Don’t Be Fooled by Faux Foods

It sounds healthy and looks healthy, but is it really healthy? Some labels and marketing claims can make you think you’re making a healthier choice when in reality you’re not. Follow these tips to prevent being fooled by faux foods.

1. Get your fruits and vegetables from real fruits and vegetables, not salty snacks.
Can eating vegetables really be as easy as opening up a bag of chips or box of crackers? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. While you can enjoy vegetable flavored salty snacks in moderation, it’s important to know that they’re not equivalent to eating fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables. Even though these snacks contain“veggie” in their name, they usually contain only vegetable flavorings or small amounts of real vegetables. Crisps, crackers and chips are just a few examples. For real deal vegetables that are just as satisfying try these tips:
· Crunch on a few raw vegetables with hummus, low-fat ranch dip or salsa.
· Use kale leaves or thin slices of sweet potatoes, beets or carrots and spray with cooking spray. Roast them at 425 degrees until crisp (roast root vegetables longer than kale).

2. Sugar by any other name is still sugar.
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has gotten a bad rap lately with the many products marketing that they have“removed HFCS or are HFCS free”. But did you know that sugar can go by many other names besides just sugar and HFCS? Added sugar in products can be found in the most unexpected places and add unwanted calories. Keep a watchful eye on these sweeteners by checking the nutrition facts panel and by reading the ingredients.
· Spot sugar on the label. Added sugars come in many forms: agave nectar, can crystals, crystalline fructose, evaporated cane juice, honey, invert sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar or sweetener, fruit juice concentrate or any word ending in “ose.”
· Choose products that have “no-sugar-added” or are “unsweetened.”

3. “Made with Whole Grain” -- but how much?
What is the difference between a whole-grain product and a product that is made with whole grains? More often than not, products that are made with whole grains contain only a small percentage of whole grains, and will leave you falling short of your daily recommended servings. Current food laws do not require packages to state the amount of whole grains in products that are made with whole grains making it difficult to decide if it’s a healthy choice. You might find this claim on some crackers, cereals, granola bars and even some salty snacks. Read labels to make sure you are getting a true whole-grain product. Follow these tips:
· Choose products that say “100% whole grain” or “100% whole wheat.”
· Look for products that contain whole-grain flour as the first or second ingredient.