Green Penny Pincher

So I’ve had this book on my bookshelf for ages, and I just pulled it down on a whim the other night and started reading it.  I was honestly pretty horrified before I even got past the first chapter.  We do try to eat whole, healthy foods, but we are guilty of eating plenty of convenience and junk foods as well, maybe just not as regularly as a good portion of the U.S. population.

A lot of it is common sense/knowledge to those who are informed about nutrition, but there were still some real zingers.  Here are a few I’ve hit upon so far…

• Keebler’s “Reduced Fat Club Crackers” claim to have “33% less fat than original Club Crackers.”  What they don’t tell you is they replaced 1 gram of fat with 3 grams of carbs and sugars.
• Bottled green teas vary GREATLY in the amount of catechins (the good stuff) they contain.  Republic of Tea brand Pomegranate Green Tea contains 8mg, while Honest Tea brand Green Tea With Honey has 215mg!
• The corn component of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, which advertise themselves as being “Diabetes Friendly,” can raise blood glucose faster than regular white sugar!
• Those boxes with the “American Heart Association” symbol on them?  The companies paid money to be AHA-certified.
• Some of the leanest cuts of meat you buy at the store have been “enhanced” with a sodium solution to make them “juicier.”  A 4-oz. serving of Shady Brook Farms Fresh Boneless Turkey Breast Tenderloin is enhanced with a 6% sodium solution and contains 55mg sodium, while a 4-oz. serving of Jennie-O brand Turkey Breast Tenderloin Roast Turkey contains about 840 mg of sodium!
• No wonder Haagen-Dazs ice cream is so delicious.  A serving of their mint chip contains 300 calories and 19g fat, while the same serving of Breyers All Natural Mint Chocolate chip contains 8g fat and half the calories… and is still delicious!
• A cup of Quaker 100% Natural Granola, Oats, Honey & Raisins contains 420 calories (before you add milk or anything else), the equivalent of 8 chicken wings.
• A package of Oscar Mayer Maxed Out Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Combo Lunchables contains 680 calories – the same amount as FIFTEEN CHICKEN NUGGETS!
• There are 7 different types of sugar in Pop-Tarts.
• ONE serving of Marie Callender’s Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie (and please keep in mind that one pie = TWO SERVINGS) contains 1,060 calories, and has the same amount of sodium as EIGHT small bags of potato chips, and the fat equivalent of 23 STRIPS OF BACON.

No wonder this country is so unhealthy, especially in a time of economical struggle.  Processed foods are not only more convenient and easier to make than their counterparts, but also so much cheaper!

What are we to do?  Well, I guess we do what we can and try to make good choices when they are available, and “splurge” on the junk food mindfully when we do splurge.  Check the ingredients on your food and see if it’s worth it to you.  Remember that ingredients are listed in order – the first ingredient on the list is the main ingredient, and the last is the smallest ingredient.  The more ingredients, the less likely it is a healthy choice.  Try to eat a “rainbow” every day, and go for fresh (fruit, veg, etc.) choices when they’re offered.  The more you know of what you are eating, the better you are eating.

Anyone have tips or recipes to share for healthier, more wholesome meals and snacks?