Food Myths, the Media & Lawyers (Oh My)
Replies
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It doesn't matter if Disney stops advertising. Kids see that crap in the store and beg mommy to buy it or mommy sees the bright colors and health claims and thinks its kid food.
The only, ONLY thing that will ever help is for parents to educate themselves on what their kids should be eating.
On second though, I bet if you couldn't buy that crap with food stamps sales would plummet.
I'm not a fan of food stamps. They taste horrible.
It may sound insensitive but... these companies have a huge base of uneducated parents subsidized by the government. If all of a sudden the government teat was taken away and FS money could only be spent on food that meets certain nutritional standards, the food companies would follow.
That is why WIC is a great program. Milk, cheese, juice (although juice itself is pretty sugary), carrots, beans or rice. Its been years since I was on it though. I've heard now that they actually allow whole grain bread, other vegetables and real fruit instead of just juice as options.
And they take the time to teach nutrition classes too. I think that's the best part of all... they literally make you take the class.0 -
You know what infuriates me more than Bad business practices? When people stop thinking for themselves and start looking every other place to put the blame.
Really? You really thought that a food packet that had over 9000 chemicals was bad for you? Really?
Really? You didn't knew that eating 6000 calories from McD's drive through would make you fat? Really?
Really? You wanna suit tobacco companies even though on the 5 packs that you smoke daily it clearly tells you of health complications? Really?
Yeah, well, I know people (not poor people or uneducated or whatever) that never think to look at nutrition labels and have no earthly idea that eating unlimited quantities of alfredo sauce can contribute to weight gain. Call it delusion or denial if you want, but there are plenty of them out there.0 -
Playing Devil's advocate for a moment...
cocoa krispies has fewer g of sugars per serving than 6 oz. of yogurt or 5.3 oz of Greek yogurt...
That being said, I'm of the mindset that just about anything can be PART of a healthy, balanced diet. All things in moderation...
ps. I don't think that this has anything to do with food stamps. I also don't think that just because someone has food stamps, they're automatically "uneducated." That's a little harsh (and a gross generalization), IMO.
Thank you. For the year that we were on food stamps it wasn't because we are stupid. (Actually I'm 15 credits shy of a physics degree) It was because my hubby went from making almost $3000 per month to 1500/mon (if we were lucky that mon) because his company made him "on call" instead of giving him regular hrs. It saved our butts immensely, I don't know what we would have done in that time without the little bit of help we got. Eventually we moved 2500 miles away from family and the place we grew up for him to work full time with a transfer. Even then we couldn't afford to move out here right away so we were paying rent and buying groceries in 2 places while trying to save up money to move across the country for 9 months.0 -
Cook at home as much as possible. The ultimate clean eating. You have no idea wtf is in those pre-packaged things. Same for restaurant foods. You don't know what kinda sanitation those places have.
Now I can understand the need/want for some of the stuff. I drink Ovaltine daily and it probably is loaded with chemicals but thats in such a small amount that I can ignore it. Most of my meals are hand cooked (including bread) and I don't have to spend hours and hours doing this.0 -
i'm going to skip through the hurling of insults and someone else may have mentioned this already but what really irks me is the advertising of these cookies
http://whonucookies.com/0 -
Playing Devil's advocate for a moment...
cocoa krispies has fewer g of sugars per serving than 6 oz. of yogurt or 5.3 oz of Greek yogurt...
That being said, I'm of the mindset that just about anything can be PART of a healthy, balanced diet. All things in moderation...
ps. I don't think that this has anything to do with food stamps. I also don't think that just because someone has food stamps, they're automatically "uneducated." That's a little harsh (and a gross generalization), IMO.
Thank you. For the year that we were on food stamps it wasn't because we are stupid. (Actually I'm 15 credits shy of a physics degree) It was because my hubby went from making almost $3000 per month to 1500/mon (if we were lucky that mon) because his company made him "on call" instead of giving him regular hrs. It saved our butts immensely, I don't know what we would have done in that time without the little bit of help we got. Eventually we moved 2500 miles away from family and the place we grew up for him to work full time with a transfer. Even then we couldn't afford to move out here right away so we were paying rent and buying groceries in 2 places while trying to save up money to move across the country for 9 months.
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.0 -
Thank you all, very enjoyable thread.
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It doesn't matter if Disney stops advertising. Kids see that crap in the store and beg mommy to buy it or mommy sees the bright colors and health claims and thinks its kid food.
The only, ONLY thing that will ever help is for parents to educate themselves on what their kids should be eating.
On second though, I bet if you couldn't buy that crap with food stamps sales would plummet.
I'm not a fan of food stamps. They taste horrible.
It may sound insensitive but... these companies have a huge base of uneducated parents subsidized by the government. If all of a sudden the government teat was taken away and FS money could only be spent on food that meets certain nutritional standards, the food companies would follow.
That is why WIC is a great program. Milk, cheese, juice (although juice itself is pretty sugary), carrots, beans or rice. Its been years since I was on it though. I've heard now that they actually allow whole grain bread, other vegetables and real fruit instead of just juice as options.
And they take the time to teach nutrition classes too. I think that's the best part of all... they literally make you take the class.
Actually I wasn't required to take a class. They gave me some pamphlets with the healthy food pyramid guidelines and sent me on my way. I never did get formula with WIC though, I breastfed so they gave me the after formula stuff from the beginning.
I knew about nutrition anyways though took a few classes in HS and college.0 -
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
Why do you hate poor people? Is it because you think they're stupid?0 -
Just want to add on the food stamp discussion...when I got food stamps for a few months when on maternity leave they gave me way more than I ever would have spent on groceries otherwise. I was much more willing to spend 6 bucks on ice cream money on frozen meals, etc. when it was not really coming out of pocket. I do not think poor people are un educated I do think there should be some sort of nutrtion requirement for which foods you can buy with food stamps. Everyone knows obesity is a issue in our country this would be an easy way for the government to help families make better choices. just my take.....ps sorry for any bad grammar or spelling I am on my phone0
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Actually I wasn't required to take a class. They gave me some pamphlets with the healthy food pyramid guidelines and sent me on my way. I never did get formula with WIC though, I breastfed so they gave me the after formula stuff from the beginning.
I knew about nutrition anyways though took a few classes in HS and college.
You're lucky! I was mad at first, but then I realized it was probably a good thing overall and a half hour of information wouldn't kill me. It was pretty good, considering.
Maybe it's a state by state thing? I got WIC in TX. There is actually a poster on the wall saying that french fries don't count as a vegetable to WIC, so the classes are good lol0 -
i'm going to skip through the hurling of insults and someone else may have mentioned this already but what really irks me is the advertising of these cookies
http://whonucookies.com/
The front of that package looks like a gift...and then you read the back and get completely and utterly horrified. It's appalling at what the industry gets away with.
I think everyone who creates this crap should have to eat it exclusively for a year and then let us all know that it's safe and healthy.0 -
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
Why do you hate poor people? Is it because you think they're stupid?
Do you ever wish there were an emoticon for "headdesk"?0 -
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
Why do you hate poor people? Is it because you think they're stupid?
Do you ever wish there were an emoticon for "headdesk"?
I think your sarcasm meter is broken. You must be poor.0 -
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
Why do you hate poor people? Is it because you think they're stupid?
Do you ever wish there were an emoticon for "headdesk"?
I think your sarcasm meter is broken. You must be poor.
Oh no, it's working. I knew you were being sarcastic, you can tell because I didn't use all caps at you to try and make my point 0 -
Nutella also had to pay out for false advertisement, when they tried to market their product as healthy.
Food Stamps can be used to buy all the candy you desire. Seriously, Easter bunnies... halloween candy??? There needs to be limits, and certain items need to be banned from qualifying.0 -
I'm just wondering why my profession got mentioned in this topic. We get blamed for everything. LOL.0
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Food stamp debate aside, companies are going to continue to push their products in every way they can within FDA guidelines.
This Pom juice ad is amusing : http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/pom_cheat_death
Seriously I don't think it is a matter of intelligence with poor food choices, just apathy. (maybe with a little laziness mixed in, it takes some work to prepare meals without a barcode)0 -
It may sound insensitive but... these companies have a huge base of uneducated parents subsidized by the government. If all of a sudden the government teat was taken away and FS money could only be spent on food that meets certain nutritional standards, the food companies would follow.
Some programs already are - like the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. You even sometimes get vouchers for farmer's markets.The majority of the items are actually pretty healthy!0 -
It may sound insensitive but... these companies have a huge base of uneducated parents subsidized by the government. If all of a sudden the government teat was taken away and FS money could only be spent on food that meets certain nutritional standards, the food companies would follow.
Some programs already are - like the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. You even sometimes get vouchers for farmer's markets.The majority of the items are actually pretty healthy!
WIC is an amazing program! They actually try to educate.0 -
It may sound insensitive but... these companies have a huge base of uneducated parents subsidized by the government. If all of a sudden the government teat was taken away and FS money could only be spent on food that meets certain nutritional standards, the food companies would follow.
Some programs already are - like the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. You even sometimes get vouchers for farmer's markets.The majority of the items are actually pretty healthy!
WIC is an amazing program! They actually try to educate.
Yes they do! And the pamphlets and classes are actually really easy to understand. I did part of a practicum with the WIC program and it was great.0 -
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These conversations, or at least the tone of them, really annoys me.
Something that we all need to try and remember. Not everyone has the benefit of education or even intelligence. There is no iq requirement to purchase food. Some very intelligent people fall for scams. Why is it so surprising that someone with lower intelligence may fall for this type of advertising.
Think about the average person. 50% of people aren't as smart as they are.0 -
What gets me is when baby formula companies try to make out like it's just as good as mom's milk. EVERYONE knows it's not (and if you read the fine print, even formula ads have to state this...by law), but since the average northamerican mom doesn't want to nurse past a few weeks (or is forced back to work with REALLY short or non existant maternity leave), there is a willful ignorance around this subject. There is even a backlash! Formula feeding mom's, afraid of being labelled, and feeling guilty about giving formula...DEFEND the formula, and get ANGRY at health professionals who even suggest that they should try to nurse their offspring.
Advertising...play into people's fear and you've got em.
It's true, formula is poison. My poor little boys wander around in circles, bumping into walls... staring vacantly at nothing with their little dead eyes... woefully underweight, undernourished and under loved... WHY OH WHY didn't I breastfeed???
Oh wait... they're actually happy, robust little fellows, right on track with their development and lively as can be. And... even though I opted not to breastfeed... they are loved. Put them in a group of kids and you wouldn't be able to tell which was formula fed and which was breastfed.
Breastfeeding is best when mom is eating a well balanced nutritious diet, does not smoke or drink and isn't on any medication. Oh, and also when mom wants to breastfeed. Many women don't meet those standards.
I don't feel guilty at all that my boys got formula.
ETA: Did I mention they never get sick and heal quickly when they get bumps and scrapes?0 -
You know what infuriates me more than Bad business practices? When people stop thinking for themselves and start looking every other place to put the blame.
Really? You really thought that a food packet that had over 9000 chemicals was bad for you? Really?
Really? You didn't knew that eating 6000 calories from McD's drive through would make you fat? Really?
Really? You wanna suit tobacco companies even though on the 5 packs that you smoke daily it clearly tells you of health complications? Really?
I agree with you, but it's hard to sort through the mountains of crap information to find the truth about what we should be eating. There are billions being spent to misinform and mislead us.
Schools don't teach nutrition education, parents don't teach it (how many generations has HFCS been around? Aspertame? They don't know about that crap), the government seems to change their mind depending on who's paying the bills and you certainly can't trust the food companies to tell the truth. You can find a Google article that will tell you anything you want to know, and another to refute that with a couple clicks.
It's not all willful ignorance, some people don't have access to the information or simply don't know where to begin to find anything useful.
I can happily tell you that my university requires all students to take a mandatory "Fitness For Living" course. It lasts one semester and is required for graduation. I received an hour of lecturing twice a week It goes over healthy eating, exercising, the dangers of smoking, drinking etc. etc. It actually motivated me to start exercising. In high school we had a mandatory one semester nutrition course and we had to earn 1 1/2 school yrs worth of P.E credit. A lot of people have not realized or noticed that measures are being taken.0 -
Playing Devil's advocate for a moment...
cocoa krispies has fewer g of sugars per serving than 6 oz. of yogurt or 5.3 oz of Greek yogurt...
That being said, I'm of the mindset that just about anything can be PART of a healthy, balanced diet. All things in moderation...
ps. I don't think that this has anything to do with food stamps. I also don't think that just because someone has food stamps, they're automatically "uneducated." That's a little harsh (and a gross generalization), IMO.
Thank you. For the year that we were on food stamps it wasn't because we are stupid. (Actually I'm 15 credits shy of a physics degree) It was because my hubby went from making almost $3000 per month to 1500/mon (if we were lucky that mon) because his company made him "on call" instead of giving him regular hrs. It saved our butts immensely, I don't know what we would have done in that time without the little bit of help we got. Eventually we moved 2500 miles away from family and the place we grew up for him to work full time with a transfer. Even then we couldn't afford to move out here right away so we were paying rent and buying groceries in 2 places while trying to save up money to move across the country for 9 months.
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
This is true, bm99 never said poor people were stupid or shouldn't receive help or stamps. She was just pointing out that efforts need to be made to help educate lower income families on the value of nutrition. This is because statistics have shown that lower income families have higher rates of obesity.0 -
What gets me is when baby formula companies try to make out like it's just as good as mom's milk. EVERYONE knows it's not (and if you read the fine print, even formula ads have to state this...by law), but since the average northamerican mom doesn't want to nurse past a few weeks (or is forced back to work with REALLY short or non existant maternity leave), there is a willful ignorance around this subject. There is even a backlash! Formula feeding mom's, afraid of being labelled, and feeling guilty about giving formula...DEFEND the formula, and get ANGRY at health professionals who even suggest that they should try to nurse their offspring.
Advertising...play into people's fear and you've got em.
Agreed! My poor sister can't produce milk so for her twins and her third child she had no choice but to buy formula. It broke her heart, but what can you do? They are full of so much JUNK. Just nasty junk!0 -
What gets me is when baby formula companies try to make out like it's just as good as mom's milk. EVERYONE knows it's not (and if you read the fine print, even formula ads have to state this...by law), but since the average northamerican mom doesn't want to nurse past a few weeks (or is forced back to work with REALLY short or non existant maternity leave), there is a willful ignorance around this subject. There is even a backlash! Formula feeding mom's, afraid of being labelled, and feeling guilty about giving formula...DEFEND the formula, and get ANGRY at health professionals who even suggest that they should try to nurse their offspring.
Advertising...play into people's fear and you've got em.
It's true, formula is poison. My poor little boys wander around in circles, bumping into walls... staring vacantly at nothing with their little dead eyes... woefully underweight, undernourished and under loved... WHY OH WHY didn't I breastfeed???
Oh wait... they're actually happy, robust little fellows, right on track with their development and lively as can be. And... even though I opted not to breastfeed... they are loved. Put them in a group of kids and you wouldn't be able to tell which was formula fed and which was breastfed.
Breastfeeding is best when mom is eating a well balanced nutritious diet, does not smoke or drink and isn't on any medication. Oh, and also when mom wants to breastfeed. Many women don't meet those standards.
I don't feel guilty at all that my boys got formula.
ETA: Did I mention they never get sick and heal quickly when they get bumps and scrapes?
You realize you basically just proved her point.
I don't think she was saying formula is poison. She was stating the fact that every medical professional have repeatedly said. Mothers Breast milk is better than formula0 -
Playing Devil's advocate for a moment...
cocoa krispies has fewer g of sugars per serving than 6 oz. of yogurt or 5.3 oz of Greek yogurt...
That being said, I'm of the mindset that just about anything can be PART of a healthy, balanced diet. All things in moderation...
ps. I don't think that this has anything to do with food stamps. I also don't think that just because someone has food stamps, they're automatically "uneducated." That's a little harsh (and a gross generalization), IMO.
Thank you. For the year that we were on food stamps it wasn't because we are stupid. (Actually I'm 15 credits shy of a physics degree) It was because my hubby went from making almost $3000 per month to 1500/mon (if we were lucky that mon) because his company made him "on call" instead of giving him regular hrs. It saved our butts immensely, I don't know what we would have done in that time without the little bit of help we got. Eventually we moved 2500 miles away from family and the place we grew up for him to work full time with a transfer. Even then we couldn't afford to move out here right away so we were paying rent and buying groceries in 2 places while trying to save up money to move across the country for 9 months.
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
This is true, she never said poor people were stupid or shouldn't receive help or stamps. She was just pointing out that efforts need to be made to help educate lower income families on the value of nutrition. This is because statistics have shown that lower income families have higher rates of obesity.
Thank you!
And I'm sorry for your sister. It must be hard to want that kind of mommy experience and not be able to do it.0 -
Playing Devil's advocate for a moment...
cocoa krispies has fewer g of sugars per serving than 6 oz. of yogurt or 5.3 oz of Greek yogurt...
That being said, I'm of the mindset that just about anything can be PART of a healthy, balanced diet. All things in moderation...
ps. I don't think that this has anything to do with food stamps. I also don't think that just because someone has food stamps, they're automatically "uneducated." That's a little harsh (and a gross generalization), IMO.
Thank you. For the year that we were on food stamps it wasn't because we are stupid. (Actually I'm 15 credits shy of a physics degree) It was because my hubby went from making almost $3000 per month to 1500/mon (if we were lucky that mon) because his company made him "on call" instead of giving him regular hrs. It saved our butts immensely, I don't know what we would have done in that time without the little bit of help we got. Eventually we moved 2500 miles away from family and the place we grew up for him to work full time with a transfer. Even then we couldn't afford to move out here right away so we were paying rent and buying groceries in 2 places while trying to save up money to move across the country for 9 months.
Yes, it's a good thing she stuck up for poor people against... oh wait, nothing, because NO ONE SAID THAT POOR PEOPLE ARE STUPID.
This is true, she never said poor people were stupid or shouldn't receive help or stamps. She was just pointing out that efforts need to be made to help educate lower income families on the value of nutrition. This is because statistics have shown that lower income families have higher rates of obesity.
Thank you!
And I'm sorry for your sister. It must be hard to want that kind of mommy experience and not be able to do it.
You're welcome! They were quick to attack! I gathered my facts from a college course not random Google searches, LOL.0
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