What are "frankenfoods"?

[Ptrcmcc6]

I hope this isn't a dumb question but I've seen them mentioned in a few posts to stay away from "frankenfoods". If anybody can help me out with what they are........I'd appreciate it.

[shellslyn]

Frankenfoods are anything with sugar alcohols and anything used for meal replacements such as bars and shakes.

Of course, everyone has their own definitions.

[mommyo4]

I think its stuff like: hotdogs, coco puffs, oreos, and things that are not in their natural state. Not 100% sure, but that is my understanding! Just try to eat things as close to the way God made them and you will be OK! ;)

[astrocreep]

Frankenfoods are processed foods. Mommy is right, hot dogs are DEF frankenfoods. Not quite sure if I would consider cocoa puffs and oreos frankenfoods though. I kinda think of them as foods that are "put together" from pieces of food, LoL. Hot dogs are a VERY good example of this.

[LilPunkin]

I also include anything that isn't naturally low-carb, but has been altered to become low-carb. Like low carb pancakes, bread, pasta, candy, etc.

[biglee50]

well I guess everybody has there own definitions huh.
I didnt realize hotdogs were so bad.
I eat them all the time. Fast and easy for lunch

[spiderdust]

Carb Countdown milk = frankenfood
heavy cream = not a frankenfood

Granted, it's not too bad of a frankenfood, but it's still one.

Some people also believe that any genetically modified food is a frankenfood.

[LilPunkin]

Carb Countdown milk = frankenfood
heavy cream = not a frankenfood



I totally agree! Have you read the ingredients in Carb Countdown? That was enough to keep me from buying it. Hey...if ya can't say it...don't eat it...LOL

[shellslyn]

Some people also believe that any genetically modified food is a frankenfood.This is the true definition of a frankenfood.

I wouldn't consider a hot dog frankenfood. It's processed but not genetically altered.

Dreamsfield pasta and artificial sweetners are definate frankenfoods. Most processed foods are also frankenfoods.

[astrocreep]

I dont think "genetically altered" is an exact definition of a frankenfood either, although I'm sure some are. Has anybody considered that the meats we're eating (chicken, beef, pork etc), unless you're eating organic or free range, have also been eating genetically altered corn and grains? Also the animals themselves had been genetically altered to produce larger animals thus more product. There are some good genetically altered foods out there or that are being researched (like tomatoes that contain extra lycopene, which helps protect against cancer).

I think the best definition of frankenfood is a food that has been pieced together from other (often unknown) bits of food and/or have been processed (like fake cheeses, spam, etc). But like shell said, everyone has their own definition.

Biglee, I eat hot dogs too. The best ones though are the "real" hot dogs like sabret or nathan's. They're a much better choice than say oscar meyer or bar s, etc.

I honestly buy the jennie-o hot dogs, cause they taste just like the louie rich ones (my fav but they have 3-4g carbs per dog). The jennie-o ones have 1g per hot dog, and if you have a Save-A-Lot near you they're 79 cents for 10 dogs, an EXCELLENT PRICE! =)

[spiderdust]

I dont think "genetically altered" is an exact definition of a frankenfood either, although I'm sure some are.

Actually, if you type in the word "frankenfood" at Google, you'll get tons and tons of articles about genetically modified foods.

Personally, I hate the idea of GMO food, and that's why I try to go organic whenever possible. One of the dangers with GMP foods is cross-over allergies. For example, someone who is allergic to fish could go into anaphalactic shock by eating a strawberry... some strawberries are now modified with fish genes.

[shellslyn]

I dont think "genetically altered" is an exact definition of a frankenfood eitherhttp://www.wordspy.com/words/Frankenfood.asp

Frankenfood noun. Food derived from genetically modified (GM) plants and animals

...This word became popular soon after it appeared in a letter to the editor of The New York Times...

[cammie137]

One of the dangers with GMP foods is cross-over allergies. For example, someone who is allergic to fish could go into anaphalactic shock by eating a strawberry... some strawberries are now modified with fish genes.

While this may be true (depends on the gene that's getting added in; people generally aren't allergic to every gene in fish, just specific ones), there is also a lot of work being done to try to remove the genes that trigger allergies in people.

Organic foods may be non-modified, but not always, as some growers use that to simply describe how the plants are grown (free of pesticides, artificial fertilizers, etc.) Another thing to look out for is that non-modified crops should not be grown in such a way that they can cross-pollinate with the modified crops.

It's not easy to eat that way, and I give a lot of credit to those of you who are willing to make the effort to do so.

But back on topic, for me, frakenfoods are basically the lo-carb equivalents of all the junk food I shouldn't have been eating in the first place.

[Ptrcmcc6]

So my low carb Breyer's Chocolate Ice Cream is frankenfoods? :cry:

[astrocreep]

Yeah I guess it is PTR. But it's yummy alright! LoL. I just try to limit my LC ice cream because I noticed when I had it 3-4x a week my weightloss slowed. I have it about 1x per week now and I buy LC ice cream bars because they're ALOT easier to control then a whole tub of ice cream sitting in the fridge, LoL.

Blue bunny makes very good LC ice cream bars and they're very inexpensive, you get 12 for about 2.50 at walmart. Not too bad considering the breyers carb smart ones are 3.99-4.99 for 6!

[GonnaDoIt!]

Although new here, before starting Akins I heard of the word "frankenfoods" mentioned by others and they always used it as the term for snack and junk foods....substitutes for the real thing to make the diet easier. Atkins teaches us the right way of eating...the quick fix junkfoods (frankenfoods) aren't considered the way to go..especially during your tim on induction.

[kidnj]

You're right -- everyone has his/her own definition of frankenfoods. For me -- if it comes in any kind of package, it's a frankenfood. I buy only free-range organic (no antibiotics, no hormones, no mods at all) foods directly from the Whole Foods butcher. And everything else is vegetables...
d.