I went to visit my parents last week up in Virginia, and the day I visited, my Dad had just bought a bunch of stuff from Taco Bell and brought it back to the house. I haven't had Taco Bell in 20 years so I was curious what it would taste like these days. Long story short, I was shocked at how bad it was. It's no wonder why chains like Chipotle have come out of nowhere to become so big across the nation. Their ingredients and recipes are just superior in every way.
What a coincidence...I just had some Taco Bell yesterday, just for a change of pace. No wait! That was El Pollo Loco (had a tostada salad, but elected not to eat the bowl...Taco Bell was on the other side of the parking lot). Taco Bell is at the bottom of my list. I only eat there for convenience (almost never) when it's across the street from a motel I sometimes stay at or the laundromat where I wash my clothes. Second from the bottom is Del Taco, followed by El Pollo Loco. Chipotle is at the top of my list because I can request brown rice instead of white (and black beans) and get a decent sized meal without having to pay a whopping $15 to $20 bucks (it's under ten dollars before taxes). I usually order the veggie burrito, then open it up and eat it's contents without the shell. (To me, this meal is better than the veggie bowl.)
It seems to work, but it's inconsistent, so I'm going to have to stick with my "meds." For example, Monday my blood pressure was 112/74 (I forget to check it yesterday) but on Saturday it was a colossal 160/108...YIKES!!!
So, if I start mainlining nicotine and trip a couple times on ibogain I should be in my 20s by the end of the month. Sign me up.
The ketogenic diet focuses on high fat, moderate protein, and very low carbohydrate intake. Foods included are lean proteins, fatty fish, high-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, healthy oils, avocados, and non-starchy vegetables. Foods to exclude include most grains, starchy vegetables, fruits, legumes and added sugars. Foods to Include: Lean Proteins: Meat (beef, chicken, turkey, etc.), fish (salmon, tuna, etc.), and poultry. Fatty Fish: Salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc. High-Fat Dairy: Full-fat cheese, butter, heavy cream, yogurt. Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds. Healthy Oils: Olive oil, avocado oil. Avocados: Rich in healthy fats and low in carbs. Non-Starchy Vegetables: Leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini. Berries: Low in net carbs compared to other fruits. Eggs: A great source of protein and healthy fats. Dark Chocolate (high cocoa): In moderation. Unsweetened Coffee and Tea: Can be consumed freely. Foods to Exclude: Most Grains: Wheat, rice, rye, oats, corn, etc. Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, etc. Fruits: Most fruits, especially those high in sugar like bananas and grapes. Legumes: Beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. Added Sugars: Cane sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc. Sweet Treats: Candy, chocolate (unless high cocoa), cakes, pastries, etc. Alcohol: Beer, cider, sweet wines, etc. Bottled Condiments: Ketchup, BBQ sauce, some salad dressings with added sugar. Low-Fat Dairy: Skim milk, fat-free yogurt, low-fat cheese (replace with higher-fat alternatives). Refined Carbs: Bread, bagels, cereal, pasta, etc.
Thats a good overall list and is pretty much every thing I eat when on Keto, except Macadamia nuts are missing from the Nut and Seed section. Although they not cheap. When doing Keto, I eat about 50g macadamia nuts every day. They a good way to get your fat calorie intake to 70%. Also when I first did Keto I was strict with only Dark Cholocate. Second time I did keto I started to have 1 small notch of Milk chocolate with my plain coffee once a day. 4g of carbs from one notch of milk chocolate or cookie doesn't take me over the the 20g to 50g daily limit of carbs, as long as I don't over do other items (green vegetables and berries) that have carbs in them for the rest of day. Technically it's cheating, but as long as you stay under 20 to 50g grammes a day total carbs you can cheat a bit with one or two small items a day from the exclude list. At the start of doing keto, I think they recommend max 20g of carbs per day, but after a few weeks you may be able to go as high as 50g when you have become 'fat adjusted'. The body can then handle more carbs without falling out of ketosis.