Tag Archives: Labels

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Food Marketing 101

Marketing! MARKETINGUgh Marketing…Oh how I hate how they trick us consumers. It is sad that we have to be SO proactive when buying “food”. A very good example of this marketing scheme (as I like to call it) is in my blog, My Argument with the Cashier at Kroger. The food industry tricks us into thinking we are purchasing “Healthy Food” when in deed we are not. Well, if you truly think about it, why is there a health food section in the grocery store? AND how big is that section? Pretty small in comparison to the grocery store as a whole.

The ways they trick us…

  • Packaging – The packaging says “Whole Wheat”. Like whole wheat ritz crackers. Look at the ingredients. What is the first ingredient? Enriched! Not Whole Wheat. Then it gets worse. Notice the Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil AND the High Fructose Corn Syrup. Sorry to bust your bubble, but these crackers are nothing but CRAP! Ritz photo
  • Where they place items on the shelf – Brand Name food products are right at eye level, as well as whatever the latest trend or fad diet may be at the time. Like low fat, low carb and the like. This makes it more tempting to buy that product. Pay attention to food placement the next time you are at the grocery. (If you haven’t already.)
  • It’s Organic – Then it must be good for us? WRONG! WRONG! and WRONG again! There is organic crap out there just like there is regular crap out there. Sugar is bad for us whether it is organic or not. So, organic cookies, sugary cereals, ice cream, etc. are all still BAD. Get It? Good!
  • Green Washing – If you are not familiar with this, next time you are at the grocery store notice all the green, or earth friendly images on packaging. This lures us in (subliminally) thinking the product must be “good” for us. Don’t fall victim! Please!

I know, I know, it gets so confusing. If you do not already look at the ingredients you HAVE to start. The ingredient list, in my opinion and the opinion of many other health folks, is more important than reading the nutrition label. They both can be confusing, I know this, but you have to start somewhere. So start with the ingredient list. Please!

Now think of this, if you only bought food that did not carry a label what would you be buying?

Real. Food.

Now that is one crazy idea! Right? Well, while I know it is not realistic, for most, in today’s world it is something that we can strive to get better at. I know I can.

Where to start in this read labels thing?

-First off you would like to be able to pronounce all the ingredients. If you can do that, you are on the right track.

-Second here are six ingredients that you should stay clear of…

  1. High Fructose Corn Syrup
  2. Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans Fat)
  3. Artificial Sweeteners and Artificial Colors
  4. MSG (Monosodium glutamate)
  5. Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite
  6. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

Of course we could go much, much deeper into this whole marketing topic and what to stay clear of when it comes to those ingredients. A great example of marketing and why it is important to read labels is in my blog on Peanut Butter. If you haven’t read it I encourage you to.

Reading the ingredient list is one of the TOP things I teach my clients. I say all the time that knowledge is power. Knowledge IS power. This is HUGE when it comes to nutrition and being healthy. You need to know what you are putting in that body of yours. Then you get to make an informed decision as to what you are going to feed your temple. Don’t let the food industry make that decision for you. No one else is going to do this for you…well, unless you have a family member like me. Haha! (Disclaimer: I can lead my people to water, but when they are away from me they don’t always drink it). True Story! Oh and one more disclaimer: I am not perfect…I do not feed my temple 100% goodness all the time. If you follow me, you know my vices.

Be Happy. Be Healthy. Be YOU.

Much Love,

Jennie B

 

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Oh Those Nuts (Nut Butters)

Oh How I Love those Nut Butters…

My closest friends and family can tell you that I LOVE peanut butter. We have a very close relationship. I think if I was told I could never have peanut or almond butter EVER again I might just loss it!

Peanut butter has a special place in my heart. Not only do I love it but I tend to help random people while in the nut butter isle. I tend to spark up conversations while in the nut butter section. It makes for the perfect time to educate people on what true peanut (nut) butter really is (or should be). Sometimes while I am talking to them I can tell they are really soaking it all in and other times, well not so much. I get a look like…really lady? (I can only imagine what is being said in their head), “You are gonna stand here and tell ME what I need to be buying? I am Jif’s #1 fan. I grew up on Jif and so in my house it is Jif all the way everyday.”

Well if you are not up on what peanut (nut) butter should be, read on. Oh, quick side note, nut butter is butter that is made from a nut. In case you are wondering.

When you are buying a nut butter you must turn it over and read the ingredient list. It should read the nut and salt, or just the nut. Example, for peanut butter the ingredients should be just peanuts or peanuts and salt. Most nut butters have all kinds of added crap. From hydrogenated oils to sugar. That is not a true nut butter. That is processed crap. If you are reading this and you have any kind of nut butter around go read that ingredients list. See what cha got.

It can be tricky. You go shopping and find one that says All Natural. You think, that is good! NOPE! Just because it says Natural or even Organic that does not mean it is good. You have to be proactive and read those labels.

Now, you may be thinking, how do they get away with this? The food industry that is. Well there are so many loop holes in the food industry it just crazy. I don’t even understand it. I just know they do get away with it and they trick us as consumers into thinking we are doing good. Why? Because they are in the marketing business not the health and wellness business. That is why you have to take the time (and it really is not that much extra time) to read those labels and find the better options. No one is going to do that for you.

Here are a couple of examples. Notice the Jif Natural says contains 90% peanuts. Really? So what is the other 10%? Look at those ingredients and then also the label. It should have zero grams of sugar. Peanuts do not have natural sugar in them. Notice the Kroger Natural. Much better don’t you think?

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It can get even more confusing. The Kroger Natural, it is a good one (and Kroger actually has an organic one that is even better for you due to it being organic) but they also have a Natural No Stir. You would think that would be okay. Right? Wrong! The no stirs have added crap in them that keeps the oil from separating and is why it is no stir. Here again, you must turn that nut butter over and read the ingredients. Plain and simple.

Much Love,

Jennie B