Reading Labels? Part #2 - Breakfast and Snack Bars

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Let's start with Special K. They make you feel special for making the "healthy" choice, right? Have you seen or purchased the Protein Snack Bar yet? Did you read the label? Only 4 grams of protein (should be way higher in my opinion if they are selling it to you as a "protein" bar, 11 grams of sugar, 110 calories per bar. Sugar (#1 ingredient) Hydrogenated (never good) Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa "Processed" with Alkali, Corn syrup, Fructose (more sugar, different name), Sugar (seriously, I am just reading you the label), Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cotton Seed Oil, Molasses (more sugar), Natural and Artificial Flavors (and we learned about that in Reading Labels Part #1) and tons of other stuff. OK so there are some vitamins and whey protein. I'll give them that. But take a multi and make a whey protein shake. Next......

So your on the run and you want to grab some cereal but don't have time to make wholesome oatmeal and cinnamon. So what's the next best thing? How about cereal in a bar. Are you serious? Where do I start with this one? The filling is High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Glycerin, Sugar, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Carmel Color, Red Dye #40 and a few other ingredients I am not even going to attempt to spell. (For those of you who missed previous info on HFCS: It tricks the body into not releasing insulin and leptin, two hormones your body should release when you are done eating or full. It BLOCKS your feeling of being full. HFCS does nothing to stop your grehlin, which increases the levels in your body and demands your body eat more. So the industry loves this and is putting it in everything so you will eat everything and the kitchen sink and still be hungry!) Did I mention this was just in the filling. The "cereal coating" has HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP and SUGAR. Yay! More healthy stuff. Next.....

So Oatmeal has got to be good for you, yes? You hear all the health and fitness nuts eating it all the time. Well, I can guarantee it's not in the form of "breakfast to go." Let's start with HFCS, (second ingredient), brown sugar, and don't forget regular sugar, and Hydrogenated Corn Seed Oil and Soy Bean Oil.

So let's stop again for a minute and learn about Hydrogenated: This is created for the convenience of the food industry so junk foods (chips, cookies, crackers, and all the food you see here) can stay on the shelf longer and still be "fresh." This is created when a regular fat such as corn oil or soy bean oil are blasted with hydrogen to change the liquid into a solid. Did you know this process dramatically raises your risk of heart attacks. With 220 calories and only 4 grams protein, I would not recommend you "go" anywhere with this oatmeal.

Here's one I don't even know if I want to take time talking about. "Whole Grain" Poptarts. Really? Oh and they make Low Fat Poptarts now too. Remember, it's still filled with HFCS making your body want to eat the entire box. I am not saying these don't taste good, but we must start making wiser choices.


Ok, so here's one that I can't really rip too much. It doesn't show any Aspartame, HFCS, enriched, hydrogenated, or other code-words meaning Aspartame that I can see. All though it is still chemical laden it could be worse on this one. I am not saying run out and buy it. But I want you to become aware of labels and what you are reading/eating.




Just a simple Whey Protein added to a glass of milk, sprinkled on your oatmeal, or mixed in with other healthy cereals is the best way to go. NOW products are currently winning all kinds of awards for their products and can be found at most local health food stores. They have a full line of products to choose from.


What it all comes down to is making an educated choice and not a guess or trusting what the label tells you. If you want to be in best shape of your life and live long and healthy you have to start paying attention to labels!