Foods that *seem* healthy but are not...

**Indadhanu** · October 24th, 2009, 07:07 PM

Fruity Bix. Do you know that the wild berry fruity bix have as much sugar as Coco Pops??? Yep, its true, as I shocking found out while munching on a bowl of them! But SHHHHHH don't tell Shel. I'm always on at her about my cereal choioces being healthy and her's being unhealthy!!!!! Oh dear! LMAO!

Fruit loops and roll ups are a huge bug bear of mine. GRRRRR, neither of them resemble ANY type of fruit I know of. Actually, neither even TASTE like a fruit.

**Inanna** · October 24th, 2009, 07:08 PM

BJ - nutrigrain was listed as one of the highest on the sugar content list - just thought you might like to know.

**~clover~** · October 24th, 2009, 07:09 PM

BJ - nutrigrain was listed as one of the highest on the sugar content list - just thought you might like to know.

Lol, doesn't suprise me. As I said, its not often I buy them. Will take sugar over food colourings any day. DD2 climbs the walls after something yellow.

**Inanna** · October 24th, 2009, 07:21 PM

Nutrigrain has colouring too: E150 Caramel
You probably know but in case you don't I thought I'd let you know. It upsets me how these companies get away with all the crap in food and unwary consumers buy their products. Disregard if you knew...

ETA: I am an unashamed food nazi

**~clover~** · October 24th, 2009, 07:25 PM

lol. Its better to know. You can probably tell I go for the ones that look less exciting, but probably aren't.

**Inanna** · October 24th, 2009, 07:31 PM

I understand.

That is why threads like this are so good. Because many people are sucked in by the advertising of "healthy, organic (organic can also have loads of sugar - albiet of the organic kind), light, no artificial sweetners (usually means loads of sugar which they term a natural sweetner)... etc etc.

They reel us in - and prey on the bet that Mamas are always trying to choose healthy options for our kids so we are more likely to buy "natural etc etc...

**Phteven** · October 24th, 2009, 07:43 PM

^ ITA, I hate it when junk food masquerardes as a healthy choice.
Personally I don't mind feeding my children the odd bit of junk but I like to be clear about what is wholesome and what isn't.

**Inanna** · October 24th, 2009, 07:47 PM

Exactly. I don't mind some junk foood now and then either - but I want my kids to know what is junk and what is not. I have found it really helpful to take them and show them the packets etc so they know. Also whenever those current affairs shows have expose`s on sugar/fat/additive hidden content in staple food shows I make it compulsory viewing for them all!

**Astrid** · October 24th, 2009, 07:56 PM

The last time I checked Cheerio's they had the colouring 160b(annatto), the one that hypes up DD1. Would be interesting to see if it is still being used now that Uncle Tobies has taken it over.

**MrsFabuloso** · October 24th, 2009, 07:59 PM

Magarine, and low/fat low sugar stuff.

My DH is trying to convince me we are better off having the low fat plant sterols margarine. Little does he know the crappola they put into that stuff! I refuse and use either butter, avocado or whole egg mayo if I need to.
And he's also sucked into the ohh, it's low fat/no sugar, must be better! He drinks diet drinks thinking they are better than the full sugar stuff. I would rather have a huge sugar hit than drink the artificial stuff. But I rarely have it in the house, DH buys it when he's working.

**Nettie** · October 24th, 2009, 08:05 PM

Magarine, and low/fat low sugar stuff.

My DH is trying to convince me we are better off having the low fat plant sterols margarine. Little does he know the crappola they put into that stuff! I refuse and use either butter, avocado or whole egg mayo if I need to.
And he's also sucked into the ohh, it's low fat/no sugar, must be better! He drinks diet drinks thinking they are better than the full sugar stuff. I would rather have a huge sugar hit than drink the artificial stuff. But I rarely have it in the house, DH buys it when he's working.

:yeahthat:

Lilias - you're a woman after my own heart...

My thing would be drinks like Coke Zero... people think they're being healthy - but are consuming a whole lot of chemicals and goddess-knows what (who can actually point at a natural ingredient that is in coke zero??? - not me!).

**ladybird11** · October 24th, 2009, 08:08 PM

I hate the marketing aspect of these food items personally...some people don't take the time to read the labels, or don't understand them etc - so they see 'healthy' or '99% Fat free' written on the packaging and think they're getting a *healthy* food item..

As you've all identified they're either loaded with colourings, sugars, salts etc.

**Liviam** · October 24th, 2009, 08:31 PM

Oh God!!! I didn't know half of this!! I'm so ashamed. I thought I was feeding my DD "good" foods but I'm filling her with sugar. Going to have a huge raid out of my cupboards in the morning. I'm so sick of thinking I'm doing the right thing only to find out I'm being lied to!! GGGRRR!!!

**AnyDream** · October 24th, 2009, 08:34 PM

Ooh, this has turned into a cereal and roll-up dissin thread! LOL

No one has said "apricot delight"...sold in the health food aisle

!

I *love* MILO too, but I suspect that aint really healthy either...

**Inanna** · October 24th, 2009, 08:38 PM

Milo - the evil fruit of Nestle`s loins...

**Floweryfields** · October 24th, 2009, 08:44 PM

I love milo!
I think the point of the thread is to make people aware of what is falsely labelled as 'healthy', it doesn't mean we can never ever have any of it. It just means that we are pinged that they are indoctrinating people into thinking that we are being healthy feeding it to our children. Most of these things we mentioned would be fine if they were used as treats only and not part of our main meals.

**AnyDream** · October 24th, 2009, 08:44 PM

Re the sugar - good way to tell is to read the nutrition panel, in individual serve column. It will list carbohydrates (which includes sugars) and sugars. 5 grams of sugar = a standard teaspoon (roughly).

So, to use Nutrigrain as an example, a 1 cup serve contains only 20 g of carb, but fully half of that 9.6 g is sugar (2 teaspoons). So you're not getting much healthy carb for the amount of sugar you're eating (and virtually no fibre), and because there's no fibre in it, it's not very filling so many people eat far more than 1 cup in a sitting.

Reminds me, I bought a clear spring water drink today, thought it was like one of those very minimally sweetened/flavoured ones, but then read the label and it had 25 grams of sugar!!

Looked exactly like the competitor's product that has less than 10 g of sugar.

**christy** · October 24th, 2009, 08:49 PM

What annoys me most? That people assume just become something is healthy for some, that it is for everyone.

My DD's have multiple food allergies, so you try to find something healthy without oats in it... or milk.... or almonds.... or bananas..... those are my children's allergies. We have to make most things ourselves. We also have intolerances to soy, apple juice and things high in the natural salicalytes. So alot of "healthy" food isn't actually healthy for us.

I have to make heaps of food myself and don't buy "packaged" foods. I may buy the occasional snack, but I tend to use a little handbook called "The Chemical Maze" to try and keep the kids safe from nasty additives and chemicals.

In saying that, I don't mind adding some zucchini slice to DD's lunch box, one that I've made.... I also put in plain rice crackers and hummous, carrot sticks... stuff to snack on that is healthy.