For the last several months I’ve been very busy with work and stuff. Plus it’s been wicked hot. Plus I live alone.
So…usually I do a fair amount of cooking and making veggie and bean-intensive meals. I really enjoy cooking, actually, even if it’s only for me (and to share with friends occasionally.) However, I realised recently I have not cooked anything in a couple of months. Maybe three months.
I’ve been living on Any’s Organics and Kashi frozen dinners (both health-foodish, heavy on grains and beens, mostly vegetarian). I try to eat a banana per day. Other meals are very occasional fast-food breakfasts, maybe once a week. Stewed greens and sweet potatoes from a local soul-food take-out. Pizza. The occasional Subway sammich. Occasionally a meal out with friends; usually I choose something vegetarian or fish and vegetables, but not always. Occasionally also I will go eat and friends’ houses, could be anything from BBQ (meat, yay meat) to standard meat/carb/veg meal.
I drink lots of water and Red Bull and coffee, never softs drinks because I don’t like them at all.
I guess what I’m worried about is not getting enough fiber and veg and “home cooking.” Tonight’s dinner will be pizza. I’m starting to feel a bit guilty about not cooking up and eating all the great summer produce available this time of year, and the fact I am eating exclusively food prepared by other people these days.
Is this OK? Apart from not being economically smart, that is. I’m not concerned with weight loss or gain, BTW. I am 53 and weigh the same as I did when I was 15 years old.
It sounds like you aren’t lacking fiber in you diet. Beans, grains, greens, sweet potatoes and fruit are all good or excellent sources of fiber and you listed all of these in your regular diet. While you arent exactly loading up on veggies, you aren’t going totally without either, so don’t beat yourself up over that; just try to incorporate more. I think you aren’t doing a half-bad job now, don’t make any drastic changes just make common sense tweaks.
It’s all so individual. I’ve eaten that way before and felt like absolute hell.
If you feel good, have energy, and your weight is constant, you’re probably doing just fine. On the other hand, you are probably not getting anywhere close to your RDA many days in many vitamins and minerals, and you are eating a low-protein diet. It would be good to add more fresh, un-packaged foods.
Keep in mind that your weight can stay the same in pounds while your muscles waste away and your body fat steadily climbs, as you age (sarcopenia). Eating plenty of protein and doing weight-bearing exercise helps prevent this.
How do you feel? Lethargic or energized? Clear-headed or fuzzy? Given the attention you usually pay to diet, I’m guessing your body will let you know.
During times of stress (like the last 6 years running! LOL!) I always add in a vitamin, mineral, and calcium/fiber suppplement. I realize my body won’t use 3/4 of it, but anything it needs will be provided at least once per day.
First, if I recall, you’re a painting contractor, right? That’s more active than a desk-job type occupation so your calorie needs will be higher that the average woman your age. You’re certainly getting some “weight bearing exercise” if you’re hauling around ladders and buckets of paint.
My concern with some of that would be the potential for getting more fat than you need. However, if your weight is remaining steady then you’re burning it off while you work. Your occupation should keep you active enough to avoid the muscle-turning-into-fat-with-age phenomena someone else mentioned.
The only possible concern I’d have is about the Red Bull, as it’s loaded with calories. However, if it’s not the main thing you drink, and your weight is steady, you’re burning off the calories.
This may be TMI, but my rule is that if I’m doing one poo a day without effort I’m getting enough fiber. If I’m not, I need to increase fiber (and a little more water won’t hurt, either). Now, people do vary on this, but it’s the rule of thumb I use.
Nothing wrong with pizza as long as your weight is steady and you’re not eating it exclusively.
And you’d feel even worse if you bought that great summer produce and it went nasty in the kitchen because you didn’t get around to cooking it. If you don’t have time to cook you don’t have to time to cook. Thank goodness we live in a civilization where you can buy food when you don’t have time to make meals yourself.
Is your weight steady? Yes? Then you’re not taking in too many calories. Your job puts you in the “active” category, you need to eat more than sedentary people do.
How’s your blood pressure? Good? (Ask your doctor). If so, fine. If it’s getting high, or is high, you might want to cut down on caffeine and sodium (prepared meals are typically high, but with the heat and all, and active occupation, you might be fine with it due to lots and lots of sweat)
How’s your cholesterol and lipid profile? Has it been checked? That’s a “consult your doctor” item, but if it’s high you might consider some changes. If those numbers are good then you probably (taking everything else into consideration) don’t have to worry about your current intake of fat/oil/cholesterol.
Do you feel good? Do you have energy to get through the day? Yes? You’re probably doing fine. A multi-vitamin (age and gender appropriate) might be a good insurance policy to make sure you get all the basics in sufficient amounts.
Finally, at some point you should get a bone density screening. Not sure if you’re at that point or not, you need to consider several potential risk factors. However, as we women age we don’t absorb calcium as well as we used to, yet we still very much need it. You need to make sure you’re getting plenty of calcium. If you’re working mostly indoors these days, or you’re a member of a dark-skinned ethnicity, you may need a vitamin D supplement. If you’re pale-skinned and outdoors a lot this is not such a concern, except in your state (Michigan) even pale-skinned folks can run low in the winter time.
You did mention that when you eat out, or buy pre-made meals, you make some effort to get vegetables. It is possible to get sufficient vegetable, fruits, and fiber eating prepared foods but it does take some conscious effort and it usually costs more than the crap prepared meals. If you can afford, it, though, and you’re making those choices I don’t see an issue with it.