Well, another one bites the dust for this blogger. Another seemingly benign food item, that is. I have finally developed a taste for some reduced fat cheeses - not to eat to excess, but just to use (in moderation) instead of their higher fat equivalents. The non-organic brand I like best now is Sargento - the taste of their reduced fat Swiss actually bears a reasonable resemblance to real Swiss, which no others I've tried do. Same with their cheddar - both shredded and sliced, so I often use these on my breakfast sandwiches, though lately I've been going cheese-free with them.
But they also make reduced fat colby cheese sticks that are packaged just like string cheese. The usual mozarella string cheese, low fat or regular, are fine - but mozarella doesn't generally top my favorite list. It's fine, but not even a real treat. But the Sargento 60 calorie less than 2 point colby cheese sticks are yummy. I actually like them better than their full fat version which are 80 calories a pop. The reduced fat ones are firmer and less creamy which makes them resemble REAL cheese, so it's mostly a texture thing.
Therein lies the problem. I've been buying them for awhile, feeling very saintly with my sensible reduced fat selection. Then I discovered that if I stick one in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before eating, it's even firmer and more legit tasting. That's okay with one stick a day when it's counted in with the rest of my points. Yesterday, for some reason, I ended up having 5 over about 2 hours after work. Yes, I tracked them. Yes, it was better than cookies, chips or other assorted foodstuffs in which I've been known to partake.
So - I'm not buying them anymore, and I'm not eating the ones left. I've informed hubby and son that they need to eat 'em up, or else they'll be brought to work where they will get scarfed in a big hurry.
So now, there are dried cranberries, most crackers (esp. saltines because I discovered how good they taste with butter), most cookies, and innocent little Colby cheese sticks. I believe I can live a long happy life without ever having one again. Moderation, intuition, mindfulness...as these all relate to eating, are great. But it's important to know my threshold items that will invariably send me to the dark side. Because I intuitive know that I can't eat just one.
Sargento reduced fat sliced cheeses are my go to cheese for a sandwich. I always wonder... are they REALLY lower fat because they taste so good. I love those cheese sticks too so I completely understand! If you like the flavor of the colby jack, I can occasionally find it in slices around here. Maybe that would work for you.
ReplyDeleteJust like potato chips, right? Well, for some people. I totally agree. If I find that I want more and more of something to the point that it seems uncontrollable, they come off the list. I really need to try that freezer tip though. I can just eat one now, so I hope that doesn't change for me.
ReplyDeleteI feel ya. Good job on recognizing the issue and taking steps.
ReplyDeleteI had a problem with Sargeanto, too. :( Had to quit buying the shredded cheddar. But it was soooo good in my salads. ! sigh.
ReplyDeleteThis food thing is tough. I'm tempted to just buy canned cat food and eat that. 3 cans a day with a salad. Nothing else. No variety. No yummy food. Nothing to get the need to feed going. Problem solved.
Well, okay, maybe not, but you know what I mean.
Deb
Isn't it funny how our bodies start to like certain things--even reduced fat "stuff." I have found I have to stay away from most of it, because I can add lots of things to my list of food addictions that I never thought I would like. Sounds like you know your limits and are being mindful of them.
ReplyDeleteCheese is one of those trigger things for me. So are chips with hot sauce flavoring. I can ignore regular chips easily but add some hot sauce and I'll eat the bag. Great job on recognizing the danger and eliminating it.
ReplyDeleteOh my list is growing too! Funny thing is that today I was at a Walmart that is further from home and I don't shop there often but I used to go just for this one cheese that no one else carries. And today I thought about getting that cheese. For just a minute. Then realized there was a reason I stopped buying it! Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWow, I just posted a similar thing about cupcakes! Lol.
ReplyDeleteYep. You know what is your trigger. If you know, it's gotta go. At least that's what I keep telling myself...
ReplyDeleteCat
First of all - thanks so much for your recent comments Leslie - its been a tough week and I am glad you were there to boost me up when I needed it.
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I am a cheese whore - I adore the Cabot 75% reduced fat cheese - it does taste like the real thing, but I can have a slice and put it away - its pretzels that are crack to me!
Hugs!
I like the Sargento brand cheeses too. You mentioned liking saltines with butter. when my son was a toddler, my mom would make his crackers like that for him. one time we went out to eat and he was in his high chair, we looked over and he had his head down and was just sobbing. when my mom asked what was wrong, he threw his hands out and said "papa ate all my butter cwackers!" lol
ReplyDeleteI hit a wicked spell with string cheese stick, apple and peanuts (years ago, but remember it well) exactly as you say - reasonable choices in comparison to what I was eating, but then could not eat in moderation.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think a LOT of it (for me) had to do with the salt in the cheese stick. I think I had a salt/sugar thing going with that combination of food.
What you figured out for yourself (this post) is HUGE. Do NOT have one single weak/failure thought about not being able to eat cheese sticks in moderation. Figuring out realtiy is a VERY IMPORTANT step to long term success.
I love individual Cabot and Sargento reduced fat cheeses and feel very fortunate that I am able to take them one at a time. I do, of course, have my own list of banned foods, and saltines is among them. I love them with butter but I also love them plain. My two number-one banned foods are ripple potato chips and fried chicken. There are many other troublesome foods, and my husband still indulges in them, but I make him lock them in a file box. Or the freezer. Only thing that can't be locked up is the refrigerated stuff, and luckily I can't think of many of his favorites that can't be frozen. Pretty sad, but at least I'm dealing with it.
ReplyDeleteHey those are just foods that are triggers right now they might not always be!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a good handle on it, tracked it, thought about it and made a change!