Food-lovin' Fridays: The Great Carb Debate

80% of getting healthy and losing weight is related to nutrition. So let's talk about food. On Fridays.

Today I want to address the frenzy that surrounds carbs. But before I can do that, let's talk basics.

Nutrition is made up of macro and micro nutrients: macros are carbs, fat, and protein, while micros are vitamins and minerals. Theoretically, you don't need to keep track of your macros to lose weight, because weight loss is pure and simple math. That's right, you thought math was behind you forever, BUT IT'S NOT.
To lose one pound, one must have a deficit of 3,500 calories. So you could burn 500 calories every day doing some grueling exercise (because 7 days x 500 calories = 3500 calories) or you could eat 500 calories less. [For the record, I did a mix of both.] But here is the thing nobody really discusses: say you eat wayyyyy more protein than your body needs. What happens? It will get stored. And what do we mean by stored? We mean extra poundage. So no thanks, body storage.

Thankfully, it's pretty hard to majorly max out on protein. Most people don't eat enough protein. But carbs, and fats... they can be deadly. And some geniuses saw that and decided to invent diets like Atkins, which is low low low carbage.

I understand that different lifestyles require different macro distributions. Take Eddie and I for example: I have a stronger emphasis on carbs since I run a lot, and he eats more protein since he is building (a mountain of) muscle. However, I don't get the low-to-no carb thing. I just don't.

In February, an acquaintance from school was complaining at an event that all there was for lunch were sandwiches. When I asked her why that was an issue, she told me she didn't eat carbs. Well I have two problems with this: 1) she was eating an orange as she's telling me this, and hello oranges are pretty much nothing but carbs and 2) I know for a fact she is a cardio addict at the gym, and cardio demandddddssss carbs.

So what is this really about? Why do we think eating a sandwich is gonna make us fat but eating an orange with the same amount of carbs won't?

I'm not gonna give a huge bio lesson on why our body needs carbs, mostly because I'm not up for a "how the body works" refresher. Instead I will just say we need carbs. For lots of important stuff. And since I know that totally convinced you right there, I will add that lowering your carb intake alone isn't what will help you lose weight. Exercise and a balanced diet will. Emphasis on balanced. And if bread and pasta scare you, well there are other delicious sources of carbs: oranges, mangos, sweet potatoes, legumes (like black beans, kidney beans, etc.), raisins, apples, bananas, carrots, grapes, rice, etc. etc. etc.

And to shut everyone up on either side of this debate (because I don't want to argue with the fanatics), here are 4 recipes that have become regular recurrences in my meal plan - 2 are low-carb and 2 are not:

Sweet potato fries // Black bean burger // Portobello Pizzas // Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers