MARKETING MISINFORMATION 3 Common ‘Health’ Foods to Rethink
Grocery store shelves are lined with foods claiming to be “heart healthy” and “all natural.” Food makers love to throw buzzwords at consumers in order to convince us that one product is better than another. The problem is a lot of the foods that manufacturers are selling us aren’t as healthy as the labels lead us to believe. In some cases, they can border on deception, and when you dig deeper, you discover the buried truth. Fruit juice is a prime example. Many parents buy it as an alternative to soda. It has some essential vitamins and minerals, but most of the nutritional value is stripped out in the juice- making process, and fruit juice is loaded with sugar — even the “no sugar added” varieties. Many experts note that there is almost no nutritional difference between fruit juice with sugar added (generally labeled as “juice cocktail” or “juice drink”) and 100% fruit juice. It’s bad for your teeth and your overall health. Smoothies are often advertised as being chock- full of fruits and vegetables, but consider what else you’re getting: sugar. There are countless ways to make smoothies, so watch out for mass-
marketed varieties. When you want a smoothie, stick to making your own or find a shop that offers smoothies with wholesome ingredients and no added sugar. And drink it through a straw in order to protect your teeth from acidic and staining ingredients! Agave nectar has become the sweetener of choice for many people. It’s been marketed as less processed than white sugar. Agave nectar, which is just sugar syrup (nectar is a marketing term), is paired with buzzwords like “organic” and “all natural.” But here’s the kicker: The sugars in agave nectar are almost entirely fructose. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation found that consuming high amounts of fructose leads to insulin resistance. It gets worse: Agave nectar actually contains more fructose per serving than high fructose corn syrup! There are countless more foods on grocery store shelves that marketers want you to believe are good for you when they’re really not. In the end, it’s best to read the nutrition label and ingredient list to know what you’re eating or drinking — especially when sugar is involved.
Easy One-Pot Lentil Soup This delicious plant-based soup is loaded with vegetables, so it’s a healthy way to stay warm on a winter night! This recipe makes four servings, and you can freeze the leftovers for up to a month.
Leah’s Bad Dad Joke of the Month
Ingredients •
2 tbsp coconut oil
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3 cups red potatoes, cubed 4 cups vegetable broth 2–3 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme, chopped 1 cup uncooked green lentils, rinsed and drained
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2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, diced
4 large carrots, sliced thin 4 stalks celery, sliced thin
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What do cows celebrate on Dec. 31? Moo Year’s Eve!
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
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2 cups chopped kale
Directions 1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic, shallots, carrots, and celery for 4–5 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. 2. Add potatoes to pot, along with more salt and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes. 3. Add vegetable broth and herbs, then bring soup to a simmer. 4. Add lentils, stirring until soup returns to a simmer. Then, turn the heat to low and cook soup uncovered for 15–20 minutes. 5. Finally, add kale and additional salt and pepper as needed. Cook for 3–4 minutes, thin soup with additional vegetable broth as needed, and serve! Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
If you would like your favorite joke featured, email Office@ExceptionalSmiles.com . You may see it in our next issue!
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