I don't count calories. I don't watch fat grams. I don't look at price-per-ounce.
I read ingredients.
This is what I found on a box of popular cereal that my son recently requested (after seeing a commercial for it on TV, of course):
MILLED CORN, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, MOLASSES, SALT, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (ONE OR MORE OF: COCONUT, COTTONSEED, AND SOYBEAN) SODIUM ASCORBATE AND ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, REDUCED IRON, WHEAT STARCH, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, BHT (PRESERVATIVE), ANNATTO COLOR, FOLIC ACID, VITAMIN D AND VITAMIN B12.Do you know what any of that stuff is? Most people don't, or it certainly wouldn't make it to the shelves of the grocery store as a product meant to be consumed by humans - especially children!
Let's take a look, shall we?
Milled corn:
-has both the bran and germ removed during processing, therefore all of the nutrients in these layers are also removed.
-is usually “enriched” which means nutrients that were lost during food processing are added back, however, even after enrichment milled grains do not have as many nutrients as whole grains and they do not provide as much fiber, if any.
-is not recommended for optimal health.
med.umich.edu
You will notice that the next three ingredients - and remember, ingredients are listed in order of the amount the product contains - are sugar, corn syrup, and molasses. Would you sit your child down to a bowl full of those things every morning? How do you think that would make a person's body and mind work when they are running on a bowl full of sugar? Don't expect your children to be healthy and behave if this is their main fuel. Expect problems.
Then we come to salt. Okay, we all need a little salt. But as the fifth ingredient? Might be a bit much. Maybe if higher quality, healthier, whole ingredients were used to create this product it would not be necessary to drown the nasty flavor with a ton of sugar and salt.
Ah yes, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. "When oil is hydrogenated it becomes a trans fat, and trans fats are bad news. Trans fats have been closely associated with heart disease because they not only increase LDL cholesterol but impede the body’s ability to utilize HDL." health.msn.com
Lastly, there is a long list of artificial nutrients added to the cereal, which would not be necessary had whole grains just been used in the first place.
Most of the cereals you will find on your grocer's shelves will have a very similar list of ingredients. Or worse! What can you do?
Try Nature’s Path Organic Foods.All Nature’s Path products are organic, so none of the products contain artificial preservatives or additives, genetically modified organism (GMOs) or synthetic pesticides, and the majority of products are vegetarian or vegan.
Also, Nature’s Path not only offers a variety of healthy, nutritious, delicious, organic foods, but the company has also been committed to sustainability since the beginning – they even have a sustainability and stewardship manager to monitor sustainability issues and goals within the company! Nature’s Path works to minimize the materials and waste involved in its manufacturing, shipping, packaging, and throughout the workplace as a whole. Many cereals are offered in EcoPacs and EnviroBoxes, which minimize the amount of paperboard, water, electricity and transportation used in the production process, and all paperboard from cereal boxes is made from 100% recycled paperboard.
Did I mention they are delicious? I eat them with soymilk for breakfast or sprinkle them on fruit and yogurt for a guilt-free snack.
This company offers many other products as well. Try Weil by Nature’s Path Pure Fruit and Nut Bars: organic, vegan line includes flavors Chia Razz, Goji Moji, and Pistachi-Oh! All are wheat free, GMO free and contain 1 serving of fruit per bar.
2 comments:
I freaked out when I look at foods that have a long list of ingredients. You are right, the majority of the time I have no clue what the ingredients really are. Now, I try to stick to the organic ones, or the ones with a short list of ingredients that i can understand.
Wow, unique post here!
Yes, salt as the 5th ingredient is a bit too much. And I bet it ain't healthier mineral salt or sea salt...
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