Poll and discussion: What is more unhealthy -- fast food or frozen food?

[Deleted member 4644]

My best friend in law school is a Russian guy who had either homemade food or restaurant food with his parents every day until he was 21.

He thinks that my frozen pizza/chinese/etc from Trader Joes is less healthy than a burger from a fast food joint (maybe even McDonalds, according to him). He even thinks that frozen veggies are "a lot" less healthy than fresh ones.

I think he is crazy, because not only does fast food have more fat, but it also has insane ingredients like MonoSodiumTri-metheolated Gylerides (made up, but you get the point).

He completely ignores all cancer risks, thinking only that "more calories = risk/fat".

Assuming someone doesn't have time to cook a big chicken meal every day, what do you guys think is the most healthy way to eat?

Do you worry about cancer risks? Heart risks? Fat risks?

 

[Canai]

If you buy good frozen food, it's a no brainer.

If it's crap frozen food, well, it's still better than the fat and preservative coated sh!t that comes in a wrapper...

 

[pontifex]

aren't frozen veggies less healthy than fresh ones? i don't know abotu a lot less, but I'm sure i heard that somewhere.

 

[Lola]

The main concern i have for frozen foods is the sodium content and the preservatives.
I am careful with the frozen foods i eat, but there are some good ones out there... Like trader joes, wholefoods, even some of the stouffers are good. The no preservative chicken lasgana is amazing so is the lean cusine meals.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: pontifex
aren't frozen veggies less healthy than fresh ones? i don't know abotu a lot less, but I'm sure i heard that somewhere.

I have heard that frozen is better than fresh, because they don't start to decay. But I think they are prolly quite close to each other.

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: pontifex
aren't frozen veggies less healthy than fresh ones? i don't know abotu a lot less, but I'm sure i heard that somewhere.

Yes, fresh is always best, but if you can't have it, uncooked frozen is better than canned / whatevered...

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: LordSegan


my frozen pizza/chinese/etc from Trader Joes

Stuff from Trader Joes aren't too bad at all. They have a lot of healthy stuff there. It all depends though.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: pontifex
aren't frozen veggies less healthy than fresh ones? i don't know abotu a lot less, but I'm sure i heard that somewhere.

I've read quite opposite. Frozen vegetables tend to have more of the vitamins remaining in them since they are flash frozen immediately after harvest rather than sitting in warehouse, truck, and distribution facility several days prior to making it to your "fresh" grocery store.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

I think even most fast food places use frozen foods so the question is REALLY "which is worse, frozen food, or fast food cooked from frozen food?"

 

[Kelemvor]

Just compare the nutritional value (or lack thereof) on the containers to the stuff on the website of the fast food place. SHoudl be pretty easy to figure out. I'd vote fast food is worse for you depending on what frozen food you are getting.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: pontifex
aren't frozen veggies less healthy than fresh ones? i don't know abotu a lot less, but I'm sure i heard that somewhere.

I've read quite opposite. Frozen vegetables tend to have more of the vitamins remaining in them since they are flash frozen immediately after harvest rather than sitting in warehouse, truck, and distribution facility several days prior to making it to your "fresh" grocery store.

It more depends on how you cook them that can take out a lot of the vitamins and such. Steaming vs Boiling vs sauteeing, versus whatever else you might do.

 

[vi edit]

If we're talking Hearty Man and the Banquet meals, then it's probably a wash. But if you get some of the more premium/health oriented meals from the likes of Kashi, South Beach, and Lean Quisene then it's a night and day difference.

Short of a small salad or maybe a cup of chili, you won't find a fast food meal that provides you 20+ grams of protien, 5+ grams of fiber, two full servings of veggies and all of that for under 300 calories.

Many of the frozen meals are going preservative free, FWIW.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

These are the results I expected.

 

[BigJ]

There's extremes for both. Hell, homemade food can be worse than both of them combined.

In a fast food meal, you can easily get 1000 calories. In a Hungry Man, you can easily get 1000 calories. Mom's chicken parm with homemade garlic bread, you can easily get 1000 calories.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: BigJ
There's extremes for both. Hell, homemade food can be worse than both of them combined.

In a fast food meal, you can easily get 1000 calories. In a Hungry Man, you can easily get 1000 calories. Mom's chicken parm with homemade garlic bread, you can easily get 1000 calories.

um but are calories really that bad? I am 5'11, 160 lbs. I could use calories. I think bad are fats and carcinogens.

 

[torpid]

TJ's pizzas have about 700 calories, but are not all that unhealthy IMO. Same for their rice bowls (about 300-400 calories, but healthy). Grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo at a fast food place is not bad at all, but a burger... I find it unlikely.

I really like the TJ lemon grass chicken bowl. But they are always sold out when I go there.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: BigJ
There's extremes for both. Hell, homemade food can be worse than both of them combined.

In a fast food meal, you can easily get 1000 calories. In a Hungry Man, you can easily get 1000 calories. Mom's chicken parm with homemade garlic bread, you can easily get 1000 calories.

um but are calories really that bad? I am 5'11, 160 lbs. I could use calories. I think bad are fats and carcinogens.

If you look at the Hungry Man, you'll see what comes along with those calories. Sodium up the wazoo, fat galore, and it makes you feel like crap after eating it. My point is that any type meal can be just as unhealthy as another depending on what you choose.

Here's some Hungry Man info that should make you sick:
Nutritional Info for Boneless Pork Rib:
http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/115927.html
Cal: 930
Cal from Fat: 441
Total Fat: 49.0g
-Sat Fat: 15.0g
Cholesterol: 85mg
Sodium: 1940mg
Carbs: 106.0g

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: LolaWiz

The main concern i have for frozen foods is the sodium content and the preservatives.
I am careful with the frozen foods i eat, but there are some good ones out there... Like trader joes, wholefoods, even some of the stouffers are good. The no preservative chicken lasgana is amazing so is the lean cusine meals.

I have to ask, why do so many people have a vendetta against preservatives, not that you do of course, but in general?

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: BigJ
There's extremes for both. Hell, homemade food can be worse than both of them combined.

In a fast food meal, you can easily get 1000 calories. In a Hungry Man, you can easily get 1000 calories. Mom's chicken parm with homemade garlic bread, you can easily get 1000 calories.

um but are calories really that bad? I am 5'11, 160 lbs. I could use calories. I think bad are fats and carcinogens.

Of course calories aren't bad for, they are merely a measure of the energy content of the food. Excessive calories, or calories over the amount of your BMR and total work output, is what is bad for you because it gets stored as fat. In other words, eating more than you need.

Fats are essential to your diet, but like everything else, too much is harmful. The reason fats are considered bad is because they contain 9 calories per gram, whereas carbohydrates and proteins contain 4.5 calories per gram. Thus it is much easier to go over your daily calorie expenditure by eating a diet high in fats (cakes, candies, fast food, etc.). Good fats are you monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Foods like fish and vegatable oils contain these good fats, and fishes such as salmon also contain Omega 3's, 6's, and I think 9's which are essential to your diet. You want to stay away from transfats and to a lesser extent, saturated fats. Most of your fat content should come from mono's and poly's, but saturated fats like butter aren't harmful in controlled amounts.

If you want to get bigger, don't just eat more, or else it will be fat weight, but start to lift weights. Not only will you get bigger, but you'll look great, and be able to eat more as the more muscle you have, the more energy is required to keep it in tact.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: BigJ
There's extremes for both. Hell, homemade food can be worse than both of them combined.

In a fast food meal, you can easily get 1000 calories. In a Hungry Man, you can easily get 1000 calories. Mom's chicken parm with homemade garlic bread, you can easily get 1000 calories.

um but are calories really that bad? I am 5'11, 160 lbs. I could use calories. I think bad are fats and carcinogens.

Of course calories aren't bad for, they are merely a measure of the energy content of the food. Excessive calories, or calories over the amount of your BMR and total work output, is what is bad for you because it gets stored as fat. In other words, eating more than you need.

Fats are essential to your diet, but like everything else, too much is harmful. The reason fats are considered bad is because they contain 9 calories per gram, whereas carbohydrates and proteins contain 4.5 calories per gram. Thus it is much easier to go over your daily calorie expenditure by eating a diet high in fats (cakes, candies, fast food, etc.). Good fats are you monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Foods like fish and vegatable oils contain these good fats, and fishes such as salmon also contain Omega 3's, 6's, and I think 9's which are essential to your diet. You want to stay away from transfats and to a lesser extent, saturated fats. Most of your fat content should come from mono's and poly's, but saturated fats like butter aren't harmful in controlled amounts.

If you want to get bigger, don't just eat more, or else it will be fat weight, but start to lift weights. Not only will you get bigger, but you'll look great, and be able to eat more as the more muscle you have, the more energy is required to keep it in tact.

The reason ppl hate preservatives is because some of them have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

And you are somewhat wrong about fats too -- the reason they are bad is because they are more likely to cause cardiovascular problems compared to carbs and proteins.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I try to avoid both.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: LordSegan

Originally posted by: BigJ
There's extremes for both. Hell, homemade food can be worse than both of them combined.

In a fast food meal, you can easily get 1000 calories. In a Hungry Man, you can easily get 1000 calories. Mom's chicken parm with homemade garlic bread, you can easily get 1000 calories.

um but are calories really that bad? I am 5'11, 160 lbs. I could use calories. I think bad are fats and carcinogens.

Of course calories aren't bad for, they are merely a measure of the energy content of the food. Excessive calories, or calories over the amount of your BMR and total work output, is what is bad for you because it gets stored as fat. In other words, eating more than you need.

Fats are essential to your diet, but like everything else, too much is harmful. The reason fats are considered bad is because they contain 9 calories per gram, whereas carbohydrates and proteins contain 4.5 calories per gram. Thus it is much easier to go over your daily calorie expenditure by eating a diet high in fats (cakes, candies, fast food, etc.). Good fats are you monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Foods like fish and vegatable oils contain these good fats, and fishes such as salmon also contain Omega 3's, 6's, and I think 9's which are essential to your diet. You want to stay away from transfats and to a lesser extent, saturated fats. Most of your fat content should come from mono's and poly's, but saturated fats like butter aren't harmful in controlled amounts.

If you want to get bigger, don't just eat more, or else it will be fat weight, but start to lift weights. Not only will you get bigger, but you'll look great, and be able to eat more as the more muscle you have, the more energy is required to keep it in tact.

The reason ppl hate preservatives is because some of them have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

And you are somewhat wrong about fats too -- the reason they are bad is because they are more likely to cause cardiovascular problems compared to carbs and proteins.

Actually, from my research, preservatives are harmless in the small doses encountered in common foods. The reason they are linked to cancer is because the rats are injected with gallons of the substance throughout the lifetime which if brought to proportion to human standards would indeed be cancerous. Heck anything can cause cancer if taken in excessive amounts. Just remember the Paracelcus' Dictum, "The dose makes the poison."

Like I said, fats are essential to your diet. Cutting them completely will result in malnutrition. Of course they will be more likely to cause cardiovascular problems, but only if taken in excessive amounts. It's a basic concept (not directed at you) that many people lack the common sense to determine.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: LolaWiz

The main concern i have for frozen foods is the sodium content and the preservatives.
I am careful with the frozen foods i eat, but there are some good ones out there... Like trader joes, wholefoods, even some of the stouffers are good. The no preservative chicken lasgana is amazing so is the lean cusine meals.

I have to ask, why do so many people have a vendetta against preservatives, not that you do of course, but in general?

i am VERY sensitivento a lot of things in foods including preservatives and MSG along with a list too long to post.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail
Actually, from my research, preservatives are harmless in the small doses encountered in common foods. The reason they are linked to cancer is because the rats are injected with gallons of the substance throughout the lifetime which if brought to proportion to human standards would indeed be cancerous. Heck anything can cause cancer if taken in excessive amounts. Just remember the Paracelcus' Dictum, "The dose makes the poison."

Like I said, fats are essential to your diet. Cutting them completely will result in malnutrition. Of course they will be more likely to cause cardiovascular problems, but only if taken in excessive amounts. It's a basic concept (not directed at you) that many people lack the common sense to determine.

When you say your research, do you mean you are a cancer researcher, or are you referring to google/wikipedia research?

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: LolaWiz

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: LolaWiz

The main concern i have for frozen foods is the sodium content and the preservatives.
I am careful with the frozen foods i eat, but there are some good ones out there... Like trader joes, wholefoods, even some of the stouffers are good. The no preservative chicken lasgana is amazing so is the lean cusine meals.

I have to ask, why do so many people have a vendetta against preservatives, not that you do of course, but in general?

i am VERY sensitivento a lot of things in foods including preservatives and MSG along with a list too long to post.

At least you're concerned about your health. I personally don't understand how anyone could tolerate being unhealthy.