Small Steps to Health

Food Advertising in Schools Contributes to Child Obesity

December 8th, 2008 by asithi · 3 Comments

Tagged Child Obesity, child obesity, food marketing

Photo by: hobvias sudoneighm.

My nephew came home last year with a coupon for a Happy Meal for reading 10 books in his school’s reading program. I remember watching his glowing face while he waved that coupon in front of me. I am a strong advocate of reading. I remember thinking: “Should I praise him for reading all those books or should I have a discussion about junk food advertisement?”

When voters defeat school levies or bonds, where can schools turn to for the funding they need to operate? That is right - food companies are more than happy to fill in the funding gap for displaying advertisements, passing out coupons, or subsidizing learning material.

Public Confusion over Food Choices Good for Profits

December 4th, 2008 by asithi · 6 Comments

Tagged Food Marketing, food marketing

Photo by: Bobby.

A few posts ago, I mentioned that everyone wants us to be fat. Along the same theme, I would like to discuss how public confusion over food choices is good for the profits of food companies.

The trade associations and public relations group can take the results of a single nutrient research and make across the board claim that their food product contain the beneficial nutrient and lobby for the right to make that claim on package labels. Never mind that food contains hundreds of micro-nutrients and other components that influence health.

Whole Grain White Bread Labeling Confusion

December 1st, 2008 by asithi · 11 Comments

Tagged Healthy Eating, food marketing, supermarket

Photo by: Lali Masriera.

My husband often falls for healthy sounding labels such as “multi-grain,” “7 gains,” “100% wheat,” and “cracked wheat” when he shops for bread. When the bread is on sale and has a healthy label, it makes it into the shopping cart.

I have no problem with people making the conscious choice to feed their families white bread. I just have a problem with food companies overselling their white bread as “whole grain” bread.

Is Soy Good for You? - Part 1

November 6th, 2008 by asithi · 4 Comments

Tagged Healthy Eating, food marketing, healthy eating, soy, Supplements

Photo by: Chrys Omori.

This is a two part series discussing the marketing of soy, the soy controversy (including the estrogen factor), how Chinese families generally eat soy, and who should probably not eat soy.

American Heart Association Endorsement Not to be Trusted!

October 29th, 2008 by asithi · 9 Comments

Tagged Healthy Eating, food marketing, health, supermarket

Photo by: laffy4k.

Health endorsements from the American Heart Association are slapped on the packaging of many sugary food products hoping convince us into thinking their packaged sugary food products are good for our families. This post discuss how the American Heart Association endorsement on packaged food products is not to be trusted.

Yogurt a Health Food? Do You have Dental Insurance?

September 29th, 2008 by asithi · 5 Comments

Tagged Healthy Eating, food marketing, healthy eating, supermarket

Yogurt is the cash cow of the dairy industry. Add some fruit, you have one product. Add some thickeners, you have another product. My problem with yogurt is the sugar, not the health claim

Sugar is approximately 55% of the 80 calories in Go-GURT. With approximately 5 grams of sugar, my co-worker is slurping a little over 1 teaspoon of sugar in 1 minute!…………….

Fresh Produce, Food Miles, and Country of Origin Labeling

September 9th, 2008 by asithi · 7 Comments

Tagged Healthy Eating, food marketing, healthy eating, supermarket

Photo by Natalie Maynor

Even during ancient times, food spoilage during transport for trading is a big issue. Trading food required some method to prevent spoiling. In those days, food is often salted, dried, or sugared (jams and jellies). When the food is not spoiled, it is considered “fresh.”

Fast forward today and our standard for “freshness” is much higher. 50-60 years ago, the produce sections of supermarkets were limited in variety to whatever was in season, grown locally, or brought in from places no more than a few days away. But refrigeration in trains, trucks, and airplanes forever changed our definition of “fresh produce.”

Read more at the blog……..

Everyone Wants You to be Fat!

August 28th, 2008 by asithi · 10 Comments

Tagged Healthy Eating, Weight, food marketing, healthy eating, supermarket

Photo by Simon Shek.

It is very hard not to overeat in America.  Just about everything is set up to encourage us to overeat.  What industry or professional organization might benefit if you are healthy and eat nutritiously?  None.

After exports we still have 3,900 calories available for each person per day. This post discuss the options available to the food industry and how they get us to eat more.