here is another issue that is all over the news and tv ads - labeling such foods as froot loops and mayo as healthy. this is specifically under the 'smart choices' campaign. they claim that foods with the green check mark are good for you. who knew sugary cereals were good for you?? or high fat foods? putting check marks are those items totally discredits the whole program. we should be eating minimally processed foods and be avoiding high sugar and fat content, preservatives, food dyes, etc.
have you seen the ad on tv for froot loops?? the ad tells kids, and parents, that froot loops are a good choice because there are 3 grams of fiber per serving. there are three kids in the ad. it's so wrong, they couldn't even make adults to it. no amount of fiber is going to outweigh the crap you put into your body when you eat that cereal.
let's add to that the commercial, paid for by american corn farmers, saying there is nothing wrong with high fructose corn syrup in moderation. that may be a true. however, people aren't eating it in moderation...it is in almost every processed food item in the grocery store. if you eat processed foods on a regular basis, you are eating too much high fructose corn syrup. our bodies can't properly digest it and it messes with our systems. people wonder why they are overweight and feel tired and worn down all time...
one more tv ad to talk about...the woman with a family asking the government to please not tax sugary drinks because it may only be a few pennies to them, but to a family every little bit counts. give me a freaking break. seriously?? why are you buying sugary drinks anyway for your family? how about skipping the soda and 'juice' (which probably only contains 8% real fruit juice, the rest being sugar and water) and buying your family a brita filter for your tap water, some skim milk and some 100% juice drinks?? honestly, i have not made up my mind about the tax. i do think it would work in reducing the consumption of the sugary drinks, like it worked on cigarettes and reducing smoking, but where will that extra tax money be spent? if someone told me it would be spent on health and nutrition classes in schools, i would be for it 100%, but we all know how our government works.
the fda finally noticed the misleading food nutrition labeling and is taking action by putting some regulation on it. i hope they pull those commercials, too.
Again, another really good post and I generally agree with it. There is a little kink in this line of thought however and it really stems simply from economics rather than nutrition. Sadly, at least in the United States, sugary 'fake' juice 'drinks' and the like are much cheaper than the 100% juices (such as Tropicana) and can be purchased in bulk due to just how cheap they are. Consequently, poorer families, mom's with 6 children to feed for example, are the main consumers of this product and buy tons of it. Obviously they would definitly go the better nutrition route if their income allowed it, but giving 6 screeming children something other than water generally requires them to obtain the cheapest option... the fake crap. Anyone with a moderately decent income however, has no excuse - but are also entitled to destroy their teeth if they so desired... Ah yes, the wonders of living in a free country.
ReplyDeletei agree that i cannot speak from experience when it comes to raising kids and doing whatever it takes to feed and clothe them. however, at what cost are they saving money now? buying the cheaper juice drinks and the processed food items at the grocery store today will likely save them money. but, down the road when their children are likely to have cavities, diabetes, overweight issues, etc, all the money they saved at the grocery store goes out the window to pay for doctors and medicines. but most people do not and will not think about the long term, as is the problem when it comes to environmental consequences...that is for another discussion
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