Is low fat more expensive? When I was eating a lot of nuts and seeds, in the back of my mind I kept saying, "Someday you'll eat less of these nuts and seeds, and you'll save a lot of money." I really believed that to be true because organic, raw nuts and seeds are outrageously expensive.
For one hundred days, I'm transitioning to a lower fat raw diet. I'm down to fats only in the evening, and for the next ten days those fats will only come from avocados, young coconuts, and possibly some hemp seeds. If I'm not hungry for the fat, however, I'll go without it. That hasn't been the case yet, though. By dinner time I'm ravenous and wanting to eat heavy, dense foods to calm the hungry beast in my belly. Even though I've been including some fats in the evening, I'm eating significantly less than I normally would if not doing this challenge. So, I've been eating more fruits and vegetables to get the calories I normally received from nuts and seeds.
My fat last night was only 1/2 an avocado. I don't normally eat only half of one, but I decided to share one with KDcat, rather than eat the whole thing myself. Sharing makes it easy to only eat half of those lovely fat-filled fruits.
What I have been noticing, however, is that I'm hungry throughout the day as well. Salads don't fill me for too long, so I have to eat a lot of fruit. One cantaloupe fills me for about an hour, or so, and then I'm back looking for something else to eat. I ate a ten-pound watermelon yesterday (keep in mind, as Jim pointed out to me, that the majority of the weight is in the rind which I didn't eat) and I was hungry about an hour, or so, later.Since hunger is something I have rarely ever felt, I almost like that I can feel that way between meals.
Our weekly grocery shopping, however, isn't lasting a week anymore. If the people at the co-op knew that all of that produce wasn't even lasting a week, I think they'd be in shock. We buy *a lot* of fresh fruits and veggies. I'm eating more and more of them, and my skin is feeling softer and smoother as the days are going by (well, except for on my face where I got a bit of a sunburn after being outside most of the weekend in the sun). I had already noticed that when I was eating a high amount of nuts in my diet, my skin would feel less smooth, with little bumps that weren't overly visible to anyone. So, I figured my skin would get smoother with less fats and it has. My lips are less chapped, too, so that seems to be a positive change by cutting back on fats and increasing fruits.
I'm thinking it's more expensive, however, to eat lower fat. We've been buying more fruit each week, cutting back on the nuts, and our grocery bill has been about the same. However, the groceries aren't lasting a full week. At this rate, we're going to need another fridge if we want to continue only shopping once a week. I know it's better to buy things every few days, but the co-op isn't very close to our home and it takes not only time, but also gas, to visit it more often. I'm not certain yet, I'll let you know after a few more weeks, but I really think low fat isn't cheaper.
Original Comments
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On August 13, 2008, wrote:
I am so with you on this one Wendi, it is more expensive because it takes more I think to fill you up. You just don't get the satiety you get when you eat a little fat. That being said, fat for me is a tricky one because of my metabolism. I really believe in incorporating flax, chia and other food bulking agents because it does release it slower and give you so many heart healthy benefits!! Let's hear it for some flax crackers, Russell James bread etc!
XoXo
Sam
On August 13, 2008, wrote:
Good points! I can see why it would take more to fill up and more often. Good thing it's summer and there's more variety!
On August 13, 2008, wrote:
Eat more bananas! They are cheap and filling. I think of them as bread. Try to buy them at different stages of ripeness and don't put all the bunches together on the counter. Spread them out so they don't ripen all together. Then, if you can't eat them all before they get too ripe, peel them, pop them in a ziplock bag and toss in the freezer. They keep well for smoothies if you use them relatively soon.
I love watermelon, but it is hard to eat enough of it to keep you full until the next meal.
The thing about 811rv is you will feel really full for about 20 min., then... your belly is very light. You soon don't miss that heavy feeling that fatty food gives you.
Good luck!
XO
Pixy Lisa
On August 14, 2008, wrote:
I do think good quality fruit is perhaps more expensive as a main calorie source. It's water heavy, so it does take more to fill you up. The calories in nuts and avos are more concentrated, esp with bulk dried nuts.
Pixy Lisa had a good suggestion about nanas.
Also, it definitely is a different type of satiated/full feeling on fruit. It is possibly something you may just have to get used to if you decide to go ahead w/ low fat. :-)
On August 15, 2008, wrote:
Wendi, can you update what kind of diet you are doing and why, I know you mentioned something about a new ratio you are doing, but I forget why you are doing it ??
Love reading your posts on the blog about how your new diet is going, and I like the new pics u are using as well.
I have been surfing your website purejeevan and I can tell you have been doing lots of work on it......keep up the good work, it looks great.
Thanks julie
On August 15, 2008, wrote:
Sam, I've always learned that it's good to slow down the sugar absorption, as well. That's what I've pretty much always done. I'm going to sample this low-fat with fruits way of eating, however, to see if there's any truth to it. I'll be sure to let everyone know what I find! I do love fats with my foods, so it's going to be interesting to see how this experiment turns out.
Hihorosie, Yes! Thank goodness for the time of the year. I'm hoping if I end up liking fruit a whole lot that I'll be in CA by the time we run out of variety here in Pittsburgh!
Pixy Lisa, I've been having a problem with my bananas being green when I buy them. By the time they ripen, they get overly ripe before it's time for me to shop again. So, I have a gap of a few days without fresh bananas. I do freeze them, however. I love bananas! I'll try your idea of putting the green bananas in different areas to see if they ripen at different rates! Thanks! Yes! I know part of my eating has been because I'm not used to the lighter feeling of no nuts. It's going to take some time to get used to, I guess!
Sarah, Yes! I'm thinking the feeling in my tummy may not always be hunger and I just need to get used to the lighter feeling. I was thinking that, because I had read about it so many times when others were sharing about their experiences eating less nuts/fats. I'm doing great with cutting out the nuts, and I'm not eating many overts at all. Most days I'm 80/10/10 with small amounts of avocado.
Julie, I'm going to respond to your question in a blog post, because I think a lot of people may be wondering the same thing. I know quite a few people were concerned about my diet when I did mono meals for nine days, as well. So, I'll respond in an upcoming blog post for you.
Thanks for the comments, everyone!
Lots of love to all of you,
Wendi
XOXOXO
On January 29, 2009, wrote:
I can completely understand. I go through stages with avocados where I
love them all the time and then other times when I don't desire them so
much.
Lots of love to you,
Wendi
XOXOXO