Eating For Health

Have you noticed the ingredients on some packaging?   In place of sugar some manufacturers are using high fructose corn syrup to sweeten foods.   So much so that now you can find packages with bold letters stating, No High Fructose Corn Syrup.    What is high fructose corn syrup and how does this sweetener affect your health? What is high fructose corn syrup?   High fructose corn syrup is made from corn starch.   After processing it is a liquid composed of 55% fructose and 45% glucose.   How is high fructose corn syrup used in foods ? One doesn’t go to the store to buy high fructose corn syrup, rather manufacturers use high fructose corn syrup in place of sugar to sweeten foods as high fructose corn syrup is cheaper.   High fructose corn syrup not only adds sweetness to foods, it also is used for other reason such as surface browning, giving “moisture, structure, and texture” to foods.   In foods like bread, jellies, and jams it is...

We recently got back from a wonderful trip to Europe.   What food is enjoyed every day, many times a day in Europe?   Bread.   All kinds of bread from delicious croissants in France to many different kinds of breads in Germany and Netherlands.   One morning in France, we talked to a woman walking her dog and later saw her with a bag from a bakery and she held it up and said, “My breakfast”.   We found the bakery she had gone to and went in and the shelves were half empty.   Puzzled the store clerk said they had sold out all those baked goods that morning.   We bought a baked roll and the store clerk gave us a fresh croissant.   It was one of the best croissants I had ever eaten.   Why does the bread in Europe seem so good compared to the bread we eat in the USA?   One reason is that many of the preservatives used in breads made in the US are banned in Europe.   Europeans buy their bread fresh every day because their bread has no pre...

It is easy to shop at the grocery store and pick up some ready-made meals.   But how do you know if what you are buying is healthy or not so healthy?   What are you supposed to look for?   My daughter sent me an article, How to choose the best ready-made foods at the store, according to a dietitian from Ohio State University.   Other sites also provide some advice on what to watch for when choosing prepared meals.   It is easy to pick up a ready-made meal at the grocery store but you may also be picking up a meal loaded with salt, sugar, or fat.   What to look for when choosing a ready-made meal or sides. Calories – look at the calories per serving.   My husband bought some prepared cheesy broccoli recently.   We were surprised that the calories per serving were not that high.   Meals – if it is a complete meal, look for total calories of 350-500 calories.   Too low in calories, say less than 200 calories, and you will be hungr...

Who doesn’t enjoy a bow of cereal, whether for breakfast or for a good snack?   How can you choose cereals that taste good but are also good for you?   Some cereals are so loaded with sugar or with chemicals, one has to doubt if these cereals provide much nutritional benefit.    Consumer Reports put 32 cereals through their testing procedures.   What did they look for in cereals and what cereals do they recommend and why? As a nutritionist, I recommend eating cereals for adults and kids.   A bowl of a healthy cereal makes a great after school snack for kids.   My husband often has a bowl of cereal as an afternoon snack.   If you choose a whole grain cereal, then add some real cow’s milk and some fruit, you have a very healthy breakfast or snack.   Labels and packaging – don’t be fooled by labeling on cereals.   Just because a manufacturer added some trendy ingredient like flax or promotes “grain-free” doesn’t mean it is a healthy ce...