Artificial flavorings, can they be okay?

angiechimpanzee

I've been a fan of Quaker's Instant Weight Control oatmeal packets for the longest now. They're basically a serving of instant oatmeal, but with artifical flavoring (cinnamon, banana bread, maple, etc) & zero calorie sweetener added. I've been doing lots of research about processed foods & the like lately, and now things that I used to see as perfectly healthy (ie, those weight control packets) I'm now a little skeptical about. The Weight Control packets also have more protein and fiber than a regular serving of instant oatmeal, but for only 10 calories more.

I know I could just make my own instant oatmeal, but then I'd have to add sugar or something to sweeten it. I can't decide whether two 20 calorie sugar packets is better or worse than the zero calorie artificial flavoring that comes in the weight control packets. In fact, deciding whether or not to eat processed foods, or which ones are "okay" & which arent, has become really confused to me lately. I can't decide what's really bad and whats not.

Opinions? Guidelines?

Acg67

I've been a fan of Quaker's Instant Weight Control oatmeal packets for the longest now. They're basically a serving of instant oatmeal, but with artifical flavoring (cinnamon, banana bread, maple, etc) & zero calorie sweetener added. I've been doing lots of research about processed foods & the like lately, and now things that I used to see as perfectly healthy (ie, those weight control packets) I'm now a little skeptical about. The Weight Control packets also have more protein and fiber than a regular serving of instant oatmeal, but for only 10 calories more.

I know I could just make my own instant oatmeal, but then I'd have to add sugar or something to sweeten it. I can't decide whether two 20 calorie sugar packets is better or worse than the zero calorie artificial flavoring that comes in the weight control packets. In fact, deciding whether or not to eat processed foods, or which ones are "okay" & which arent, has become really confused to me lately. I can't decide what's really bad and whats not.

Opinions? Guidelines?

They are fine.

And it really doesn't matter as all oatmeal is processed, so if you don't want to eat processed foods, don't eat oatmeal

melsinct

This really is a personal decision of what is "OK" and what isn't. While I am not a freak about eating clean, I do try and eat only real foods (e.g. ingredients must be recognizable food items, not potassium sorbate, red dye no. 5 and the like). I personally avoid all artificial sweeteners and flavors as much as I can. For instance, my oatmeal is old fashioned rolled oats that I zap in the microwave for 2.5 minutes, sweetened by maple syrup and I add some ground cinnamon and whatever else I feel like having in there (fruit, raisins, etc.). To me, that is much more healthy than an artificially flavored/sweetened packet. With that said, that is just my view and I don't try to push it on other people...really it comes down to your thoughts on food in general and what you deem is good enough to put into your body.

I have been on MFP way too long and have seen too many food gestapos to tell someone what they are doing is right vs. wrong. There are many ways to reach the common goal of being fit and at a healthy weight.