All posts tagged: food labels

How prepared food is sabotaging our health…

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I was in the store recently in a large city. It was a very nice grocery store, and most people who go there think highly of their merchandise. I do a lot of flipping packages around and REALLY looking at nutrition information. Because most of the time it just makes my blood boil. THE PREPARED FOOD INDUSTRY IS KILLING US!! Here’s a perfect example! Frozen Entree, ready to eat, just warm it up. Says “Clean Planet” on the label. Can’t be all bad, right? WRONG. So, let’s break this down. 17 g of fat isn’t a big deal, but it depends on what oil source it is coming from. Looking at the ingredients, I have trouble figuring out where the saturated fat comes from since Chicken breast, Olive Oil and seasonings don’t have much. So that is perplexing. Next is the carbs, and that is where they get you. 71 carbs in one 12 oz. serving, including 21 grams of added sugars? Woah! For comparison, A SNICKERS BAR has 33 gm of carbs… (and no, …

Protein Labels 101

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Organic vs. Natural vs. Free Range vs. Grass Fed: Making sense of labels on your protein choices. Natural“Natural” can be very misleading. The USDA defines a natural product as one that contains “no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed.” Processing must not fundamentally alter the product. The label must include a specific explanation such as “no artificial ingredients; minimally processed.” So, based on this definition, ALL fresh, raw meat qualifies as natural. Confusing? Absolutely. This term does not require that animals be raised in sufficient open space or indicate that antibiotics have been used prudently. It does not bar growth hormones. It does not mean organic. The term can mislead consumers to believe that a product is healthier and more humane than it is. OrganicFood labeled organic must be third-party certified to meet the USDA’s criteria. Organic foods cannot be irradiated, genetically modified or grown using synthetic fertilizers, chemicals or sewage sludge. Organic meat and poultry cannot be treated with hormones or antibiotics (sick animals must be treated, but cannot be …

Label Lessons…learned the hard way!

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Last week I was on vacation.  I wrote this on the plane.  Heading to Nashville, I was already planning how to sample but not succumb to the southern cuisine of fried chicken, grits and mashed potatoes, but it turns out I had to worry closer to home! Here’s my entry: So, today I’m traveling.  Not my favorite day as far as staying on my food plan, but usually the Minneapolis airport has some great selections.  French Meadow Bakery, sushi, salads.  But Nooooooooo…… Today, the security lines were long, so we went to the Skyway security checkpoint, which basically cost me my healthy lunch, as it bypassed said healthy options. Near the gate, we were confronted with three choices:  hummus with pretzels (really?  you can’t put a veggie in it?), veggies, with dip (dip?  yes, I’d like to eat healthy and serve it with a side of chemicals and fat), un-appetizing ham and cheese on bread, or the “Fresh Attractions”  turkey pesto, roasted peppers and cheese on a brioche.  Ok, I’ll take the turkey and remove …