Simply Filling/Core - Nearly core

I have included certain things in my meals that I am pretty sure aren't core, but I allow myself to count them as core. I think everyone has an item or two that we do this with. I'm curious as to what everyone is doing.

Here's what I allow as core:

McDonalds, Wendy's, Subway grilled chicken
All fat-free dressings
Fat-free cream cheese
94% fat free kettle corn

I allow myself a few other things, in moderation, because I'm maintaining. I don't count them, but I do limit the amount I get. Like, full fat dressing on my salads, a slice of bread every now and then, I use regular lowfat plain yogurt in cooking instead of fat-free plain yogurt.

I think as long as you're still losing and not going crazy on these items, you'll be fine.

Angela

I don't usually count 1 point corn tortillas and homemade Core-ingredient corn bread. They aren't red light foods for me, so I feel like I can get away with it.

I eat some of the South Beach frozen meals which occasionally have stuff like a sprinkling of nuts in them, but they are low calorie and the bulk of the ingredients are Core. I've recently come to the conclusion that nuts in quantity can give me canker sores, so it's not like I'm going to go on a spree.

I also tend not to count the occasional serving of processed meat or low fat hot dogs. The only dangerous food for me in that category is bacon, and I count that when I have it.

Terry, I haven't eaten FF cream cheese but I don't understand why it isn't Core since all other cheese is. So, if I found a Core recipe that had it in there, I wouldn't count points for it.

The dressing I eat most often is Henry's FF Honey Dijon. It's not Core but I count it as Core. It's the only way I can get salads in so I've decided it's Core for me!

I don't like kettle corn so this hasn't come up for me. If it had corn syrup in it then I don't think I'd count it as Core. I'm more afraid of the corn syrup stuff than I am of natural sugar like honey. I can't really rationalize this but it's kind of what I decided at least for now!

I don't think I would eat fast food chicken because I've checked and they inject fat and sugar into them. However, if I was stuck and had no other option, I'd be chowing down on one of them and calling it Core. I just would only use them in emergency situations.

If you've been eating all this stuff already and losing like you have been, I'd count them Core and not even worry about it. If you're just thinking about adding them, I'd maybe pick one or two to see if it has any effect on your weight loss.

Terry, what an interesting idea, finding out what everyone considers "core-enough." I'm sure I do it with too many things. :D But a couple of things that come to mind:
Deli meats...I know they aren't core, but if I couldn't have them, I would be in trouble. I only eat them probably once a week or so.
Regular dressing-sometimes...If I am stuck, like at work or at someone's house, I eat the regular dressing and don't bother counting. Or if I'm out to eat for a special meal, I won't bother counting it.
I'm sure there are lots of things that I think are core but really aren't.

terry, this is a great idea. thanks for thinking of it.

i eat sf jam and count it as core. the only core sf jam that i could find is available only in canada. i contacted the company, but they wouldn't ship me any. my favorites are strawberry and apricot. i like to eat sf jam on scrambled eggs and "fried" polenta.

i also eat deli meats but not often.

i eat venison burger and count it core. i can't see any reason it's not.

Apparently I need to add turkey bacon and turkey sausage to that list. Although I don't eat it very often.

Well I don't count regular dressing and consider it core if it is made w/olive oil.

I also count the plain instant oatmeal as core even tho it was recently removed fromthe list....and I also count sf/ff flavored yogurt as core.

I do eat deli meat but not that often and generally have low fat turkey breast anyways.

...and yes I guess I count movie popcorn as core even tho I know it isn't!

Frouf

Vickie, I eat fast food grilled chicken about three times a month. I throw away the bun and have been calling it core. I figure it's better than anything else on the menu and I know I've got to be able to talk to a menu board and a rude teenager regularly or I'll feel deprived.

Sandra, I hadn't thought about the sf jellies. On occasion when we're out to breakfast, I'll have wheat toast and scrambled eggs. I always ask for the diet jelly (most places don't have it). I count 2 points for butter and jelly whether it was sf or not. Now I think I'll add sf jelly to my list of things that are "core-enough". Besides, I only have one little package of it once or twice a month.

Cher, the all core-ingredient cornbreads are core. At least that was the consensus the last time I asked. I know that as soon as the cornbread cools, I have to portion it out and freeze it because it could be trouble for me. Maybe that's the objection to it -- it's a trigger for some people.

Froufy, I never thought about the olive oil salad dressings. There's a low-fat balsamic vinaigrette I've wanted but avoided because I don't want to count it. (I can't find a ff version.) I may just include it and see what happens. But Movie popcorn?? Isn't that 35 points a serving? :devil:

Melissa, the turkey sausage and turkey bacon sound good. I have to think about whether I could eat a serving and walk away. Deli meats are a definite NO for me. I'll munch through a half pound of luncheon meat without thinking about it. When I did Atkins, I'd have a pound of turkey meat and a bowl of mayo -- just dip and eat. My DH still does that, except with deli roast beef.

So Angela, you really do have to keep eating this way to maintain? I guess I know that at some level, but secretly hoped you could eat more of the non-core items. I'm so appreciative that you are staying on this board while maintaining. It's a reality check for people like me who need a role model, not so much for losing the weight, but for keeping it off.

The other thing I consider core-enough is fat-free refried beans. Again, I don't have them very often, but I do have a couple recipes that call for them and I consider the recipe core.

I think some of these fat-free / low-fat foods are NOT core because they may be triggers for some people. It's one of those things where you have to be honest with yourself and avoid the things that are going to mess you up. None of the foods on my core-enough list are triggers for me, and so far, knock on wood, I've been okay with including them.

I feel like I should add a caution for the newer people: Stick to the book until you are losing weight at a pace you're comfortable with. These 'core-enough' ideas are cheating as far as WW goes and they're the experts. If you're using these little cheats and not losing weight, or losing slower than you think you could, the little cheats might be the reason.

Peace.

terry, good advice for the newbies.

i thought ff refried beans were on the core list. am i wrong?

Yep, FF refried beans are marked Core and I eat them every chance I get! :lol: Don't take that away from me!!

Terry, that's a wealth of good info!!

Why did I think they weren't core? Well then, I may just start eating them more often!!

Terry you freaked me out! Yes FF refried beans are core...I just ate some! :lol:

Great post, Terry!

terry, i admire you for having the strength to throw away buns. i'm a bread eater. so far i've been ordering salads when we're at fast food places. i don't know if i could throw that bun away. i'm a weak woman.

Sandra, I got used to tossing the buns when I was doing Atkins. Besides, those buns are nasty. Most places have the cheap white squishy kind that you can roll up into a ball. Sometimes they're actually wet from the grease or condensation. Eeeeeeew.

I am a crusty, heavy, wheaty bread eater. I want a dense bread with lots of texture and flavor. I'll eat an entire loaf of a good crusty bread - even plain. Or a good Italian bread, crunchy on the outside, soft inside, dipped in olive oil and parmesan. Or those health-nut breads with grain and seeds baked into them. Oh yeah, that's good eatin'.

Good for you to get the salad. Usually when I go through the drive up window I'm driving and have to eat on the road. A salad would be tougher. :)

terry, a salad would be tough to eat while driving. we don't do fast food very often, so i don't have to make too many decisions on that. your breads sound good. i'm a bread eater, too. i grew up down south on white bread and those squishy buns. my favorite way to eat those hamburger buns was grilled in butter. crusty on the edges (even black) and super greasy. i honestly didn't start eating the hearty breads till i moved to montana. now i'm hooked on them.

Is this what you were talking about, Sandra?

yes, melissa. thank you for finding it. i had forgotten terry started it. i was thinking you had.

well, wouldn't it be good if some of our non core core items became for real core items?

i think light dairy should be core. also light salad dressings

BUMP!

I thought of this thread when I was planning my menu for tomorrow. I regularly eat the Lean Cuisine Steak Tips Portabello ... which is nothing more than beef cubes and broccoli. I try not to eat any more of the gravy than whatever is clinging to the meat because I figure it has either cornstarch or flour for thickener (although not much).

http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/Details.aspx?ProductID=10381

kathy, maybe meals like that will be added to core when the new plan comes out. sounds like it works for you.

salad dressing, fat-free according to the WW food list any brand of ff salad dressing is Core. Don't sell yourself short. You are eating core more often than you think.
Vivian