Why Read Ingredients NOT Nutrition Facts
What matters even more than the nutrition facts of our food? How about what is actually IN our foods?
Our food is so far away from what it is meant to be and there are so many opinions and documentaries about different ways we were “supposed” to eat. How about instead of focusing on some extreme diet, we just focus on what we put in our bodies?
Let’s focus on eating what we know is nourishing for our bodies. Whole foods.
Nutrition facts can look good if the item says zero sugar or low calorie when in reality, that same item can contain fake sugars or other not so good ingredients
Processed foods aren’t as nutritious as whole foods but my family still buys them for the convenience. In this case, look at the ingredients. The shorter the list, the better! If there is some ingredient you don’t know, google is your friend! There are some natural preservatives such as Tocopherol (vitamin E) that you may not recognize but in general it’s the ingredients that you don’t understand that are the most harmful to your health. Preservatives, MSG, food dyes, and fake sugars are big no-nos and are in more than you realize.
Get in the habit of reading every ingredient list whether it’s your dinner or your toothpaste! Basically, you should know everything that you are putting in or on your body. At least in the United States, our products aren’t regulated like you would think. Just because it is sold in stores doesn’t mean it is “safe.”
The Dirty Dozen List is published every year by the EWG and is a great guide if you can’t find or can’t afford organic.
*It is especially important for us to feed our son organic because his body is still developing and kids are more sensitive to a lot of these chemicals. Read my post on Feeding Baby for more info! They have the whole rest of their lives to get all the junk in their body let’s at least give them a healthy start! With that being said, if we are out to eat or at a friend’s house, we don’t worry about it. I’m sure you’ve heard of the 80/20 rule and I’m a big fan especially for us natural mamas who can easily go down the rabbit hole! Nobody is perfect but we are all perfect for our kids! 💚
Ingredients to avoid always:
•Preservatives (TBHQ, BHA, and BHT)
•Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
•Artificial food dyes
•High fructose corn syrup
•Aspartame & other artificial sweeteners
•Propylene glycol
Unpopular opinion but I personally think that diet soda is worse for you than regular. If I’m going to treat myself to an occassional soda, I look for ones sweetened with cane sugar and containing NO artificial colors, flavors, or caramel color.
Please note that I am not a doctor and this should not be taken as a replacement for medical advice. Contact a nutritionist if you need more information on diet changes.
Follow me on Instagram @yourtruepeace for easy food ideas, lifestyle tips, and all the positive vibes!
With love, Amanda