetened using splenda? i doubt that's healthy. and it tastes awful too.

Collaboratory

IMHO, finding what's health for you depends on every person. Much like finding what's the best hdparm setting for your laptop when you're using Linux on it.

BlackBeard

Since when is a crouton considered nutritious? A crouton is more like a food accessory than food. It is the dime-store bracelet on the culinary supermodel.

@jarick: I just may try the juice and soda water mixture. Sounds like it could be pretty good.

gameguy

@getjustin: potato chips covered in bacon and then fried again for texture.

Omg, that sounds delish, esp. if covered in white flour and dipped in sugar afterwards.

I try to just get a little exercise and avoid refined/processed/white foods. Smoking cigs instead of eating also helps, and I get the added bonus of understanding my secret supermodel identity.

One of the issues that I take with the mens health article is that it recommends eating foodforlife products. They always seemed intriguing on the shelf, given their ingredients, but the company just seems too OT for me. Anything that introduces ideas of god into my life is just toxic. I try to avoid any kosher or halal. communion - it just leads people to violence. Think about it. More of that is eaten in the states than anywhere else.

I made that up, but its true that all of you religious dieters are going to hell.

capitalass

oh yea! pass me a bag of the sugar-dipped-fried-potato chips covered w/ bacon. =X

Seriously, no me gusta substitute sugars.
This article isn't perfect but hopefully it will cause some people to consider what they eat.

Paul

California roll, huh. Do they mean nori by "the seaweed it's wrapped in"? There's definitely no fat in nori... therefore, no omega-3's ;)
Skip the rice, yeah right. Pure sashimi without the rice. Better yet, use brown rice for sushi so that you can't taste the "su" of sushu, let alone the delicious fish...
Traditional Japanese food is definitely one of the healthiest food in the world, even if they eat lots of white rice.

inainai

@Captain Sassypants: who thought of the name? Ad execs who know people will jump to buy anything that sounds vaguely healthy.

laddibugg

Although you'd have to get through a fair few California rolls to consume a "generous amount" of it...

NineTailedFox

Nori does contain omega-3s ("If you don't regularly eat fish, eggs, or generous amounts of sea vegetables such as arame, dulse, nori, kelp, kombu, or wakame, you may not be eating enough omega-3 fatty acids." - [www.capitalhealth.ca] ).

NineTailedFox

I'm with Weizilla on this one. All things in moderation. Make sure you get your nutritional needs in, avoid pre-prepared foods in the first place (want to compare plain yogurt with their recommended "light & fit carb and fat control" stuff?), and live an active life.
Disclaimer: I'm one of those lucky people with a high metabolism who can eat whatever he wants and not gain a pound.

Kafka

@Asif5th: I think they're probably talking about how artificial most peanut butters are. Especially the low-fat ones. I eat only natural peanut butter that only has peanuts and salt as listed ingredients. Anything other than that, it's probably not good for you.

spartan789

I think they are recommending full-fat salad dressings instead of the fat-free variety because healthy fats (found in olive oil, avocados, some fish) actually help you to maintain a healthy weight, while the fat-free stuff probably has lots of sugars in it to mask the nasty flavor. The same goes for the reduced-fat PB.

OJS

Could someone tell me how peanut butter is unhealthy? I work out for an hour a day, and mix it with my turkey breast sandwich for more protein. So they are basically saying that all because it has ~15% fat content (reduced fat that is), it's unhealthy?

Asif5th

Know any other unhealthy food people generally assume is good for them?

I've seen so many people eat salads topped with fried chicken strips and claim they are eating healthy. Sorry, the leafy part does not make up for the deep-fried carbs you put on top.

Zyada

In a country filled with folks who order 3 double cheeseburgers in a single sitting and wash it down with a 32 oz Coke and a cigarette, I'm not going to worry about whether I should pull the effing croutons off my salad. Give me a break.

backbroken

Cascade brand nonfat fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt uses only fruit juice for sweetener. Maybe they don't sell it where the writer of the article lives though.

missjulied

"California Roll" ?!?!?!?! Seriously?!

I call bullshit.

PaulMorel

Am I missing something about the baked beans claim?

"And because the fiber is located inside the bean, it doesn't have a chance to interfere with the speed at which the sugary glaze is digested."

Isn't that why you chew things instead of just pouring them down your throat? I'm not denying that they're packed with sugar, but I thought that part of the purpose of chewing was to homogenize whatever you're eating.

Dervish

I have to wonder why they mentioned other packaged products to *buy* instead of making them yourself. Could it be...commercialism?

Low-fat and no sugar peanut butter and salad dressing are easy to make, as are numerous other foods listed. As for the "California roll", having lived in Asia, rolling your own sushi (and your own choice of ingredients) is easy; easier still, I sometimes make a mixed box of steamed rice and vegetables to take to work and bring a can of salmon or tuna (in water) to mix in. You don't even need a fridge to keep it fresh.

And instead of pretzels, try non-fat saltine crackers. I don't mean to plug, but Nabisco's Premium plus has no added sugar and no fat, and most brands are similar in nutrition.

KJones

My biggest problem with Men's Health diet tips in general is that if you're allergic to nuts, you apparently are doomed to be a fat tub of lard.

Replacing real granola with meal replacement bars that all warn "contains trace amounts of peanuts and tree nuts."

Replacing croûtons with almonds...

Ever read the Abs Diet? Full of nuts and other foods related to nuts.

I wrote a letter to the magazine about it once hoping they'd put it in the comments section one month... Nope.

Shutterman

Did they really suggest egg salad instead of pasta salad? Sure, they both have salad in the name but that's like saying instead of a piece of pizza, have a piece of lettuce.

Pigmann

It's really not that complex.

Eat foods that are as similar to how they are when they come out of the ground and you'll be fine.

Any kind of artificial food is not as good for you as something that is natural.

Ex: the full fat peanut butter and salad dressings, definitely better for you because the reduced fat varieties add in all kinds of artificial chemicals to replicate the taste...

keynotespeaker

Wow ... they completely discount pasta salad just because recipes use WHITE pasta. I guess the option of using whole wheat pasta just seemed too hard to write. No, egg salad is the only option, despite the lack of vegetables. That makes TOTAL sense.

no white rice in sushi, no pasta ... I wonder what diet they follow? Hmmmm...

GeminiJinx

I would really suggest these people check their facts. The reduced-fat Skippy in my pantry (purchased less than a week ago) has 4 grams of sugar per serving (2 tablespoons). My husband's Canada Dry ginger ale in the fridge has 35 grams of sugar per 12 ounce can. The article makes it sounds as though the pb is SUPER sugary, when it really isn't. Regular, plain old "all natural" Adams peanut butter still has 1 gram of sugar per serving.

This article definitely plays too much to sugar-content, and at the expense of fat grams. Eating almonds and other fatty foods all day may be fine for body-builder types (that seemed to be who the site was geared to), but for the rest of us moderation is definitely key. Yes, watch the sugar, but watch the fat as well for pete's sake!

rachaeljean

Seems to me the article could be wrapped into some principles. Go for less processed foods, variety, and don't believe the labels that claim the product is a healthier option.

Yogurt with fruit at the bottom is good for you- if you make it yourself. Add honey if you need a little kick of sweetness.

Go for whole wheat options when available, and brown rice over white if you like it.
Nuts and dried fruits will be better than chips- as long as they are w/o added salt/sugar.

baxman

Now that is a darn shame. I eat a lot of those foods and I honestly thought I was doing a good thing by eating them. Bah!

mrxinu

don't worry, be happy. there are no bad foods, only bad nutritionists. one study has shown you get more benefit from food you like than from food you eat because "it's good for you." a new risk factor for heart disease discovered at a time when heart disease is declining? your lifespan is mostly genetic. eat what you like.

DyNama

I used to eat balance bars until I found out they contain high fructose corn syrup.

diddlebear

That's interesting; I eat granola bars when biking or backpacking specifically because it gives a quick energy boost in the form of sugar with long term energy in the form of the complex carbohydrates in whole oats.

Ben Zvan

I find it quite contradicting of Men's Health. I have been a subscriber of theirs for 3 years and notice that in one issue they say go ahead and eat this food or that food, yet the next issue says don't eat this or that.

Also part of the irony of this article is that half the foods on that list are my suggested meals on meanshealthtrainer.com.

What to believe?

Luc_Ippersiel

Also--you can simply squeeze some lime into your regular drinking water, Caribbean-style, no sugar, just lime-juice,(traditionally Key-limes). Once accustomed to the taste you can not go back to sugary drinks. As am a normal,(hey...no comments) internal-combustion, featherless bi-ped...I find the lime-juice to be wonderfully cleansing...yada-yada. Enjoy.

fishhead455

Some of the stuff they suggest are just impossible to find. The rest of the message says make your own gunk at home. I will not eat raw fish and the heck with the other stuff they say.

707947

I personally read the article in Men's Health and the article sucks. I live in a third world country where every dumps the worst off type of food you can find. Most of the alternate foods they say like fruit cocktail with pure juice is IMPOSSIBLE in my part of the Universe. So that. Lets just quit horsing around and doge bullets by not over doing the food stuff. You just cant live on this planet reading every dog manure label on the grocery list. Just be moderate with everything in your life.

707947

While most people believe margarine is a healthy alternative to butter, recent studies have shown that margarine may not be that good for you.

[www.breakthechain.org]

ahelk09

@weizilla: exactly -- everything in moderation. there's too much attention paid to this miracle food or that danger food, and not enough to portions and sensible exercise.

So help me god, I've lost 40 pounds this year, and I never stopped going to McDonalds. I just switched to eating kid's meals. I find I eat more healthy in general because it tends to be more filling for fewer calories, but I don't deny myself any of the foods I enjoy.

Also, I LOVE juice with sparkling water. I tend to go about 2/3 water and 1/3 juice. It hits the craving for carbonation & sugar without being, you know, soda.

epersonae

@Ben Zvan: Exactly, and when they say:

...high-fructose corn syrup, honey, and barley malt -- all of which quickly raise blood sugar.

they're partly wrong - honey has a low glycemic index, and not all granola bars contain HFCS

lpranal

Well, I use organic peanut butter from Costco on my turkey sandwiches for the extra protein...while drinking a protein shake with milk for about ~75-80 grams of protein after a workout. So would you guys recommend organic peanut butter..or the is the fat content not good for gaining muscle?

Asif5th

I consider myself extemely health-concious, and a serious label reader at that. While only reading the list (not the article in its entirety), it's a bit short-sighted. People must learn to think for themselves, and not expect a list to tell them what can or cannot be nutritious. Some good yogurts have fruit at the bottom--just read the label for sugar content. 20 grams in a 6 oz cup is too much! Or use a good brand of plain yogurt, add fruit or muesli to your liking, and make it good.

Olive and canola oils are the best for you, hands down. Whole wheat pasta and english muffins are nutritious, as well can be granola bars made with oats, nuts, dried fruits and limited sugars (and HFCS of course). Real peanut butter, and the only kind I could ever eat, is made of only ground peanuts and maybe some salt--nothing else. Eat real fruits and juices-not fruit cocktails! It's easy. Balanced nutrition should not be confused with the latest diet craze. Whole foods and whole grains have always been the best for you. Eliminating carbohydrates and overloading on protein is not a healthy alternative to exercise or eating in moderation!

Nicococure

@ahelk09: Hurray for trans-fat free margarine?

chronubis

My recommendations: sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes: lots of complex carbs and vitamin A. When I eat one of those as part of my dinner I tend not to snack afterwards (which is how I gain weight).

Also, I like raw nuts instead of roasted. My understanding is that roasting nuts actually produce the hydrogenated oils that are so unhealthy for you.

Outtacontext

@Chronubis : Doubtful. Every time some company comes out claiming they've "fixed" margerine and then some months later it gets researched and it turns out it's in fact even worse.

I guess by now we'll have to conclude margerine is going to be bad for you no matter how they make it.

In actual fact, just plain old butter is probably best. Problem is, butter is expensive, at least for food companies, who operate on very slim margins, so they almost always substitute some form of margerine or other.

The moral of the story is probably that you'll have to learn how to cook yourself. Not that hard, and you'll have some control over what you eat.

mtts

@mtts: [www.becel.ca]

chronubis

@Chronubis: exactly the product I was talking about (wasn't sure how international it was).

Becel introduced a margerine that was, supposedly, full of "correct fat". It was so good for you some health insurance companies in the Netherlands actually made it part of their insurance plan.

Then some researchers took a close look at it and discovered that the fats used in the product were actually bad for you as well (had something to do with the different kinds of omega fatty acids - the Becel product had some omega acids in it that actively reduced your ability to process truly good omega acids).

Unilever has since "fixed" the product, but I'm very sceptical as to how long it will be before a new flaw in the product will be discovered.

Food science is simply too complex to be making the claims Unilever does.

mtts

I love this section:
Baked Beans

"The downside: The baked kind are typically covered in a sauce made with brown and white sugars. And because the fiber is located inside the bean, it doesn't have a chance to interfere with the speed at which the sugary glaze is digested. Consider that 1 cup of baked beans contains 24 g sugar: That's about the same amount in 8 ounces of regular soda."

So, basically theyre saying that people wolf down baked beans without chewing them since the fiber is in the inside of the bean and cant get out during the digestion process till after the sugar has been digested?? If youre inhaling your baked beans without chewing, the sugar is the least of your problems. Why doesnt anyone truly proof read these articles first and think if they actually make logical sense?

Lazarus