Shopping Gimmicks

Nutrition is an ever growing field of research and information, which is great, but can also leave the door open for marketing schemes and gimmicks. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for in the stores!

• "No Sugar"

Reducing sugar and added sugar is a great thing to do, but be careful of packaging that says "No Sugar", not all products have sugar to begin with. A great example of this is the Applegate bacon. The issue with bacon is not its sugar content, but the fact that it is a processed meat that is high in fats and linked to higher risks of colorectal cancer.

"No sugar" also does not mean there are no sweeteners! Check out some of the previous posts on artificial sweeteners for more info!

• Grams Game

Marketing has started printing how many grams of healthy nutrients are in each serving in big bold letters on the front of packaging. This can grab your attention and make you assume that there is more in that product compared to others. A great example of this is with Dave's Killer Bread. Their blueberry bagels state they have 13 grams of whole grains, compared with a Thomas bagel that has 48 grams of whole grain. The blueberries are also coated in added sugars which provides 2 teaspoons of added sugar in each of Dave's blueberry bagels. Don't be afraid to compare labels of different products!!

• Plant Protein

Research has been showing that having more plant proteins in your diet is related to better health outcomes. But, just because something has plant protein added in does not mean that it is good for you. Many companies that make protein bars and cookies are using plant proteins as a ploy for a "healthier" product, but they still pack their products with added sugars, white flour, and processed flour and oils. Plant proteins are great because they come from very nutrient dense products like beans, lentils, tofu, quinoa, and tempeh. Remember to always go "Food First", use whole foods for nutrients not supplements!

• Smoothies

Bottled smoothies are advertised as a great way to get more fruits and vegetables on the go, but taking a look at their ingredients shows that they are full of added sugar and oat flours. What they lack is real fruits, fiber, and whole grains. Make a smoothie at home by blending up fresh or frozen fruits and greens with some milk or yogurt to get real fruits and fibers in whole sources!

Other general things to keep an eye out for:

• Just because it is "organic" doesn't mean it is healthy, still look at added sugars, whole grain content, saturated fat content, etc.

• Green packaging does not mean it is healthier! Often times we get tricked into thinking green packaging means something is healthier or has more vegetables, that is not the case.

• Oat or almond milk does not mean it is healthier, still look at added sugars and flavorings that are added into the milks or products.

Written by: Meghan Hawley, Ellen Byron and Associates