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..... My health is something I value greatly and preservation of my well being is always at the top of my “to do” list. It is not easy in this world where we are bombarded daily with conflicting opinions and information about what is good for us and what is the next miracle food or supplement to improve our quality of life. We tend to trust the written word and have also been conditioned to let others guide us and tell us what to do. They tell us what to eat and what to avoid, but have you ... this is an area that can be tricky especially when it comes to the many names sugar goes by; corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, maltose, dextrose, sucrose honey and maple syrup. If I see any combination of these listed in the first few ingredients I look for a healthier choice.
..... Then I take a look at the Nutrition Facts Table. This little box tells me the basic breakdown of serving size, calories and nutrients. I look to see where most of
you even asked yourself who “they” are and what “they” have invested in their advice or guidelines? We have to stay alert and assume responsibility for ourselves and when it comes to making informed choices, this is one area of nutrition where the more is better rule can apply. Do your own research based on a variety of sources and always ask yourself who benefits from this information. Do they always have your best interest in mind?
..... Walking into a supermarket sometimes reminds me of being trapped in a labyrinth. I feel overwhelmed with choice and bombarded with aisle upon aisle of processed food that each and every
those calories come from and whether it has any nutritional benefit whatsoever. Is the product mainly composed of fat calories? Does it contain any fibre? Does it provide any calcium? I compare products based on things I wish to include more of and things I wish to avoid. Larger nutrients like protein, fat and carbohydrates will be listed in grams and percentages. The micronutrients like vitamin C and vitamin A may only be listed as percentages. It is important to note that the daily value percentages are often based on a 2000 or 2,500 calorie diet.
..... The last thing I look at are the nutrient content claims and the diet related health claims. Nutrient content claims can be
manufacturer wants me to buy. They woo me with their pretty pictures and colourful packaging. They tell me their products are healthy and good for me and I want to believe them! If I am not careful and discerning I might find myself at the checkout with a cartful of pretty food that really does not enhance my quality of health.
..... Assessment tools can help. It is only in recent history that the food manufacturing industry has actually had to provide us with the nutritional labeling on their products. In Canada, nutrition labels became mandatory for all prepackaged foods on December 12, 2007.
..... The first thing I look at when evaluating a food is the ingredients list. Here I look for simple ingredients that I can pronounce and I look for products that have as few ingredients as possible. My red flag will go up when a food appears to be primarily chemical based or high sugar or sodium content. Ingredients will be listed in descending order starting with the primary ingredient. 		... a useful tool for people wishing to avoid things like gluten, trans fats, dairy and so on or quickly identify products that are higher in fibre or other healthful ingredients but you still need to read the fine print and compare products. I will factor them into my decision making process and use them as a general guide but I am always a bit wary of these claims.
..... The golden rule for building a healthy body is to base your diet on a wide variety of wholesome foods and rely less on processed foods. Know that with each step away from the backyard garden, we lose nutrients that mother nature supplies to support our vibrant health. The healthier food choices are most often found in the perimeter of the supermarket. Once you head down the middle aisles you need to stop and read the labels and remember to read between the lines....an educated consumer is a healthy consumer. Everything in moderation and balance!
..... Good Health to You!