Hi folks, as its National nutrition month and it was on the news this morning that the UK needs to go on a diet and one of the problems was the low quality of the 'product' by product they mean the food that people are buying to fuel their bodies.
So what is a treat? it implies a reward and something beneficial to us, so what is this and where would you find it:
Sugar, palm oil, rapeseed oil, rice flour, EGGS, coconut, potato starch, glucose syrup, humectant: vegetable glycerol; apricots, rice starch, strawberries, dextrose, ALMONDS (1%), stabilisers:locust bean gum, sodium alginate, modified corn starch, pectin; flavourings, salt, raising agents: sodium bicarbonate, glucono-delta-lactone; invert sugar, lemon juice, preservative: potassium sorbate; acidity regulators:citric acid, calcium citrate, calcium chloride; elderberry juice, concentrates (lemon, safflower), plant extracts (turmeric, paprika).
So where would this be for sale? and its not vending machines or fast food outlets. It's in Health food shops and the Free from section in the supermarkets. Now free from implies healthy and a health choice but really the majority of free from foods are highly processed foods made to replicate milk and gluten varieties.
It is one of the most popular free from 'treats' and it's a Mrs crumbles gluten free Bakewell slice. I wouldn't know where to buy the ingredients, so to me this shows how 'we' the consumer have to be savvy to slick advertising with hints and innuendo's that imply it is a real treat. When really it puts us on the road to obesity high blood pressure and diabetes...so some treat.
Now this is what I buy from a whole food shop for a treat and they're falafels made with ground chickpeas crushed and cooked with spices and with some tomatoes are a great snack. They cook them separately and keep them gluten free and at 3 for Β£1.00 they are a treat.
I'm a great believer in 'us' the consumer knowing exactly what we are eating. So remember to be mindful of what you really eat...π