Tips for Your Health: The Secret to Avoiding Premature Spoiling of Fruits and Veggies
Don’t you hate when you try to be all healthy by buying a bunch of produce, but it goes bad before you can even eat it? Annoying. The key to preventing spoilage is separating ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive produce. Learn which is which here, and never make excuses for skipping the produce again!
Some smartypants scientists are claiming it is and have the research to back it up. Some say the food industry already knows this and are capitalizing on it as best they know how (I’d agree).
For many people, it’s not that they don’t know what’s healthy and what’s not (although admittedly some of them don’t have a clue). It’s that they physically can’t control themselves when faced with certain foods. As David Kessler says, it’s like certain food hijacks our brains.
So what can we do about it?
I say until we know more about the science of food addiction, we should be very careful about what we put in our mouths.
Kessler says, “Much of what we eat in restaurants is fat on fat on sugar on fat with salt. Pick any dish in any mid-American restaurant. What is spinach dip? Fat on salt with green stuff. Look at the average salad we’re eating. If you look at the bacon, the croutons, the cheese…it’s fats, salts and a little lettuce.”
Like a recovering addict avoids trigger people, places, and things, we should avoid situations where addictive, nutritionless food will be prevalent (whenever possible). Does this sound ridiculous? Yeah, I admit, it sort of does. But then again… read the article this post links to.
I think this is perhaps the most important and profound thing to keep in mind, again from Kessler (read the whole interview):
“In the end it’s not about regulation. Government can play a role. It’s about how we as a country view the product. What was the real success of tobacco? We changed how we viewed the product. It was a critical perceptual shift. That’s the key.”
Let’s change how we view the product, and vote with every bite we take.
Reader Melissa Sue sent me this link (thanks!!) and I just laughed the whole way through this article. I find it hilarious that food companies now want the Smart Choices label off their products! Don’t they realize that the reason the program is so laughable is because its standards are so low? Instead of worrying about removing the Smart Choices label from their products, food companies should make an effort to improve them! Ugh, the whole food industry makes me laugh/cry.
Glamour.com compiled a list of some of the best healthy midnight snacks and used some of my tips and tricks. Check it out!
This is a perfect example of how a little planning, a little prep, and a little creativity can ensure even the busiest people can eat well during the workday!
A teensy modification: I’d recommend whole wheat fettuccine instead of regular.
My uncle is family, but I have to give it to Mark Bittman here. He makes some very important points about what exactly goes on behind the Smart Choice label. A must-watch video! Some important points:
“To put it bluntly, the government is putting itself in the uncomfortable position of subsidizing both the costs of treating Type 2 diabetes and the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup.”
Michael Pollan, why do you always make SO MUCH SENSE?!
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not a big fan of the green checkmark label that denotes so-called Smart Choice foods. When diet pop earns a check, something is decidedly wrong with the system. Unfortunately, that dirty green check is slated to appear on hundreds of food packages, including sugary cereals like Fruit Loops.
The rationale of food industry insiders?
“You’re rushing around, you’re trying to think about healthy eating for your kids and you have a choice between a doughnut and a cereal,” Dr. Kennedy [president of the Smart Choices board] said, evoking a hypothetical parent in the supermarket. “So Froot Loops is a better choice.”
BARELY. Let’s break down the nutritional stats:
Old-fashioned Dunkin’ Donuts cake donut: 280 calories, 18g fat, 3g protein, 1g fiber, 9g sugar.
One cup of Fruit Loops with a cup of 2% milk: 260 calories, 6g fat, 2g protein, 1g fiber, 13g sugar.
Yes, the donut has triple the fat, but the Loops have more sugar! So by “smart choice,” what they really seem to mean is, “slightly better choice.”
This overly simplified nutritional guidance will probably hurt us more than it will help us. Read labels for yourselves, guys. That little green check means nothing. Most importantly, if the food has a label to begin with, it’s already a little bit less smart of a choice.
Thanks to my awesome uncle Joe for sending me the article link!
Is This the Year We Say “No More” to the Food Industry?
I know what you guys are thinking: “That burger looks downright delicious. I bet it tastes delicious, too.” And I’m sure you’re right.
But it’s about time we look at what we’re eating more critically, and I’m thrilled that TIME has chosen to tell the story of our food. Sure, you’ve seen Food, Inc. You’ve read Fast Food Nation and Food Matters (or at least, I hope you have!), but have you really put your money where your mouth is — literally?
As Food, Inc. reiterates, we vote with every bite we take. Is it worth paying a few dollars more a pound for free-range, grass-fed meat? Ultimately, that’s your call. But I say we tell the food industry that yes, we as consumers are willing to pay more for food that’s grown in a sustainable and humane way. What’s more, we demand access to food like that.
I’ve had people complain to me that it seems like I spend a lot of money on food and that it’s unrealistic for most people. I disagree. I spend more on food because I make it a priority over other things. When I create my monthly budget, my grocery bill is often the first number I full in. Why? Because I believe what I put in my body is of utmost importance. I have loan bills, a car payment, and rent just like everyone else, so I firmly believe that if I can make it work, most people can, too. I love this excerpt from the article:
For all the grumbling you do about your weekly grocery bill, the fact is you’ve never had it so good, at least in terms of what you pay for every calorie you eat. According to the USDA, Americans spend less than 10% of their incomes on food, down from 18% in 1966.
So, Americans spend a relatively small percentage of their income on food and get comparatively more for their dollar. Yet, we still whine about anything that costs more than a happy meal.
But as the article says, cheap food comes with hidden costs. And you can bet we will pay those costs, whether environmental or health.
You can start small. Support local farmers at farmers’ markets. Ask people where your food comes from and don’t stop asking until you get an answer. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian, pescatarian or 100% meat eater, become a conscious eater and remember: Now more than ever, you are what you eat!
I love food. I love food that tastes good, is satisfying, energizes, and delivers lots of nutrition. There's lots of food like that out there. Let me prove it to you. Email questions, comments, or suggestions to yournutritionista@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: I'm not a Registered Dietitian (RD) or mental health professional. For medical or psychological counseling, please consult an RD, certified nutritionist, doctor, or mental health professional. All content on this blog is based on my own acquired knowledge/research and personal experience. It is not meant to qualify as medical advice.
