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Paleo Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burgers

Since going Paleo my family has fallen even more in love with our grill. Paleo and grilling just work well together. The past couple of years I've even been stepping outside my grilling comfort zone more and more. Grilling things I'd never thought to have grilled before and trying new flavor combinations. I have to say I'm pretty thrilled with the results of most of my flavor experiments.  In the past I'd never have thought to grill fruit, but it's amazing. Grilling fruit and adding it to traditionally savory dishes? Brilliant. Oh yes, and? New rule: every burger recipe for the rest of forever must contain grilled pineapple. OK, maybe more of a guideline. It's a seriously delicious combination though. This Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burger is always a crowd-pleaser at my house. It's not only Paleo, but Whole30, glutenfree, lower carb, and clean eating friendly. I promise you won't miss the bun!  paleo, grilled pineapple burger, smoky
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In Defense of Carb Snobs Everywhere

The other day on Twitter I was called a carb snob. We won't mention any names here *cough* Ryan *cough* Steve


Somehow Corn Flakes and Crispix cereals came up (now aren't you sad you missed that intellectually stimulating conversation?). 


I said they were cheap carbs. Then I was called a carb snob, and I elaborated that I didn't eat them much because they made me feel like crap. Then the carb snob comments were flung about some more (all in good fun) and I had an aha moment for a blog post! Yes, that's a glimpse into the glamorous life of bloggers.


OK, anyway, what's a carb snob? Well, me I guess. And many of you I am guessing.


What I call cheap carbs are carbs that after eating them I am often still hungry. Sometimes even more hungry than before I ate them. For me they can even trigger a bingey feeling. I just want more and more of them.


Cheap carbs are more than just candies, cookies, cakes, donuts, and sodas. Those are the obvious ones. They are things such as so called 'wheat' bread (I seriously wonder if they just add some brown coloring to some of these), white pasta, white rice, white tortillas, and low nutritional value cereals. These are big culprits here for me. And just because they add back in some vitamins and minerals to make their stats look better does not lessen their cheap carb status. Sorry cereal companies, nice try.


Cheap carbs have little to no nutritional value. Little fiber, little substance that is going to fill me up and make me feel like I've just had a satisfying meal. They leave me hungry for more.


Cheap carbs make me feel like crap, plain and simple. They zap my energy and make me less mentally alert. I avoid them as staples in my diet. I have become much more aware of how foods I eat make me feel afterwards and cheap carbs aren't worth how they make me feel.


As an example, lets look at the nutritional info on a box of Corn Flakes and then a box of Kashi GoLean Crunch honey Almond Flax for a 1 cup serving.
Corn Flakes:  
100 calories
0 g fat
0 mg Cholesterol
200 mg Sodium
25 mg Potassium
24 g Carbohydrates
1 g Fiber
2 g Sugar
2 g Protein
and yes, some vitamins and minerals that they have added to the cereal to make it appear healthier.
Kashi:
200 calories
4.5 g Fat
0 mg Cholesterol
140 mg Sodium
260 mg Potassium
36 g Carbohydrate
8 g Fiber
12 g Sugar
9g Protein
Yes, the Kashi is twice the calories, gasp. It also has 10 grams more of sugar and 2.5 grams more fat. But I will choose the Kashi over the Corn Flakes any day of the week!


Look at all that fiber and protein! And yes, fat, but healthy fats from the almonds and flax seeds, etc in it. I need those things to feel satisfied, to feel healthy, to feel well after a meal. After a bowl of the Corn Flakes, I'll be ready for another bowl and still feel like crap after.


I eat lower carb, but not what most would call low carb. I definitely still eat carbs. I eat things like real Oatmeal (no instant here), Barley, Apples, Strawberries, Blueberries (I think people tend to forget that fruits and veggies are carbs!), Spinach, Salads, Real whole grain breads (if there's nuts and seeds in it all the better), Beans, Nuts, Ezekiel breads and pitas. That's just a sampling. Yes, some of these may be higher in calories than some of their cheap carb counterparts. But I have to view food as fuel. As building blocks for building this new body I am working so hard for.


If I choose the lower calorie 'wheat'(read as brown colored white bread) bread I will not only feel less satisfied, but I am not putting the real food and nutrients in my body that it needs to be as healthy (and yes great looking) as it can be. 


Since becoming said carb snob I feel so much better. I have more energy and have that bingey feeling rarely. I am reminded of how much better I feel now when I get weak and reach for a cheap carb. Instant energy crash. They just aren't worth it!


Don't even get me started on 100 calorie packs! Yeesh.


My point here is, yes we have to watch our calories, but not to the point of sacrificing nutrition.  That food stripped of all nutrients to make it low cal? We are not doing our bodies, or our waistlines any favors by eating it! A calorie is not a calorie in my book. Nutrition matters.


I think we really have to look at the nutritional VALUE of what we are going to put into our bodies. Does this food have fiber? Does it have protein? Does it have essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are going to make me look and feel fantastic. Or is it a 100 cheap calories that will have me feeling like crap and screaming for more?


We don't have to give up our favorite foods here, just alter them to make them have value as something to nourish our bodies! Get creative. Chocolate chip cookies? Use half whole wheat flour/half all purpose wheat flour, dark chocolate chips, and add a little shredded zucchini. Of course you can't eat them by the handful, but one or two and you've satisfied that sweet tooth and nourished your body!


So, yes I'm a carb snob and proud of it. My body thanks me.


Here's to carb snobs everywhere! No more cheap carbs! 

Comments

  1. Thanks for letting us in on the convo -- I didn't get it at first. I understand what you mean with cereals that make you just want more and more.

    When I was younger...I'd eat the sugary cereal (normal bowl) but would have too much milk left over so I'd need to put a little bit more cereal in...but then I'd have too much cereal and put a little bit more milk...you get the picture...never satisfied and totally addicted. glad it's not that way anymore

    ReplyDelete
  2. We should start a carb snob club- Im in! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yes, a button that says "Proud to Be a Carb Snob, NO More Cheap Carbs" would rock!! Anyone talented like that???

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm totally a carb snob! I don't eat what is called low carb either but my carbs are almost the non-cheap kind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that! I need to learn to be a carb snob... And it's so true in this crazy nutrition game it's quality and not quantity. Which with cheap carbs I crave quantity... and marshmellows if it's cereal.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Exactly Danielle! They really kick in my cravings.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi!
    My name is Corletta and I, too, am a carb snob! Listen...why even bother on some of those unhealthy things?!?! If I even begin to eat "regular" sugary cereal...I end up polishing off the whole box. So...I'm done with that! Thanks for this great post! You keep doin what you're doin!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the boost and I agree! It feels much better to make the right choices. Carb snobs unite!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am with you on this! That is why I like the South Beach Diet. Many people think it is a low-carb diet. Not at all... it is a "good" carb diet. Full of whole grains and fruits and vegetables. Just not junk and not a lot of added fat and sugar. The cheap carbs do the same thing to me as they do to you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I vote with you on being particular about carbs...and anything else I eat. My aim is to feel the best I can all the time, and if something makes me feel bad, then it's definitely off my list. Well, except wine. Sometimes I get a headache from wine but it's only sometimes, so I keep trying. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm a cheap carb snob :) I like my white rice and white pasta (although I dig whole grain/real whole wheat bread). It's the Chinese in me. White just tastes better and leaves me just as full. But then again, I eat a lot of veggies and protein and try to balance it all out.

    Sometimes, I need that snickers bar (not that I've had one, but just sayin') so that my brain can mentally be satisfied and happy. It's just one of those things. I think we're all trying very hard to develop a loving relationship with food. For some people, cutting it out of their lives, making it gone forever, works. For me, it doesn't. I start craving the bad stuff, then go crazy and binge, then feel guilty and work out hard, then repeat the cycle all over again. I'm trying really hard not to feel guilty about anything I eat, ever again. For me, it's worked so far :) I feel satisfied with my choices. They fuel both my body and my mind. But I honestly think I'm in the minority here. Ah well :D

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm a total carb snob, I think that's what's helped me get off the last 10 pounds. I cut out most of the cheap carbs and haven't looked back. In fact, on the days I cheat and have cheap carbs, I end up going insane and later feel guilty- not to mention my stomach is the size of a balloon. A water balloon...oh it's nasty. Out with cheap carbs! I hate them!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a TOTAL carb snob!! And for the same reasons. And the more research I do, the more I see that the food industry is continually trying to foist bad carbs on us in the name of "health food." Good post!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jess, I agree we all have to do what works for us. I will eat a Snickers and be ravishingly hungry the rest of the day.
    Diz, yes, out, out, LOL.
    Karen, agreed the food industry is pretty danged sneaky.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a fairweather carb snob. There are just times that mashed potatos or buttered noodles pull me back to the cheap carbs side. That and my husband wouldn't touch heathly carbs with a 10 foot pole.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Carb snob. I do splurge on plan. But, I'm a brown rice, whole grain wheat bread, high fiber cereal, etc. freak.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ooh! The same thing happens to me! When I eat regular cold cereal it actually makes me hungry, not full. Weird, huh? I found this cereal ezekiel (sp?) which is made with protein and no flour I think and all sorts of healthy stuff. Its been voted the healthiest cereal. I absolutely feel the difference when I eat this as opposed to those airy sugary cereals or a bagel or something. So much more energy and im actually full. Oh here is the link. http://www.answerfitness.com/129/ezekiel-49-sprouted-whole-grain-cereal-healthy-food-of-the-day/ looks like your kashi cereal is similar tho. Oh and for bread have you tried alvarado street bakery? http://www.alvaradostreetbakery.com/
    I think im a partial carb snob cuz I still eat desserts. And white rice.

    ReplyDelete

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