Agreed. It's a nitrate issue. We don't really avoid red meat [although I try to limit my own] for the kids. We eat it in healthy moderation. But really the problem with deli is the nitrates.


This is true. They are very healthy. And indeed we don't avoid them to the same extent as deli. We'll serve tomatos and peppers to the kids, just we usually won't cook recipes with them. It has to do with linkages to arthritis and certain homeopathic issues. I'd rather not go into it. But yes, I recognize that tomatoes and peppers are healthy. Again, it's probably more a moderation issue than totally avoiding them.

But again, that's among the reasons we don't impose on hosts, since for the most part, many of these things are shtick and have more to do with moderation than total avoidance. Depending on the particular food item.

But we're into this stuff, Again, not fanatics about it, but into it. I'm not into the alternative medicine scene at all, but I have to admit my wife has done amazing things with the kids (and herself) by altering diets. She also has given advice to friends about altering diets and has seemed to make a difference. I think there's something to it. Again, I'm not into the alternative medicine scene at all, but I do think there is something to the impact of diet on health and sickness.

Cancer. Look, I don't think anyone is going to drop dead from eating a hot dog. Just like I don't think anyone is going to drop dead from bottle feeding. But it's a matter of limiting some types of risks in a hypocritical and self serving way. Sure I can get by a bus, and sure I eat things that are worse for me than hot dogs, and sure there are things with nitrates that I still consume. That's not the point. I understand all about risk management and the stupidities of worrying about this but not about that when that is way more likely than this. If you want to get into a whole "healthy eating" debate I can, but I'm not here to preach and I'm sure you can find tons of arguments on both sides of the argument on the Internet. For every site I pull up that something is bad, I'm sure you can find 10 that discount those concerns. But I think nitrates are bad for you so I don't eat those processed meats. As for vegetables with those nitrates, don't forget we mostly eat organic vegetables so it's not as big an issue.
But I'm vary wary of getting into a debate that mimics those threads on nursing vs bottle feeding.

In seriousness, I believe wholeheartedly in the healthy eating debate. Not because I'm convinced it always works, but because I'm convinced that it's one of the easiest ways that a person can do something proactively about their health. We're quick to turn to medications when we have mild problems, what if we could solve them by just chosing a different item in the grocery store? Sounds like a good thing to try to me anyway.

Yes.
With the caveat that I'm not comfortable with doing things just so we can feel good that we are being proactive. There are dangers with that approach.

BTW. I wasn't debating the risks or non risks of nitrates. This is pretty new to me so I was just asking/looking for information.

In seriousness, I believe wholeheartedly in the healthy eating debate. Not because I'm convinced it always works, but because I'm convinced that it's one of the easiest ways that a person can do something proactively about their health. We're quick to turn to medications when we have mild problems, what if we could solve them by just chosing a different item in the grocery store? Sounds like a good thing to try to me anyway.

How do you choose what to change?