Best Protein Foods for a Healthy Diet

August 27, 2010

This video was made to help cancer patients and has many good tips to select and eat good protein sources for a healthy diet.

{ 302 comments… read them below or add one }

NNH June 17, 2011 at 11:49 pm

Wow no more hotdogs, and lunchmeat. I have already changed to turkey bacon. I heard that recently grilling could cause cancer but did not know why. The video was very informative and from now on I will be using foil. I also did not know women need 80 grams of protein daily. That seems like alot but I guess not if you are eating the right things.

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mheadington4878 September 8, 2011 at 11:55 pm

I had no idea that women needed 80 grams per in protien either. I will be sharing with family members.

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VossWC September 29, 2011 at 4:28 pm

I also had no clue that women needed so much protein, that seems like a bit much to me but I’m not gonna argue with the experts!

eosborne October 2, 2011 at 5:36 pm

That is scary about the grilling! I love grilled meat & hotdogs….

Sparks MR October 7, 2011 at 1:46 pm

80 grams seems like a huge amount. That’s a tough one to complete with out some conscious effort!

jennifer October 3, 2011 at 9:05 pm

I have thought about changing to turkey bacon but it just doesn’t sound to good…

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cford October 4, 2011 at 4:32 pm

Try it! Turkey is a great substitute! We do Turkey everything. Ground, lean, bacon, you name it we cook with it. It is soo good for you…High in Protein, Less fat, and you can go heavy on the seasonings and it just takes in the flavor nicely. Try it..You’ll Like it!

ConnerC October 4, 2011 at 3:23 pm

so true there is not very many times i eat lunchmeat unless it is from the deli and very very few times i eat hotdogs, just the thought that it is the leftovers kills me.

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Wilson S October 4, 2011 at 8:26 pm

I absolutely hate turkey meat. It taste so different from beef. That’s the only meat my parents would cook with. It was like torture lol.

KWells February 8, 2012 at 4:41 pm

I started my family on ground turkey by doing half turkey with half beef. Over time I just slowly added more turkey and less beef. Now they never say a word about eating turkey meatballs or meatloaf instead of beef.

NNH June 17, 2011 at 11:53 pm

I am learning alot. Cutting out hotdogs and lunchmeat are going to be hard. I have already changed to turkey bacon. I am now going to start using foil when I grill, along with eating more protein. I did not realize as women we should be eating 80 grams a day.

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MDM2 June 19, 2011 at 12:01 am

I didn’t realize we needed so much protein daily either, but I’m glad of it!

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KNE2 June 19, 2011 at 4:34 pm

I had no idea that we needed that much protein a day either. I need to make lots of changes to my diet, but I am going to try to start watching what I eat and try to make sure I get the right amounts of protein, carbs, fat, sodium, ect. each day.

CKL2 June 21, 2011 at 5:04 pm

I am learning so much that I am doing wrong in my diet. I did not realize the serving sizings we needed of protein daily either. Hopefully after this class I am going to be able to add about 20 years to my life.

SLB June 27, 2011 at 11:40 pm

I did not know that we needed that much protein either. Since I watched these videos I started eating more meat.

KNS2 June 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm

and also that women can only digest 25-30g in one sitting……makes you think how often we would have to eat sources of protien in a day.

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vcanea August 18, 2011 at 8:18 pm

I was also surprised to know we need 80g of protein, too.I always thought it was only 50g.

Nutt CR September 15, 2011 at 10:46 am

I know it is so easy and fast to just grab a hot dog or make a sandwich without having to cook anything. I guess I also need to find replacments.

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MDM2 June 19, 2011 at 12:00 am

I love to eat meat so it’s good to hear that 80 grams is a minimum for me. Chicken is one of my favorite meats! Good thing I always marinate my meat too before grilling. I didn’t know charring formed a carcinogen! I really need to add more fish though.

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ts=s2 June 19, 2011 at 8:47 am

Yes it hard to only eat around 80 grams, but for me it not because i don`t eat much meat. My kids are the meat eaters in my house, trying to get them to eat better is the hard thing.

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WMA June 21, 2011 at 11:15 pm

That charring thing is scary and painful. I love my grill sessions.

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ts=s2 June 19, 2011 at 8:51 am

As myself i never been a big meat eater, but for my kids that a different story and hot dogs and lunch meat is use alot in my house to fed them. I do grill alot and bake the meat more then fry it. But i v been try to cut back on the stuff i buy for the to eat, to more heathy things for them.

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SMB June 19, 2011 at 9:38 am

I love protein now i have to choose the better of the proteins. I grabbed 1% milk since I have started this class as opposed to whole milk. I am choosing the less fat options. I haven’t gone totally fat free yet, but am making healthier choices. I like chicken & fish. I already ate fish at least once per week but will try to add it more. I like chicken & without the skin. Yuk!

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PEE2 June 19, 2011 at 1:33 pm

Hi SMB, i think we did the same thing by switching from whole milk to 1% milk. I can already feel how light i feel after starting consuming 1% milk. I do like fish cause i am from an island and will continue now more than ever to get some fish on my weekly diet of protein.

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PEE2 June 19, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Very interesting videos about the benefits of proteins in our diet. I never considered fish as a healthy protein. From now i will have to eat fish at least twice weekly as advised in one of the video.The best information overall is that when it’s coming to the amount of protein one’s need to his daylie value the best thing to do is to alternate,emphasize,and redesign our consumption.
Also, i finally understand how vegan can get protein without eating the most known source of protein.

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KNE2 June 19, 2011 at 4:38 pm

I had no idea that you should limit your intake of red meats to about 11oz a week. I tend to not eat much meat, but when I do, it’s usually red meat or chicken. I didn’t know that the redder the meat, the leaner the meat. I will be paying more attention to this from now on. I prefer to cover the grill with foil anyway, but I didn’t know it was that much better for you that way. I will definitely be paying more attention to what I eat and how much carbs, protein, sodium, ect. that I have in my diet each day.

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dtoennis October 4, 2011 at 11:26 am

I knew it was bad to eat too many red meats, but I really enjoy them. I know I eat too much protein especially for my calorie intake.

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CKL2 June 21, 2011 at 5:09 pm

What I found really interesting was that protein has a big role in wound healing and muscle mass. Another interesting fact to me was the redder the meat the leaner. I am learning so much through these videos. A few important facts I picked out of these videos for myself would be to look for 90% lean ground beef, trim visuable fat from the meat, marinate my meat, and put foil on my grill to keep the meat from becoming charred (creating carcinogens). I also need more salmon in my diet because its a great source of omega 3.

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hillml October 3, 2011 at 4:18 pm

I did not realize that I was not eating the right kinds of proteins either. I have been buying the 93 % lean and my kids and husband immediatley noticed that it tasted so much better not being drowned in oils. It has been amazing to me how easy it is becomming to convert my family to healthier eatting habits.

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KNS2 June 21, 2011 at 7:18 pm

I didn’t know that a woman could only absorb about 25-30 g in a sitting. I will definately keep that in mind from now on. I also didn’t know that charring meat on a grill creates a carcinogen….interesting

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MAO June 27, 2011 at 2:40 pm

That alarmed me about the carcinogens because I do grill alot, so from now on I will be coving the grill with the aluminum foil.

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jennifer October 3, 2011 at 9:08 pm

I know that just floored me I had no idea and since I really can’t cook that good we grill alot at my house, but I do use aluminum foil on my grill

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WMA June 21, 2011 at 11:13 pm

Aside from making me very hungry these videos brought to light that I need more beans in my diet and less red meat. Maybe I should start buying chicken and fish more as well.

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nicorici df August 23, 2011 at 8:54 pm

I love fish! And yes beans are very good.

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SLB June 27, 2011 at 1:20 am

I am so glad someone has finally told the world that hot dogs are bad for you. I hate hot dogs, but I love lunch meat especially the turkey meat. These videos also made me very hungry, but what can I say I don’t eat that much so I am always hungry. I really don’t need to change my diet other then eating more good crabs, but I also stated that in the crabs video dicussion.

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MAO June 27, 2011 at 2:38 pm

I don’t like hotdogs much myself, but I do love meat especially chicken.

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vcanea August 18, 2011 at 8:12 pm

I don’t eat hotdogs myself. Never ate crabs, and I don’t think i’ll ever try too :)

Koon K September 1, 2011 at 4:31 pm

I don’t care for hotdogs but i will eat them on occasion when my family eats them. I also love chicken but I would much rather have beef. Crab legs are good you should try them one day… be adventurous!!!!

MAO June 27, 2011 at 2:53 pm

These videos were very informative and reiterated how important Omega 3′s are to your diet. I was not aware of that we needed so much protein in our diets. Women are supposed to get at least 80 grams and men 100 grams. I personally am not a vegatarian but it was interesting to see the differents foods they need to meet their protein requirements. I also noticed I eat too much red meat, I should limit my intake to 11 oz per week.

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BNK July 5, 2011 at 4:08 pm

I already eat alot of chicken, but sure didn’t know lunch meat wasnt good to eat…I do eat turkey hot dogs so im wondering if this is the same as reg hotdogs

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vcanea August 18, 2011 at 8:34 pm

It’s interesting how easy it is for vegans to get all the proteins they need from different types of foods.

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daviste August 20, 2011 at 5:38 pm

It’s so sad to think of never eating meat! I’ve eaten veggie burger and tofu, but it just isn’t the same.

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Gattis M September 1, 2011 at 4:37 pm

I’ve tried veggie burgers but never tofu and never will. I agree I wouldn’t want to live with out some real meat.

Weatherford LM October 6, 2011 at 5:25 pm

It is in deed pretty amazing that they can receive all of their proteins, but not all actually broaden their horizons and venture out and eat what they need in order to consume the appropriate amount. I also couldn’t ever imagine not eating meat again!! I would choose meat over carbs, fruits, or veggies!

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daviste August 20, 2011 at 5:36 pm

I just recently started to like beans. Black beans and yellow rice is one of my favorites. I knew cheese wasn’t the greatest, but I didn’t know how little we should eat.

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McIntyre, Em August 22, 2011 at 8:40 pm

I learned about some new sources of protein from these videos.

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nicorici df August 23, 2011 at 8:53 pm

I am not a vegan myself, but I think the video that talks about how to get protein for a vegan is great!
I didn’t know protein reduces cravings– maybe I need to eat more protein and stop eating so much junk food for my cravings ;)

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Spencer KA August 30, 2011 at 3:24 pm

I didn’t know know protien reduces cravings until this video either, and it’s a very helpful thing to know.

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FosterKV August 24, 2011 at 3:25 pm

I didn’t know the amounts of protein we were supposed to have daily. I learned that women are supposed to have 80 grams of lean protein a day, very informative.

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reimershk August 26, 2011 at 8:15 am

I didn’t, either. For me, it’s kind of nice, because I always eat around that much protein and used to think I was getting too much! I was put on a high protein diet about 18 months ago for medical reasons. Even though I was taken off of it about a year ago, I still am in the habit of eating lean protein!

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Weatherford LM August 24, 2011 at 8:31 pm

I would much rather eat meat aka protein so knowing that 80g is a minimal is awesome! Its also a pretty fun fact that at one sitting a woman only absorbs 25-30 g, I hope I remember also that proteins help stop cravings in the long run… no more chocolate cake? Very informative!

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reimershk August 26, 2011 at 8:19 am

These videos are very informative. I usually hear we are supposed to have around 50 grams of protein per day. I was also surprised to hear why charring food is bad. I always knew it wasn’t the best, but now I know why.

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jen August 28, 2011 at 6:36 pm

no more hot dogs and lunch meat for me…

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jen August 28, 2011 at 6:37 pm

not big fish eater, but I have been trying more of it as of late

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BLisenbey August 29, 2011 at 12:03 pm

I have never heard of grilling your meat causing cancer. That is rather scary because we grill EVERYTHING! I guess now we will start using foil when we grill….i personally always liked the chargrilled flavor. Also it is hard to find a 4oz peice of chicken especially going out to eat at restraunts. it is usually always 6 or 8 oz on dinner plates. I guess it would just be good to eat half maybe and take the rest home for another time.

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Spencer KA August 30, 2011 at 3:22 pm

I didn’t know that cancer patients shouldn’t eat processed meat and should limit their red meat. I also didn’t know the redder the meat the leaner meat.

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West MS August 31, 2011 at 11:49 am

I don’t eat a lot of meat but i do eat a lot of chicken. I love fish and its real good in omega 3 which is good for me.

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West MS August 31, 2011 at 11:52 am

I need to start eating more meat because it will keep me full longer and in return i won’t be eating bad foods such as things with bad carbohydrates.

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dtoennis September 1, 2011 at 11:43 am

I always thought at the store they put something in the packaging that makes the meat look more red. That’s why when you open up a pack of hamburger meat and the outside is red but the inside is brown. I am not a vegan and I couldn’t ever be. I didn’t know hummus was a great source of protein. My family eats way more that 11oz of red meat a week I am sure. We need to try better and start adding in more fish during the week. Grilling foods is a big thing in the summer time, and I did not know it could cause cancer.

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Koon K September 1, 2011 at 4:35 pm

I have never based a meal in my life around vegitarian foods and didn’t know you should. I learned many things from these videos like protien was good for healing wounds. I love yogurt, milk and cheese so I am getting protien in some ways.

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Barber JN September 16, 2011 at 3:18 pm

I am with you on this one. Being from the south, you base your meals around the meat. Usually, red meat…and more often than not, fried.

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Gattis M September 1, 2011 at 4:44 pm

I don’t eat hotdogs but do eat lunch meat every once in a while. I did not know protein had anything do do with healing, but of course it helps with your muscles. I do eat lots of yogurt and drink plenty of milk. I was surprised over the fact you shouldn’t grill your food. Its like an american tradition.

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Sparks MR September 2, 2011 at 5:09 pm

I think everyone here who’s thinking that grilling is “bad” should do a bit more research on the subject. You can take a few precautions to lower the “risk” significantly. Only some foods produce these carcinogens, vegetables and the like don’t!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/02/how.make.grilling.safe/index.html there is a lot of information in that article about grilling carcinogens.

The most interesting parts of these videos was the portion size and quantities information. I’m sure my family goes over the limit in one meal sometimes! I’ve always known that hot dogs and processed meat were horrible for everyone.

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Mcclain JD October 8, 2011 at 4:33 pm

I didnt know that hot dogs were awful…..I dont know how i missed it, but i did. I liked the information on portion sizes, too. Thats where i mess up. I fill my plate up and then i have to finish it all because thats how i was raised…You finish your plate. Period. So if i dont have as MUCH on my plate….well, you know.

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Pierce SK September 6, 2011 at 2:03 am

Looks like im not going to be eating hotdogs at all anymore. We’ve already been using turkey instead of hamburger with a lot of our meals. I’m going to start eating more protein

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L-W September 8, 2011 at 11:16 am

I use turkey meat in my dishes that require ground beef. I haven’s tried it in my lasagna yet. My kids don’t know the difference.

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Hill M September 7, 2011 at 1:25 pm

I have dieted all of my adult life trying to maintane or loose weight. I have always seemed to focus on low carbs and low fat so not knowing that I needed Proteins to burn energy I actually was holding back on them as well. I could not understand why eatting salads all the time wasn’t helping me because I was not putting any meats or other protein filled foods with it. So not only was I starving myself I wasnt giving my body any energy to burn calories with. Hot Dogs I don’t even know what to say.

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L-W September 8, 2011 at 11:15 am

I absolutely love these videos. Processed meats were advised for me to avoid during my pregnancy. I love yogurt. I eat it a lot. I do buy organic yogurt.

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jen September 13, 2011 at 6:45 pm

I buy a lot of organic expensive but I it does have a better flavor

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mheadington4878 September 9, 2011 at 12:03 am

Didnt know that women needed 80 grams a day in protein. Interesting. Will be sharing with my mother and grandmother. Im sure they are unaware!

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Jowen5197, J-O September 27, 2011 at 1:20 pm

I know what you mean, my mother barely eats anything throughout the day, and meat is always the last of her concern….

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Keirsten Scott Scott KQ September 9, 2011 at 1:38 pm

This was a great set of videos because I don’t usually eat what I am supposed to but after watching this it makes me want to go get some fish and yogurt!!

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jen September 13, 2011 at 6:45 pm

I dont think any of us really eat as good as we should

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jen September 13, 2011 at 6:42 pm

my husband is Asian because of that we eat a lot of veggies and rice but i’m southern born so we have to comprise now and then and we grill our Red meat he likes to eat a lot of fish…I on the other hand eat red meat he likes tofu I dont know if I do never tried or not that I know of anyway.

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jen September 13, 2011 at 6:48 pm

wow didn;t know cottege cheese had so much protein in it…I guess i’m getting more protein than I thought I was…

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jen September 13, 2011 at 6:51 pm

all 3 of these video’s were so informative I have really enjoyed watching them and have learned a lot about protein and grilling and that maybe tofu isn’t so bad

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Nutt CR September 15, 2011 at 10:44 am

I need to tell my friend who has cancer about this. I love red meat and hot dogs. Why is it, all the good food is bad for you?!?

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Barber JN September 16, 2011 at 3:15 pm

I have never spent a lot of time thinking about what I eat. It blows me away that women need so much protein per day. There is no way I get that much. Also, I am lactose intolerant but I use Lactose-Free milk instead of almond or soy milk. I’ve tried both and they are O.K but I prefer the Lactose-Free variety because it tastes most like milk.

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James Matthew Clifton September 17, 2011 at 9:27 pm

I love incorporating beans and soy products in my diet. Also, when I don’t eat much meat, I use organic protein powder. So, on the lunch meat issue… Are the pre-cooked meats they cut for you at the deli okay or are they a no no too?

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dee anne kulis September 23, 2011 at 10:40 am

My mom is treating breast cancer naturally. She is on a program that is mostly raw vegetables and whole grains. Her treatment program says that the body has to use too many cancer fighting amino acids to break down meat for digestion. She only eats very small amounts of meat once a week. I was surprised this recommended so much meat for a cancer patient.

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ConnerC September 26, 2011 at 11:12 am

Working in a hospital I deal with a lot of cancer patients and I see how the dietitians and the patients must manage there foods to better serve them. I think these videos will help me understand why and how important it is to cancer patients to eat these things to help them heal and recover better.

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Jowen5197, J-O September 27, 2011 at 1:18 pm

I always thought I ate plenty of protein because I eat ALOT of protein, but I do not spread it out throughout the day. I didn’t know that you can only absorb so much at a time….

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VossWC September 29, 2011 at 4:30 pm

No more hotdogs or lunch meat? Thats terrible both are convienient and taste great. by the end of this class I had better be healthy because it seems nothing that tastes good is good for you…

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jperry1 October 5, 2011 at 7:55 pm

I agree! Quick easy foods that taste good are out the window :(

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dee anne kulis October 10, 2011 at 8:10 pm

I know what you mean, but you get used to it. We haven’t eaten a real hot dog is a very long time! The thought of it makes me just sick when I remember how they are made. However, when wanting a treat (like when we go camping), I pick up some of the hot dogs at Whole Foods in Little Rock that are made from grass-fed beef. They taste great and have no sodium nitrate or nitrites. They are expensive, but we get them a couple of times a year. It is worth it for the health of my family.

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cford September 30, 2011 at 11:14 am

It is always so interesting to see how nutrition and the body work together to heal. I had no idea that protein helps heal wounds. Being pregnant, I have found myself falling into a high carb diet, so this was a great reminder on how important it is to get plenty of protein in my diet.

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mcclain JD October 1, 2011 at 8:52 pm

Goodbye to my hot dogs…..so sad. At least, not as much as i eat them now. The third video was interesting. I dont know anyone who is a vegetarian, so ive never thought about how hard it would be for them to get their protein.

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eosborne October 2, 2011 at 5:42 pm

I love cottage cheese & yogurt! I don’t eat alot of meat, such as chicken, so I am so happy to hear that these two foods are a good source of protein! I hate that lunchmeat & hotdogs are bad…. I love hotdogs…. & thought I was doing good by replacing fastfood with lunchmeat sandwhiches.

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DeitzTL October 2, 2011 at 10:09 pm

I am not big on hot dogs. I am glad that fish is good for you since thats what i love to eat. I dont know how people can be vegetarians. I dont like the taste of tofu.

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jennifer October 3, 2011 at 9:12 pm

I really learned a lot about how much protien is needed for me daily and I don’t get it at all not even close, but I did find out that I like a lot of the foods they talked about like cottage cheese love it and pinapples with it I could eat that all day…maybe i should

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