Marketing vs Ingredients

Marketing vs Ingredients

I believe it’s the foods disguised as being “Healthy” that are most dangerous. On some level, we all understand that eating donuts, burgers and fries every day isn’t exactly contributing to our wellness. But how about when food companies use marketing to disguise some truly horrid ingredients within their products? All while you’re spending the extra buck to make better choices.

Below are some examples of how Marketing can sneak unhealthy food products into your household

What we see at first glance, the dirty ingredients exposed, and the generally cleaner option


AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

35 Calories

Dairy Free

Gluten Free

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Carrageenan (carcinogen and contributor to increased intestinal permeability AKA poor gut health and a possible carcinogen)

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Califia Farms Almond milk

Malk Almond milk

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Organic Whole Almonds

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Expeller pressed Canola oil

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Raw almonds 

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

No artificial flavors

No preservatives

Cholesterol free

MSG free

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Cane Sugar

Maltodextrin

Natural Flavor

Canola Oil

Safflower Oil

Soy

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Simple Pho recipe made at home, using kelp or zucchini noodles 

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Plant-based burger patties

20 grams protein per serving

Soy free

Gluten free

Non GMO

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Canola oil

Natural flavor

Maltodextrin

Sunflower oil

Annatto

Modified food starch

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Grass-fed burger or a grain-free plant based burger recipe with very few ingredients

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Soy free

Dairy free

40 calories per serving

Good source of calcium

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Canola oil

guar gum (for some this can have a negative effect on gut health)

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Make your own cashew or nut milk 

3 ingredient Macadamia milk RECIPE

4 ingredient Almond milk RECIPE

Store bought cashew milk with as few ingredients possible

Califia Farms Almond milk

Malk Almond milk

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Made with organic coconut oil

No hydrogenated oils

Dairy-free

Soy-free

Non GMO

Gluten-free

Vegan

No high-fructose corn syrup

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Tapioca syrup

Cane sugar

Guar gum (for some this can have a negative effect on gut health)

Xanthan gum (for some this can have a negative effect on gut health)

Natural flavors

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Anita’s brand coconut yogurt

Organic coconut milk, whipped with electric mixer

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

No artificial colors or flavors

Fair-trade ingredients

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Sugar

Confectionary coating

Palm Kernel oil

Natural flavors

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Raw Dark chocolate with minimal ingredients, no added refined sugars, etc. Here are some cleaner options, but there are now plenty available

Hu Kitchen

Addictive Wellness

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Organic

Non-GMO

Vegan

Non-dairy

Lactose-free

0g Trans fat

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

78% vegetable oil

Palm fruit oil

Soybean oil

Canola oil

Natural flavor

Annatto

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Ghee

Butter from Grass-fed cows

Butter from grass-fed goats

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Gluten-free

Dairy-free

Soy-free

Nut-free

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Canola oil

Potato starch

Dried cane syrup

Maltodextrin

Xanthan gum

Corn syrup

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Pagel brand paleo bagels

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Gluten-free

Made with Organic beans and rice

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Pasteurized milk

Potato starch

High oleic safflower and/or sunflower oil

Cane sugar

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Make your own fresh burrito with grain-free tortillas by Siete Foods

Easy Taco Night Recipe

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Gluten-free

Chicken used raised without the use of antibiotics

0g Trans Fats

Soy-free

0g sugar

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Turbinado sugar

Yellow corn flour

Dextrin

Canola Oil

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Make from scratch

Ingredients

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup almond meal

1 tbsp paprika

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp sea salt 2 eggs lightly beaten

olive oil cooking spray 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Slice chicken breasts into long strips.

3. Mix together almond meal, paprika, garlic, cumin, cayenne, pepper, and salt.

4. Soak each piece of chicken in egg and then coat with almond spice mixture.

5. Place on a cookie sheet greased with coconut oil spray.

6. Repeat with all chicken pieces.

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Gluten free

Wheat free

Cholesterol free

Excellent source of Omega-3

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Corn flour

Soy oil

Cane sugar

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

TEXT

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

NON GMO verified

Original Hummus

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Expeller-pressed canola

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

5 Minute Hummus RECIPE

Store bought hummus with whole food ingredients and not too many

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Gluten free

Dairy free

Low sodium

No genetically engineered ingredients 

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Dried cane syrup

Canola oil

Oats can be difficult for many to digest if they are not pre-soaked, and can cause intestinal permeability 

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Paleonola

Wild Way

Purely Elizabeth

My Homemade RECIPE

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Organic

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Expeller-pressed canola oil

Cane sugar

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Raw nut butter, with the only ingredient being the nut itself.

A few brands I enjoy are Maranatha, Artisana

If you have a local wholefoods, you can usually find a raw nut grinder near the nuts and seeds section, which is sold by weight and is typically cheaper than the pre-packaged options.

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Organic

NON GMO Verified

East to digest

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Expeller-pressed canola

Safflower oil

Sunflower oil

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

3 Ingredient Rice Milk (Homemade)

Ingredients

4 cups hot water

1 cup cooked rice (white, brown, basmati)

1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Blend mixture until smooth.

Let mixture set for about 30 minutes, then strain milk through a cheesecloth into another jar.

Sweeten as desired.

AT FIRST GLANCE ↓

Gluten free

DIRTY INGREDIENTS ↓

Modified starch

Cane sugar

Canola oil

Oats

Grain blends

GENERALLY HEALTHIER OPTION ↓

Know Foods grain-free breads

California Country Gal grain-free bread mixes

 

Allow the front labels to entice you, but immediately turn your product around and focus your attention on the INGREDIENTS label, because this is were the marketing tactics are all unveiled. Want to know what’s in your food? Always look at the INGREDIENTS



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