Are you Kidding Me?   Fake Foods Revealed

Most of you know that myth-busting is one of my hobbies. Understanding the truth about our food - where it comes from, what's really in it, and how it affects our bodies - is a powerful tool for taking charge of your life. Every so often, some food realities are exposed that I just can't help sharing. Many of you say you want to learn more of these, so this will be a frequent newsletter feature moving forward.

Where's the Beef? 

Some food truths are shocking. And, I have to admit, some of them are also pretty funny. My favorite, recent expose is from Taco Bell. They are being sued for false advertising. The case asserts that the "beef" used in their tacos, burritos, and other menu items is actually a mixed food that includes less than half real meat. What I find comical is that someone would EXPECT the meat at Taco Bell to be 100% pure or healthy beef. Here's the ingredient list from Taco Bell's own website::

Beef, Water, Isolated Oat Product, Salt, Chili Pepper, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Wheat Oats, Soy Lecithin, Sugar, Spices, Maltodextrin, Soybean Oil (Anti-dusting Agent), Garlic Powder, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Citric Acid, Caramel Color, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Silicon Dioxide, Natural Flavors, Yeast, Modified Corn Starch, Natural Smoke Flavor, Salt, Sodium Phosphates.

Did you know that our FDA only requires that a food be 40% meat in order to be legally called a "meat filling"? The vast majority of fast-food "ground beef" includes a host of binders, extenders, artificial flavorings, and chemicals. Of course, this is great for profits! And true fast-food lovers have usually become so addicted to MSG that they don't enjoy anything that isn't laced with it; there are at least 4 sources of it in the list above. Eat on purpose: If you enjoy a burger, make a quick one at home with some oregano, a dash of Worcestershire, and a little seasalt. Make several at once, so you have leftovers handy. Or try my meatloaf recipe at right. Trader Joe's is a great resource for organic, free-range beef, so you avoid all the chemicals and drugs fed to conventionally raised beef.

Where's the Berry? 

  I love blueberries. They are my favorite fruit. But breakfast cereal manufacturers often advertise fruit when in fact, there is none in the box at all. General Mills claims their  "Total Blueberry Pomegranate" cereal includes the following: 

Whole grain oats, whole grain wheat, sugar, corn syrup, barley malt extract, brown sugar syrup, wheat flakes, malt syrup, rice flour, salt, oat flour, whole grain rice, canola oil, natural and artificial flavor, Red #40, Blue #2, and other color added, soybean and corn oil, sucralose, molasses, honey, cornstarch, almond flour, nonfat milk, vitamin E.

See any blueberries in there?  Pomegranate? Me either. Misleading name on the box, huh? I do see 8 different sweeteners though - plus a chemical artificial sweetener.  And chemical colorings that have been correlated with hyperactivity in children. Real or fake food? You decide. A great example of a company jumping on the bandwagon value of powerful, natural foods like blueberry and pomegranate and riding it all the way to the bank. Unfortunately this is only one example of many.  Eat on purpose:  fresh blueberries or pomegranate seeds are delicious atop a whole grain like quinoa or steel-cut oats for breakfast.  I like to add almonds, cinnamon, and a little coconut milk.

More Quick Revelations 

Appezapper?  An Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion® appetizer has over 1500 calories and a week's worth of salt. Even if you "share it", you're eating a meal's worth of calories before your entrée arrives!  Eat on purpose? If you're at Outback, choose to share the Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie instead.

Chemical Chew?  Almost every major, commercial brand of chewing gum includes chemical, artificial sweeteners. I'm talking about "regular", sugar-full brands like Juicy Fruit, Freedent, 5, and Big Red. The extra chemicals in addition to the sugar make gum over-the-top sweet, so you don't just get the flavor. You get an addictive sugar high too. Chew on purpose? Look for a brand sweetened only with xylitol, a sugar alcohol that won't raise blood sugar and actually kills bacteria that can cause dental decay. Whole Foods Market carries several choices. If you struggle with acid reflux or hunger control, don't chew gum.

Health food?  The typical single serving container of flavored yogurt (e.g. peach or blueberry) includes 22-28 grams of sugar (that's 5-7 tsp). The same as many candy bars. This is true for popular, organic brands as well. Eat on purpose? Yogurt can be very healthy.  Just choose plain yogurt and add your own fresh or frozen real fruit and/or vanilla.  I love to warm frozen peaches with 1 tsp vanilla and spoon it over cool, Greek yogurt with walnuts sprinkled on top.

Don't Despair! 

Food companies are not in business to make or keep you healthy. You may hear that on TV. Or read it on their packaging. But it's just not true. They are in business to make money. Some packaged foods are really quite wholesome, but many of them are not. Be in the habit of reading ingredient lists. You can do this for restaurant foods easily on-line now too. Does everything on the list should sound like something you would have in your own kitchen cabinet?  If something sounds fishy, it probably is. You can take charge of your health. Eat on purpose!

Found a fake or deceptively advertised food that shocked you (or even made you laugh)?   Please share them with me!