to think this food isn't unhealthy?!

[OkMaybeNot]

I'm doing intermittent fasting and trying to watch what I eat, and I don't know whether it's because when you're on a diet you notice these things more, but I've been seeing people in groups I'm in refer to meals like a jacket potato with beans and a salad, or shepherd's pie, or a stew as 'indulgent comfort food' lately.

AIBU to think there's nothing particularly indulgent or unhealthy about a jacket potato?

Im doing IF too and on the groups, alot of them so strict keto so carbs like that are a no go.
I feel like the small minority on those calorie counting, seems like not many do so alot of time when i post i get all the advise about going keto (which i dont want to do)

I guess it depends what you have on it and if you are doing the carb thing as well

The day I 'indulge' myself with a jacket potato is the day I will accept that maybe I should just be fat.

There is nothing unhealthy about the foods you are referring to.

however from an IF fasting point of you they are the worst things you can eat!

they are very very high carbs: jacket potato and beans is one of the highest carb things you can get! and all the other meals that you are suggesting a very high carb,

and you if you are focusing on intermittent fasting, then low carb, high protein, then those are the very things that you shouldn't be eating.

Salads, chicken, etc is what you should be eating.

I've been doing IF and lost over a stone but I don't low-carb or do anything else. I just watch what I eat a little more but not too much as part of the sustainability of IF, surely, is that you don't feel deprived and don't have to massively alter your eating habits to be healthier. Delay, don't deny!

nothing unhealthy about that. i have just started IF and i joined a FB group and then immediately left because it was just too much for me. I am just eating what i want but less of it, tbh.

You dont have to low carb whilst IF.

I did IF very successfully and didn’t avoid carbs at all! I personally wouldn’t bother about the opinions of people doing keto, which does bizarre things like advocate butter in coffee. Nah!

however from an IF fasting point of you they are the worst things you can eat!

Well I mean I could be eating a bucket of fried chicken. It's just a potato.

A lot of people combine IF with KETO or low carb but that's not required. IF can work on its own as long as the rest of your diet is balanced it shouldn't matter if is a potato or whatever.

no food is unhealthy and people who say so are stupid.

fizzy pop, sugar shakes (the ones they sell you for quick weight loss, great repeat business), commercial smoothies, cereal breakfast bars and diet 'foods' are unhealthu but they aren't food, they are crap.

time to cook that delicious jacket potato.

It depends what you're having on it.

A jacket potato in itself is fine, but if you add butter, cheese, sour cream etc.then you can easily double the calories.

Depends how you have it. Last night I had a baked potato with an indecent amount of garlic butter, beans, and cheese. I am under no illusion it was anything except a feast of carbs and fat. It was delicious.

Personally I wouldn't bother with a baked potato that wasn't laden with deliciousness. I'd balance it up against another meal that was less high in carbs and fat.

I’m not sure if it’s indulgent but I would see that type of thing as being quite comfort food-y, I’d probably only have it on really cold days or if I’m ill. My meals are usually much more protein & vegetables.

You don't know what food issues the people writing these things have. Personally I'd never call anything with a salad anywhere near it 'indulgent' or 'comfort food', but maybe that's just me.

It's part of the language around food and the guilt that is a big reason (or symptom of, maybe) why are so many people with issues around weight and food, IMO. This idea that you're being naughty, indulgent, doing something you shouldn't be, that it's shameful in some way. I don't think it's helpful or something to be encouraged, but I suspect people who are on FB groups for dieting are more likely to be a bit disordered in their approach to eating or have deep-seated issues around food.

Potatoes and beans are calorie dense, they're not 'unhealthy' but not the kind of food you eat to lose weight.

It's normal food, in my opinion. I would think people call it 'comfort food' because they associate it with their childhood, perhaps, or maybe they just find it nice and filling.

It depends how you feel about the demonisation of carbs. I think sone people process them differently.

Anyone who won't eat a potato - ever - on some kind of 'principle' needs to get a grip. Keto is just the latest fad diet & will be out of fashion in a couple of years. Eat a wide range of foods and make sure your calories 'in' don't exceed your calories 'out', and you will remain the same weight and be healthy too... not rocket science but just doesn't sell many dieting books. These groups sound like they only make people obsess over food, I don't see how that's helpful either!

Potatoes and beans are calorie dense, they're not 'unhealthy' but not the kind of food you eat to lose weight

Get this, you can eat ANY kind of food to lose weight. You just do this really simple thing where you eat less of it.

Potatoes and beans are calorie dense, they're not 'unhealthy' but not the kind of food you eat to lose weight
Of course you can eat potatoes and beans and still lose weight, as long as you have a calorie deficit. I lost nearly 5 stones and ate baked beans, potatoes, bread and lots of other 'calorie dense' foods. There really is no need for any special foods or diets.

I have a jacket potato in the oven right now. It doesn't feel indulgent - it feels like a cheap lunch because I haven't been shopping and I've run out of bread. You have just reminded me that there's a can of beans in the cupboard! Chicken caesar for dinner which is fairly healthy - but yes, I will be frying croutons! Assuming I get out to buy bread!

I mean how is a stew high carb? It's literally meat and veg in water. If you didn't have the water it would be just meat and veg which would be healthy and low carb. But boil it and it's bad!

I think it's because if it's comfort food and it's bringing you joy/warmth it must be 'bad'

As far as I was aware potatoes are a really good source of nutrients, beans are high in protein. I mean yes there's quite a lot of carbs, and sugar/salt in the beans but it's not a bad meal.

If you aren't enjoying what your eating your not going to stick with it long term.

I think people run the risk of eating didorders on these diets...i was told that carrots were fattening once...

I love carbs, but after 3 weeks on a keto diet the weight is falling off.