Today I am once again posting a “roundup” of the misleading food products I frequently share on Facebook…just in case you missed some of these or need a friendly reminder (or simply don’t use Facebook). Please don’t let the food industry fool you with these products!
First though, if you are trying to make the switch to real food then you’ll definitely want to know about our sponsor, Tribe Wellness. They provide virtual one-on-one “real food” consultations that can be customized to your family’s specific needs (budget, food allergies, etc.). And they are currently offering all new email subscribers a FREE “Shop Healthy Guide” that’s 9 pages full of tips on how to make healthy choices at the grocery store. Their motto at Tribe Wellness is “Eating Healthy Shouldn’t Be So Hard”, and they are so right! So if you need some extra help in figuring out how to painlessly switch your family to real food then visit their website.
GoGurt
Real Food Alternative: Why not make your own yogurt tubes by filling reusable silicone molds with homemade smoothies, plain organic yogurt (that you flavor yourself), or even applesauce? My kids love the homemade versions!
Hot Cocoa
Real Food Alternative: Just combine 1/2 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa (we prefer “special dark” 100% cacao) with 1 teaspoon of pure maple syrup and stir in 3/4 cup warm milk. If you own a milk frother use that to heat the milk for an extra special treat. This tastes so much better than those packets…and it’s better for you!
Ritz “Whole Wheat” Crackers
Real Food Alternative: Eating some whole grains is certainly better than none, but as an alternative why not consider some 100% whole-wheat organic crackers like the ones by ak-mak instead (one of our favorites). They are available at Trader Joe’s, Earth Fare, and Amazon.
Trader Joe’s Pretzels
Real Food Alternative: The whole grain version on the right are 100% whole wheat and therefore the better choice. Would your kids even notice the difference? Now this version does also contain a small amount of corn syrup, which I agree is less than ideal, but good-quality whole-wheat pretzels are unfortunately hard to come by!
Applesauce
We celebrated one of our daughter’s birthdays at Great Wolf Lodge (indoor waterpark) this year. The water slides were awesome, but I must say…the one meal we ate at their restaurant left a lot to be desired. Once or twice a year we’ll let our daughters order off the kids menu (the rest of the time they usually split an adult entree or a plate of side items), and this was one of those rare occasions. I honestly don’t expect much from any kids menu these days, but my husband and I were both perplexed with the little applesauce container that came on the side. Since when does something as simple as applesauce need both high-fructose corn syrup and artificial red dye added for it to be appealing to kids??
Real Food Alternative: It’s actually pretty easy to find simple, suitable applesauce at the grocery store (or you can of course make it yourself). Just look for applesauce that is both organic and unsweetened with only “organic apples” – and nothing else – listed on the ingredient label.
Log Cabin All Natural Table Syrup
Real Food Alternative: Pure organic maple syrup (we usually buy grade B), but even then…use it in moderation!
Ken’s Steakhouse Honey Mustard Dressing
Real Food Alternative: You can easily make honey mustard at home by combining equal parts honey and mustard (and optional olive oil).
Real Mint Jelly
I can’t say I’ve ever had mint jelly on anything myself, but this jar caught my eye because in big letters on the front it says “Real” Mint Jelly. So I of course wondered…what’s “real” about it? And as it turns out this product is basically a bunch of sugar (in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and sugar) that contains more “Citric Acid” and “Potassium Citrate” than it does actual “Oil of Spearmint.” Plus what makes the jelly so green is of course artificial dye.
Real Food Alternative: How about just some fresh mint leaves? Or if you prefer the jelly search for homemade recipes online.
Bac-Os Bits
I recently learned that Betty Crocker’s “Bac-Os” Bits are vegan (meaning no animal products or by-products). What?!?! So I of course had to look up the ingredients and this is what I found: Defatted Soy Flour, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Water, Salt, Sugar, Artificial and Natural Flavor, Red 40 and Other Color Added, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (Corn, Soy, Wheat). I didn’t exactly think this product would be “real” bacon, but I would have guessed it would at least contain some sort of meat product. But no this imitation food is made with artificial ingredients, trans fat, and a some other stuff I would never cook with at home!
Real Food Alternative: Organic (and/or locally raised) bacon. Yum.
What are your thoughts on the use of gelatin? (an ingredient found in a variety of recipes)
Love your blog! Just an FYI, if you’re voting with your food dollars, you may want to re-think your use of Hershey’s products.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/hershey-child-labor_n_2060702.html
[...] Misleading Food Product Roundup II: Don’t Be Fooled from 100 Days of Real Food [...]
Jean, this blog is not to make you feel inadequate or attack anyone for the way they eat. It is simply a place to get yourself educated, you take that education and do what you will with it. I guarantee you that every.single.person. Who follows this blog is not a perfect eater. I am a busy wife and mother too, sole proprietor of a small business and have a special needs child. I do not make alot of money, either, by the time I pay my taxes. And I most certainly do not have the time to cook and clean all day.I have always felt welcomed on this blog, and not judged. We are all different people with different circumstances. This diversity is what makes the ‘world go around’. With that being said, either this blog is for you or it isn’t. My diet is certainly not perfect, it is an ongoing learning process. Every healthy meal i can prepare for my family is one less meal of processed, unhealthy junk. Even if I only have time to cook 1 “real food” meal that day, I know I have done something good for my family.
I recently am trying to switch to no artificial dyes and sweetners with my kids. I noticed a link you had awhile back for the silicone tubes. I bought some and they do not work… for school lunches anyways. My kids would always have a go-cart in their lunch. So instead I started making yogurt smoothies in my Magic Bullet, and pour some in the silicone tubes to freeze, and for them to take to school. The silicone tubes ALWAYS leak! And it’s a huge mess. Those tubes work well for at home use, but not for taking to school
Thanks for posting this, I was debating buying some to use for my daughter’s lunches.
Hello Victoria. Have you seen this post on how to use the freezie pop molds: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/19/real-food-tips-4-hints-for-using-freezie-pop-molds/? Maybe it will help. ~Amy
A bit off topic but what are you thoughts on the new Kroger Simple Truth brand?
http://www.simpletruth.com/
Specifically the 101 free from list.
Thanks!
Hi Maleah. We do not have Kroger in our area though it was my grocery store growing up. I scanned the info on their website and it looks pretty good for an organic store brand. I can’t really speak to taste or quality…and be sure to read labels closely avoiding organic junk food: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/07/gluten-free-multi-grain-and-organic-junk-food/. Hope that helps a bit. ~Amy
Thank you for looking. So far I have found that the Simple Truth brand allows me to buy some items cheaper than at other stores. But only when Kroger is running a sale. Otherwise Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, etc is actually cheaper.
[...] Knowledge is power: I’m passionate about that. The more we know about a subject the better able we are to make excellent choices. I want my family, my friends and my country to make excellent choices about food, exercise and health. One of my favourite blogs for growing my knowledge is 100 Days of Real Food. Check out this recent article, Misleading Food Products. [...]
I’ve just discovered some grocery stores are using the NuVal system of rating food for nutritional value. What do you think of this?
Hi Melodie. Sorry, I’m not familiar with it but here is their website for more info:http://www.nuval.com/. ~Amy
[...] Today I am once again posting a “roundup” of the misleading food products I frequently share on Facebook…just in case you missed some of these or need a friendly reminder (or simply don’t use Facebook). Please don’t let the food industry fool you with these products! GoGurt Yogurt seems like a pretty innocent snack, right? Well, take a closer look (at the ingredient list) and you’ll see that these “Strawberry Milkshake” and “Banana Split” flavored yogurt tubes don’t actually contain any strawberries or bananas at all! The flavors come from refined sugar and artificial flavors/dyes. Did you know that artificial dyes are derived from petroleum and require a warning label in some countries stating they “have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children?” Real Food Alternative: Why not make your own yogurt tubes by filling reusable silicone molds with homemade smoothies, plain organic yogurt (that you flavor yourself), or even applesauce? My kids love the homemade versions! . . . → Read More: Misleading Food Product Roundup II: Don’t Be Fooled [...]
Please check out this video if you havent already!! its a real eye opener about GMO’s. For all that care bout the food we put in our body, there is soooo much more to learn!
GMO A Go Go!
http://www.youtube.com
PS thank you for your blog, I have learned alot! and making the change to all “real food”.
[...] 29. 100 Days of Real Food started as a blog meant to chronicle a family’s experiment of going 100 days without eating processed or refined foods. The family never looked back. The blog recognizes the often high cost of eating unprocessed, unrefined, organic foods and so shares not only the strategies and benefits of such a lifestyle, but also budgeting tips to help others achieve this lifestyle. Highlight: Misleading Food Product Roundup II: Don’t be Fooled [...]
I have Xanthan Gum in my home, and according to the label it is a 100% natural plant derived ingredient. It apparently makes food thicker, so I can see why it’s necessary in something like salad dressing. But I’m not sure. What are your thoughts on this?
Hello Cat. Xanthum Gum is not an ingredient we would typically have in our pantry and do not use. It is also not tolerated well in the body by many. Chia and flax can be used much the same way and are healthy alternatives. This link may help explain: http://glutenfreegirl.com/2011/02/chia-seeds-and-flaxseeds/. ~Amy
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