Attune Foods' LinksI first started blogging with my boyfriend as a way to record our reflections during a “Meatless Month.” After the month was over we decided to keep on blogging and did a series of thirty-day experiments. Each month required Mark and I to look at labels for one reason or another. We searched labels for things like high fructose corn syrup, sugar and gluten. And what did I learn during this time?
1. Reading labels can be painful, but it is always worth the effort. I am not a nutritionist, so I will left one of them tell you what all the numbers mean on the back of the box. I will tell you, however, what I pay the most attention to; ingredients. When I first became a label reader I was naive and silly. I looked only at fat grams and calories, never venturing to the ingredient list. Making the jump to ingredient reader was a shock. I was overwhelmed with the amount of unpronounceable things in the list! With a quick google search you can learn tons about what is really in your food. This kind of knowledge is invaluable.
2. Less is more. Probably out of laziness (who feels like googling their cereal’s ingredient list every time you want to buy something new), I’ve adapted a less is more attitude to labels. I do not want to have to take out my phone during a shopping trip and do research before making a purchase. Interestingly, I also find I feel my best when eating things with less ingredients, so it’s a win win.
3. Things could be more clear. Obviously food companies have their reasons for labeling things the way they do, but with all the allergies and food sensitives out there it just makes sense to me to be as clear as possible about what is and is not in your product. The Whole Grain symbol on boxes is a great example of the symbols I think should be used for just about everything from gluten free to nut free to dairy free. Just think of how much easier your life would be if you could simply look for certain symbols on the back of a box. Symbols work!
Now, a game. Below is the ingredient list from one Attune product. Guess the product in the comments for a chance to win a fun Attune travel bowl and some Attune coupons. I will randomly pick a winner next Monday 09/26. Good luck!
