Each year the Michiana AHA BetterU Challengers participate in the BetterU
Challenge Supermarket Scavenger Hunt. This spot on our healthy journey is where
we learn how distinguish the unhealthy foods from the healthiest foods and how
to make those selections. Thank you to
Martin’s Supermarkets for hosting our scavenger hunt. The challengers supported by their family,
friends and each other enjoyed a healthy dinner and scavenged the supermarket
for healthy foods guided by the AHA BetterU Health Coach, Cindy Cohen RN of C2Your Health LLC.
Some of the things we learned...
It's important to read the nutrition facts on the food label on the packaging and use this as a guide to making healthier food selections.
It's easy to be fooled by the advertisements on the front of
the food packaging. Some manufactures claim on the package something entirely
different than what actually exists. For example, the front of the package my
say "No Trans Fats" and the ingredient list says “hydrogenated oils”
which is a trans-fat.
Fiber is our friend and not always where you think it is. Some
foods you think have fiber do not. For example, some whole wheat breads have zero
fiber. The best choices are the foods that have at least
1 gram of fiber.
It's hard to find flavored drinks that don't contain added
sugars, high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners (unhealthy). Water is
always the best choice.
Many foods are loaded with more than days serving of salt
(sodium) in one serving such as some soups and spaghetti sauces.
How to make sense of food certifying organizations such as
organic, gluten free, and Heart Check - American Heart Association approved.
The Supermarket Scavenger Hunt Class demonstrates the road
to better health is not always clear and it's important to be aware of the pot
holes (TV ads) and warning signs (misleading labels) along the way. Adding new
meaning to the seemingly harmless act of going to the grocery store to "buyers
beware"; as Dr. David Katz, Nutrition Detectives says about some foods
"Step away and no one will get hurt."
What did you learn the last time you went grocery shopping
at the supermarket?
Your partner in health,
Health Coach
Wellness Consultant
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