Have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to decipher a food label or sift your way through the health claims? With seven syllable ingredients and symbols to denote nutrition ratings on the label, it can be difficult to determine what to eat. Author Bonnie Taub-Dix makes healthy shopping easy with an aisle by aisle shopping guide that can be used by anyone in any store, any city, and at any price point. SuperKids Nutrition caught up with Bonnie and asked her to share some helpful tips from her new book.
A table of contents describes what is inside a book and labels should do the same by describing exactly what is inside a food product. It is important to look beyond the flashy front of package advertising. Food companies use words to attract you to a product, but what’s inside is not always attractive.
Labels speak to us all differently. For instance, if you’re concerned about your weight or your child’s weight, you might look toward total calories. But you also need to know what those calories are composed of because calories as a standalone can be misleading. A product that is low in calories is not necessarily healthy as it might also be low in vitamins and minerals, which is not part of a healthy diet. The ingredient label is also important to review. You want to choose products with short ingredient lists. If you’re buying almonds, and the only ingredient listed is almonds, then you know you’re getting a good product.
There are two common myths that I also try to dispel. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. This is not always true because many difficult to pronounce words are often harmless, and sometimes helpful ingredients. For example, alpha-tocopherol is actually vitamin E and ascorbic acid, which sounds scary, is vitamin C. The other common myth is to shop the perimeter of the store. I discourage my patients from strictly shopping the perimeter because you can also make the most of the middle using advice from “Read It Before You Eat It”.
Organic is a term that is specifically defined. Organic foods are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or synthetic fertilizers, and cannot be genetically modified or radiated. Organic poultry, dairy, meat and eggs are produced without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics, and are humanely raised and slaughtered. This definition, does not, however, reflect the nutritional value of a food. Many people think organic is synonymous with healthy, but organic candy is still candy.
Natural, on the other hand, is the most popular term used on food labels, but it is not defined. If you buy a natural product, you’ll likely get a picture of a scenic farm or a grazing cow on a recycled box, but what’s inside the product may be questionable. Products use “health halos” like fresh, natural, and wholesome so we think the food product will be beneficial for our health.
Bolognese, which I actually just made this past weekend! I use ground turkey and a variety of vegetables. I will process carrots, celery, onions, and garlic, sometimes broccoli for added flavor and nutrition. You can use just about any vegetable—that’s what so great about this dish. Sauté the ground meat and vegetables then add your own homemade tomato sauce and let it simmer while you make whole grain pasta and a side salad. It’s full of flavor, kid-friendly, easy to make, and best of all, healthy and delicious!
Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RD, CDN is Director and Owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants, LLC, with offices on Long Island and in New York City. Visit her site and buy her book at https://www.bonnietaubdix.com/. In this role for the past thirty-three years, Bonnie counsels individuals, including many celebrities and dignitaries, as well as groups. She is an advisor to major corporations, law firms, food companies, and fitness clubs, setting up wellness programs, working on messaging, conducting seminars, and providing media interviews.
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Learn MoreMeet Melissa Halas. When she’s not at SuperKids Nutrition, she’s inspiring adults to live their best life through healthy eating and an active balanced lifestyle at MelissasHealthyLiving.com.
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