SubscribeFood Labels: Dare You Read Them?
Once upon a time food came without labels. There were no supermarkets, no plastic packages, and no-one cared about carbohydrates, fats, or calories. Sugary treats were delicious luxuries - a rare indulgence.
How times have changed.
Recently I was offered a "truffle" - not a real truffle - but some kind of chocolate looking thing. I accepted the offer and proceeded to enjoy the delicious looking morsel. The texture was odd to say the least, and about half way through my indulgence, I turned the package over to look at the food label.
I wished I hadn't.
The first ingredient was Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil. The second ingredient was sugar. The "truffle" was simply a dollop of sweetened trans fat.
I couldn't finish my "truffle".
The experience left a bad taste in my mouth (so to speak). I wanted to blame someone. Why should every eating experience be overshadowed by ingredients and sugars and calories? How can manufacturers concoct such things?
Understanding food labels is a must these days. However it's not for the faint-hearted. I continue to be surprised and amazed at what goes into many processed foods.
Jim, this post, in conjunction with your earlier post about the various names of sugar, is very helpful.
I think you've probably just helped a lot of people.
Brian
ReplyI also had that kind of experience. It's like being tricked into eating junk. For others who don't understand the effects of certain ingredients, it would be like heaven for them eating a very delectable food. A killer in disguise.
ReplyI felt that way after reading the ingredients of Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies. Not that I expected them to be healthy, but it was basically a list of everything we are supposed to avoid (hydrogenated oils, sugar, corn syrup, enriched flour...). It's like the Girl Scouts are trying to poison us!
ReplyI agree with Pat's comments-as usual, ignorance is bliss! As I have learned more about nutrition and cut out certain foods in favour of healthier choices, my husband has started to get the message by osmosis (i.e. He will ask why I'm not eating something in particulr) and often I will ask him if he really wants to know, because sometimes he complains that I ruin foods for him!
ReplyBan Girl Scout cookies! Evil Girl Scouts!
Replya good truffle recipe:
1 cups (18 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups (18 ounces) dark chocolate chips
1 (14-ounce) can low-fat Sweetened Condensed Milk (ie Eaglebrand)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Different Coating: nuts, coconut, cocoa powder, ….
In large saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with EAGLE BRAND®. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
Pour into medium bowl. Cover and chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.
Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in desired coating and/or decorate with frosting and candies. Chill 1 hour or until firm. Store leftovers covered in refrigerator.'
They are melt in your mouth good and the condensed milk is milk and cane sugar, which is a little less refined then white sugar.
No need for blissful ignorance, we'll maybe a little. Four 1" balls are about 200 calories.
ReplyThis situation can be awkward. I actually spat the thing out of my mouth. The person who kindly offered it to me could have easily been offended.
Not everyone cares or even remotely understands food labels. Some people can you view you as some sort of weird health nut. But I'm not about to start chowing down on gobs of trans fat... for anyone.
ReplyI bought something out a vending machine yesterday and nearly fainted when I read the back of the package. If I wasn't feeling like I was going to faint from my low blood sugar I might have just left it in the bin for someone else.
ReplyI'm getting about that terrified of transfat.
Though, I wouldn't have spit it out. Was the giver offended?
ReplyI like to eat foods where the ingredient lists are basically one item. Oatmeal: Ingredients: Rolled oats. Carrots Ingredients: carrots. You get the picture. It's just so much easier that way, I guess. The only really bad food I indulge in daily would be my nonfat nondairy coffee creamer...it has some weird stuff in it, but I love it so much. I figure a little bit of naughtiness is ok sometimes, but I don't want to be eating foods like that exclusively.
ReplyFor me a truffle is something made of high-quality dark chocolate, with fresh cream, a bit of rum or brandy, and rolled in cocoa powder. It doesn't have hydrogenated oils or sweetened condensed milk (although sweetened condensed milk is a very delicious sugar-laden food, yum... key lime pie).
ReplyJan! Here's a link for you! I just discovered this place. Maybe it will have something that you fancy.
Replyhttp://www.keylimeshop.com/
I think it's just as important to read between the lines with your organic or natural foods as well as the processed stuff. I discovered Laura's Beef yesterday, and find some of the language in their literature interesting - for instance, dancing around whether or not their beef is fed corn (which, because cows are ruminants, is an important question to ask).
Another label claim that makes me laugh is "free-range chickens." This claim inspires visions of chickens clucking around in a big field together, scratching for grubs and soaking up rays. In reality, it actually usually means a huge number of chickens living together in a barn with the choice of exiting a small door into a small fenced-off area. All the supposed benefits of "free-range" - exercise, more chicken-like diet leading to healthier eggs and meat - are defeated, but they still get to claim "free-range" and "organic."
I personally have started educating myself on what exactly is in my food (did you know some red dyes are made from crushed beatles? I don't eat strawberry-flavored yogurt anymore) and advocate others do as well. I also believe it's just as important to not blindly accept the claims made by "organic" or "natural" foods.
ReplyOnce upon a time there were no processed food too.
Read all labels and never eat anything people bring into work.
ReplyFunny I should read this now.
Yesterday evening, a Brownie scout tried to sell me some cookies. I told her "No thanks, I don't like Girl Scout cookies", but added that if she wanted to bake some for me I would buy them!
Reply