amaysngrace Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 Oh boy. My kids went for bloodwork over the holiday and they both are not diabetic, thank goodness, but they do both have high cholesterol. Really high cholesterol. And I'm clueless on what to do. My cooking habits and eating habits lack. Bigtime. I cook rich fatty buttery foods all the time. I eat mayo with just about everything. Somehow my good cholesterol is really high though. It's off the chart in a high way that greatly reduces my risk of heart disease. Unfortunately such is not the case for my children. Does anybody have any ideas on what I need to do? I already planned to take the kids to the grocery store and look for packages with the AHA heart symbol on them. On a bright note my very picky son ate oatmeal and liked it. He only had three spoons but hey it's a start. It was just weird to watch him actually eat it. Anyway is anybody really smart on cholesterol? I have no clue on what to buy, how to cook, or what I need to definitely eliminate from my home and what I definitely need to start doing differently. Do they make low-fat American cheese or butter? Is peanut butter bad? Does this mean no more chicken parm or ravioli? What about homemade gravy when I bake a chicken or make a rump roast? What goes on the mashed potatoes??? I think I'm screwed.
curiousnycgirl Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 LOL OMG you are too cute. Firstly switch to 2% cheese wherever available. The fat free is thoroughly disgusting - 2% really isn't bad at all. Truth is there is no substitute that will taste like real butter - so time to evaluate what you cook and how (reality is there is no substitute for mashed potatoes -although I sometimes make garlic mashed with olive oil for the liquid instead of milk). Change your fats from butter to olive oil, etc. If you have whole milk in your house - have you tried skim plus? It's amazing. Google it - there is tons written on this topic. Don't change everything in one fell swoop - slowly make changes over the next weeks/months - and believe it or not, you won't even notice. Also exercise will lower bad cholesterol - are your kids active?
Author amaysngrace Posted January 7, 2009 Author Posted January 7, 2009 Firstly switch to 2% cheese wherever available. The fat free is thoroughly disgusting - 2% really isn't bad at all. Truth is there is no substitute that will taste like real butter - so time to evaluate what you cook and how (reality is there is no substitute for mashed potatoes -although I sometimes make garlic mashed with olive oil for the liquid instead of milk). Change your fats from butter to olive oil, etc. If you have whole milk in your house - have you tried skim plus? It's amazing. Google it - there is tons written on this topic. Don't change everything in one fell swoop - slowly make changes over the next weeks/months - and believe it or not, you won't even notice. Also exercise will lower bad cholesterol - are your kids active? Thank you. I will try the 2% cheese. Do they sell it in the deli case or does it come prepackaged in the dairy case, do you know? We already do skim milk. That's all I buy usually unless I'm making pudding or something because I like whole milk in some things. I guess that's out now. I have to change it all at once. I know me. If I say I will do it little by little it won't get done. I need to go through my food and get rid of everything bad and just never buy it again. I will google it and make a list of yes and nos. My kids are active but not so much in winter as much as the rest of the year. We were doing good with exercising. We were getting up at 5 am and were doing push-ups and sit-ups but we kind of slacked off over Christmas break doing that. That has to start again. Anyway thank you for your help.
fral945 Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 Here's a good article: http://www.naturalnews.com/001546.html
Posco_Proudfoot Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 Get rid of that butter. Doctors normally say to cut out red meat, eat more fruit and vegetables, try and get rid of a lot of fat in the diet, and exercise exercise exercise. This is just a start of it. How old are you're kids?? It can be in the genes but that is usually when their older, at least what I normally see.
Author amaysngrace Posted January 7, 2009 Author Posted January 7, 2009 Here's a good article: http://www.naturalnews.com/001546.html Wow this article is awesome. Thank you so much. I didn't read the whole thing, I'm going back to it, but wanted to take a minute to thank you. I'm wondering if all the cookies we consumed maybe had something to do with their readings? I made like three batches of chocolate chip cookies that week and I use those Crisco butter sticks in my cookies, well usually half Crisco butter stick and half butter. Those things are pure trans-fat. Get rid of that butter. Doctors normally say to cut out red meat, eat more fruit and vegetables, try and get rid of a lot of fat in the diet, and exercise exercise exercise. This is just a start of it. How old are you're kids?? It can be in the genes but that is usually when their older, at least what I normally see. What do you mean "what you normally see?" My kids are 10 and 11. I am going back to that article to read more. That article was good. I think I need to find a spray or something to help me cut out the butter. I usually can't get past the smell of Pam. I also wonder if they take something out of a food what are they putting into the food to make it low-sugar or low-fat. I'm weird that way. I prefer the real food to a lab food. Sugar to Splenda...that type of thing.
georgejungle Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 ground flaxeed sprinkled on the cereal every morning totally lowers the cholesterol. I've read also that, simply cutting out cholesterol and eating foods that have zero cholesterol won't do you any good if you're not watching the saturated fat content. I'm 32 and i went for bloodwork and found out my cholesterol was way high. I'm not overweight, but i was eating mayo all the time, lunchmeat all the time, rich soups, mac and cheese more and more cheese, etc. I just cut some stuff out, read the labels and I now take everything in moderation and don't overindulge. oh yeah, it's totally easy to just take a quick glance at the labels.. i never did, nor did i understand them before, ha! But seriously, you don't have to stick to solely products with the "heart Healthy" logo on them. Just make some changes and only eat the fatty rich buttery foods in moderation. i too like sugar to splenda, but only because i try and stay away from the 'chemicals' in those artificial sweeteners and limit high fructrose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated things. I still eat them, just not too much. i love REAL sugar in the coffee hehe.
norajane Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 I think I need to find a spray or something to help me cut out the butter. I usually can't get past the smell of Pam. Extra virgin olive oil. It has the good fats, and it's not an animal product so it does not have cholesterol. Anything that is an animal (beef, chicken) or comes from an animal (dairy, egg yolks (egg whites are good for you)) has cholesterol and fat in it. Fish has fats, but they are the omega-3 good fats. So cook more with fish and shellfish. But, don't deep fry in butter! Sautee in olive oil or roast/broil in the oven. Turkey without the skin is a good alternative to chicken. Even chicken without the skin is much better than with the skin. If you have to make burgers, use the leaner meats - check the label, it will tell you the % of lean meat to fat. 70% lean means it's 30% fat, so no good. 90% lean is good, but it will taste a little different, not as juicy, so don't overcook. Broil, don't fry.
Author amaysngrace Posted January 7, 2009 Author Posted January 7, 2009 ground flaxeed sprinkled on the cereal every morning totally lowers the cholesterol. I've read also that, simply cutting out cholesterol and eating foods that have zero cholesterol won't do you any good if you're not watching the saturated fat content. I'm 32 and i went for bloodwork and found out my cholesterol was way high. I'm not overweight, but i was eating mayo all the time, lunchmeat all the time, rich soups, mac and cheese more and more cheese, etc. I just cut some stuff out, read the labels and I now take everything in moderation and don't overindulge. I actually have ground flaxseed in my house. I put it on oatmeal when I feel like eating healthy which I haven't felt like doing in a really long time. It's still in a sealed bag in the cabinet. Cheese is going to be a tough one. Switching from ice cream to frozen yogurt is another one. I'm really wondering if all those Crisco butter sticks I used in cookies that week didn't jack up the reading. I took them on a Friday. Last Friday after a week of eating three batches of cookies and next to no exercise. Extra virgin olive oil. It has the good fats, and it's not an animal product so it does not have cholesterol. Anything that is an animal (beef, chicken) or comes from an animal (dairy, egg yolks (egg whites are good for you)) has cholesterol and fat in it. Fish has fats, but they are the omega-3 good fats. So cook more with fish and shellfish. But, don't deep fry in butter! Sautee in olive oil or roast/broil in the oven. Turkey without the skin is a good alternative to chicken. Even chicken without the skin is much better than with the skin. If you have to make burgers, use the leaner meats - check the label, it will tell you the % of lean meat to fat. 70% lean means it's 30% fat, so no good. 90% lean is good, but it will taste a little different, not as juicy, so don't overcook. Broil, don't fry. Thanks NJ. I was thinking I need to get olive oil in the house. We've been out for a while. I only use canola oil to cook with. My friend is very healthy and only does organic, stuff like that, and she uses some healthy balance butter or something. My daughter would know because she's slept overnight there before and she pays attention. I pretty much do everything not so badly really. I have a pretty good understanding on it all but just forgot I think. I do have to stop frying so much and coating all the cooked veggies in butter. I think it takes away from it when I do that. But it sure tastes good. Anyway I think it's broiled fish tonight.
norajane Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 I pretty much do everything not so badly really. I have a pretty good understanding on it all but just forgot I think. I do have to stop frying so much and coating all the cooked veggies in butter. I think it takes away from it when I do that. But it sure tastes good. Anyway I think it's broiled fish tonight. Get a wok and sautee the veggies in olive oil, or in a little soy sauce. That adds flavor without the bad butter. Other options are to steam the veggies, and then add a little soy sauce. A little goes a long way. Watch out of sodium in the soy sauce - there are low-sodium, or no-added-sodium versions which taste just as good, in my opinion.
Author amaysngrace Posted January 7, 2009 Author Posted January 7, 2009 Get a wok and sautee the veggies in olive oil, or in a little soy sauce. That adds flavor without the bad butter. Other options are to steam the veggies, and then add a little soy sauce. A little goes a long way. Watch out of sodium in the soy sauce - there are low-sodium, or no-added-sodium versions which taste just as good, in my opinion. That is a good idea too. Before I go shopping I am making a list off of what you suggest. Also too with wok cooking you don't need near as much meat as if you were having meat as an entree. I'm getting a little excited about taking the kids food shopping. I hope they share my enthusiasm.
hotgurl Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 you should also try to go vegertarian 2 or three times a week. veggie burgers are pretty good. I also make stir fired rice wit just vegatables. vegtarian chilli.
Author amaysngrace Posted January 7, 2009 Author Posted January 7, 2009 you should also try to go vegertarian 2 or three times a week. veggie burgers are pretty good. I also make stir fired rice wit just vegatables. vegtarian chilli. My kids' idea of vegetarian is pasta marinara with salad. No meatballs or brajole. I love veggie chili, my kids not so much, and my son has never even tried it. My daughter who is a pretty good eater doesn't like it. As for veggie burgers, Morningstar quit making philly cheesesteak burgers and they were my favorite. I can't do Boca burgers. I won't even give them to my dog. I can do this. I know I can do this. I really just need to get new things in the house and eliminate the crap. I'm a pretty good cook. I can make anything taste good. I still half think those Crisco butter sticks gave them a false reading. I won't be buying them ever again. Although they did make the cookies soft and chewy.
FleshNBones Posted January 7, 2009 Posted January 7, 2009 Here is a tip. Monounsaturated fat - Lowers bad cholesterol Polyunsaturated fat - Lower good and bad cholesterol Trans Fat - Raises bad and lowers good cholesterol Saturated Fat - Raises good and bad cholesterol olive oil - If you fry with it, try to do that with the lowest temperature because the fats breakdown in high heat losing the health benefits. I use it in combination with a cast iron skillet. I pan fry with minimal oil, and I never sautee. Exercise will also lower cholesterol. I recommend aerobic exercise. Get them bikes. Put them on the soccer, basketball, or tennis teams. Give them some yard work. Fruits and vegetables are better than yogurt. Try to add peas (sweet peas with nothing extra) to their diet. Include some carrots and brocolli. Personally, I don't eat yogurt. I eat a lot of bread and pasta. I avoid potatoes when possible. I eat a lot of eggs, but I also exercise a lot so I can get away with it. Cafeteria food stinks. Bag them some whole wheat whole grain chicken sandwiches with 2% cheese. Leave out all of the extras. Don't go vegetarion unless you really know what you are doing. You don't want weak sickly kids. Here is a more useful link. http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1196285395045LwrHighCholest.pdf http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
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