NEWS & TIPS
Healthy Foods/Drinks, are they real or not?
It’s not unreasonable to assume that foods labelled ‘low in fat’, ‘no added sugar’ or even a ‘superfood are healthy choices for us.
However, when you look more closely at the ingredients you may find that that those same foods are not as good for you as their marketing wants you to believe. Some foods branded as ‘healthy’ can still contain high levels of salt, sugar and fat.
The only way to ensure you are giving your child the healthy option is to know what’s really in the foods.
Here are some examples:-
1. Smoothies
These often contain large amounts of sugar from honey, syrups, sweetened yogurts and ice cream. They also contain fruits which are often processed in a way that removes the fibre which can help give the feeling of being full. Without the fibre you tend to drink a lot more fruit that you would normally eat in whole form. Fact: A medium berry smoothie can contain almost 50g of sugar which is about the same you would find in a 500ml coke.
2. Muffins/Banana Bread
These foods often contain fruit, however they also contain high amounts of sugar and fat which makes them very high in calories. For example a slice of banana bread has around 400 calories, the same as a chocolate brownie!!
Be wary of ‘refined’ or ‘sugar-free’ foods.
Some foods that claim to be sugar-free are not. Sugar comes in many forms and is processed the same way in our bodies. Always read the label and be aware that sugar may be listed as something else. Which may include:
- Brown sugar
- Concentrated fruit juice
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Raw sugar
- Golden syrup
- Fructose
- Glucose
- Sucrose
- Maltose
- Mannitol
- Maple syrup
- Molasses
- Lactose
- Nectar
Some foods that claim to be sugar-free are not. Sugar comes in many forms and is processed the same way in our bodies. Always read the label and be aware that sugar may be listed as something else. Which may include:
Healthy food doesn’t have to be expensive, it can be simple and wholesome and it’s also important to remember that we can let our children enjoy ‘treats’ from time to time.