Gray Foods not on FAA Food Plan

[step3]

Eating foods not on the suggested FAA food plan (even if they don't have sugar/flour/wheat in them) can cause cravings. Foods not on the plan like this are called "gray foods" and eating them is dangerous because it can lead the abstinent food addict back into active addiction. Some examples of foods like this are cheese, potato chips, nuts, popcorn (with or without butter), cream, butter, etc. Notice that these are all high-fat foods. Many food addicts are addicted to not only s/f/w, but also to high-fat.

There are also certain high-carbohydrate foods not on the FAA suggested food plan because they trigger cravings in food addicts. Some examples of these are bananas and mangoes.

Also, there are food items on the suggested FAA food plan that might be personal trigger foods for certain individuals but are OK for other abstinent food addicts. For instance, I myself found after following the food plan for a while that I needed to let go of rice cakes. As long as I was at it, I also let go of the puffed cereals because they have hardly any fiber. I'd prefer to eat high-quality foods with fiber because fiber gives us the feeling of being full and satiated... and that feeling helps us get from one meal to the other without hunger. Some other foods I've heard abstinent FAA members had trouble with and gave up for their well-being are grapes, cherries, corn. Some can't eat watermelon. We're all different and have to find what works for us within the parameters of the food plan.

Finding your personal trigger foods (they "trigger" cravings in you) takes some experimenting, and I suggest working with your sponsor on this... at least that's what I did and it was a huge help. As you're probably also finding, clean abstinence is going to take "H.O.W." = honesty, open mindedness, and willingness. Some people are able to come to FAA and find this from their first day, other FAA members don't "get it" immediately and achieving clean abstinence is more of a process for them. Whichever type of person you are, you are very welcome in FAA and we're glad you're here. Don't eat s/f/w, go to meetings, and ask for help. FAA does work!

[here42da]

Thank you step3, for this great defining explanation of gray foods and why they are not okay for us to use them. I used to wonder what others were talking about when referring to "gray foods". for me these would definitely be the items that I over ate. The ones that made me want more, more and even when uncomfortable and bloated, I found myself eating still more. It all makes a lot of sense why they are not on the food plan, and why they would lead into relapse. I understand that some who come into our program are used to eating these foods, but I would recommend getting off them as soon as possible in either one of two different ways. Either cold trukey as they say, stopping immediately, or gradually weaning yourself off of them, which will take longer, and I think the harder of the two ways, because all this time you would still be experiencing the cravings. Thanks again for this valuable information.
here42da

[leucadia]

I amjust joining FAA. I have ordered the pamphlet for beginners. Whoo it seems overwhelming right now , but I need and want help. Thank you

[step3]

Welcome to FAA, leucadia! I'm so glad you've found us here on the new forum for Online Support. Getting the Newcomer's Booklet is a good first step, and I'd also suggest coming to some FAA meetings as soon as possible. There is an Online Meeting today at 1pm Eastern Time. To get to it, you can follow this link. When the page opens, click on the picture of the computer and it will take you into the Chat Room, where the meeting is being held.
http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/online-meetings

There are also 5-6 phone meetings held each day, as well as face-to-face (in person) meetings in many cities. To find out more about these meetings, you can click here:
http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/meetings

You've come to the right place, leucadia. Recovery from food addiction is possible, and the solution, I found, is right here in FAA. Again, Welcome!

Warmly,
step3

[leucadia]

Good info
I am a newcomer and you made sense.

[leucadia]

Thank you so much. I will have to get the phone meetings. I don't think there are any face to face meetings where I live. Thank you again.

[step3]

http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/meetings

The link above is to the Food Addicts Anonymous Home Page, the section there on meetings. There are four different types of meetings in FAA (in person, phone, online, and the FAA Loop~ a 24/7 Internet meeting by email). There is also an Open Chat for Newcomers on Friday nights at 9pm Eastern Time in the FAA Chat Room. This is a good chance for newcomers to come and ask any questions they might have or to interact with recovering FAA members in an informal setting. To get into the Chat Room, follow the link for Meetings, then go to Online Meetings. You can get into the Chat Room from that page.

Good luck!

step3

[Enchantra]

I've read a lot of the literature including the food plan. Maybe I missed it? Where would nuts fall on the food plan?

Thanks so much.

[Bubbles57]

I thought popcorn was good because of the fiber content. I was snacking on nuts to get my protein and bananas and grapes as well. I need to read more on the gray foods. But I do understand how they can be trigger foods because it can almost take the form of junk food like grapes, peanuts and popcorn because they are fun to eat and find yourself eating a pound of that stuff.
I am practicing on eating the right stuff and eventually, eating healthy and smaller portions will become a habit, a life style change indeed.
Bubbles57

[here42da]

You won't find nuts on the FAA food plan, I believe whoever, whether a few or many, originally wrote the food plan had a pretty good handle on the information pertaining to many of the foods that are usually questioned. I ask myself "Would I be able to eat a small amount of nuts," and I know from past experience that the answer would be no. I remember what I was like. The same thing goes for cheese, and many other substances that were wisely left off. My understanding on those two items that they have a very high fat content as well. Grapes is listed however, for people that it becomes a trigger, they eliminate them. Just as I would eliminate watermelon, since I used it previously thinking I could handle it, but then found myself binging on it.

There is a section in our guidelines that goes like this "3. Additions to Food Plan Very active, extremely overweight, petite, vegetarians, or those with specific medical issues may need to make modifications to the food plan with the assistance of a physician or a sponsor. The food plan as it is written is only a suggestion and has helped many, many people." Many people find they have to make some changes as their recovery continues, and working with a sponsor or physician is key to this process. I could not plan my own food with out this plan as I certainly did mess everything up in the past. Thankfully I can just follow this as it written. There aren't any calories or grams to count. No points to figure, no higher or lower glycemic index choices to choose from, and so on... but I know the FAA food plan worked for me and I love it and the way it changed my health. Loving doing the FAA way.
here42da