Shopping for healthy foods isn't as easy as one might believe. Food packages are designed to attract buyers. Many of the popular marketing slogans include whole grain, organic, sugar-free, or high fiber; however, buyer beware. That food labeled as healthy might have some not so healthy qualities as well.
Whole Grain
When looking for foods rich in whole grains, watch out for other ingredients that could be avoided. A product with 8 to 15 grams of whole grains isn’t bad, but at least 16 grams is excellent. Some may say whole-grain but not meet up to these standards. They also may contain lots of sugar, preservatives, or fat. Look for 100% whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat pastas, and other foods that have few ingredients.
Organic
A food labeled organic has been grown without the use of pesticides or hormones. However, this won’t get them out the clear of being bad food choice. Some contain the same high sugar, fat, and salt as the non-organic alternatives. Shopping for organic fresh foods, meats, and milk make best use of grocery dollars. Making foods from scratch instead of packaged helps avoid spending more on organic to avoid preservatives and dyes. Find where to buy organic foods at Food News.
Sugar-free
100 calorie packs and sugar-free packages look very attractive. The problem is they use artificial sweeteners that can cause side effects and higher cravings because of their sweeter taste. They may still filled with preservatives and ingredients empty of nutrition.
Instead of spending more for those tiny 100 calories packs of crackers or that sugar free muffin that has 200 empty calories, eat less of a healthier version. Make substitutions in baking foods that can lower calories and increase nutritional value.
High Fiber
That high fiber food might claim to be healthy. It may even help you stay full longer as that what fiber does along with speeding up digestion. But be cautioned, in the June 16, 2009 issue of Woman’s Day, Marissa Lippert, Registered Dietician, cautions that most with a high fiber label “contain powders like maltodextrin, inulin, polydextrose, and oat fiber…they help you stay full but cause digestive distress.” Instead eat natural fiber from foods including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Finally, keep in mind these tips. The first few ingredients are what make up most of the food product. Instead of buying high calorie, high fat, and low nutrition muffins or cookies, bake using recipes that substitute the less healthy ingredients for healthier choices such as unsweetened apple sauce instead of vegetable oil. Exchange some of the unbleached white flour for some whole grain wheat. Instead of the high sugar flavored yogurt, buy plain low-fat yogurt and add fresh fruit. Improve shopping and eating with smalls changes like this and being an informed buyer. Read those food labels, not just the front of the package. Make good nutrition easy with the help of Woman's Day.
