Crazy for Coconuts

Eating healthy is WORK. Everything you hear, read, see tells you something different. Carbs are good, carbs are bad… it’s all about the protein, don’t eat too much protein, don’t eat fatty foods, but your body does need some food to stay healthy. It’s all about the calories, or don’t worry about the calories. Every friend that has dieted will tell you what worked for them or didn’t work for them. Some have surgery, some swear by certain weight loss programs, while some will tell you to try this new liquid diet that everyone is raving about.

Yet others will tell you it’s a matter of calories in, calories out. Period. So while you try to cut back on what you eat, you also need at the same time to make sure your body is getting the right amount of nutrients. If you’re exercising, you need to keep up on carbs before your work out, water during your workout, and protein after your workout.  It’s almost as exhausting as the actual workout.

Then there’s the TV programs. Whether it’s the infomercials that push the latest DVD program or weight loss fad that you HAVE to buy in three easy installments, or Dr. Oz telling you three easy ways to bust your belly fat.

Because of all this, it’s no wonder so many of try and fail over and over again. There’s so many things out there to get sucked into, spend our money on, and ultimately ditch for the next craze to come along.

So why the “Crazy for Coconuts?”

Yesterday I went grocery shopping, and ended up in the health food section because I had some coupons for Weight Watchers snack cakes. We finally found them, put a few in the cart, and got ready to head to the checkout. Passing through the maze of a health food section, we stopped to look at the different drinks and shakes they sell for fitness and/or weight loss. I was immediately drawn to these bottles of coconut water, becauase of the bright packaging, the funny sayings on the side (“no fat and no cholesterol means big hearts and small butts”) and the fact that they were on sale! I mean, who can pass up a sale.

I made the comment to my husband, “You know, coconut water is supposed to be really good for you.” He said maybe I should get one to try it… and I ended up throwing 5 of them in my cart. Once they were chilled, I dumped one into a big glass of ice, and you know what? They really are good. But do I really remember WHO told me it was good for me? I am pretty sure I just heard people talking in the locker room one day and it was brought up. Does that mean I should run out and buy it? Probably not.

BUT what I failed to do when falling for the clever packaging & sale signs… was check the nutritional content. Just because it’s got “Water” in the name doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good choice. Each 16.9 oz container is actually TWO servings, and those two together contain 110 calories and 30 grams of sugar. All come from fruit, but still– it figures up to be 3 Weight Watchers points. The potassium (940 in the entire container) is great, and it is filling. But it’s 100% juice, and I don’t necessarily know that I need that in my diet if I’m already eating more than enough fruits and vegetables (most of which are ZERO points, I might add).

Bottom line, while I LIKE the juice, and I will drink the five I bought– as a Weight Watchers member, I probably won’t buy them again.