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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – At the end of March 60% of Americans were concerned about getting sufficient food for their family. Seventy-four percent were worried about Covid-19 and, today, close to 85% rate their primary grocery source as doing a good job during the pandemic. Throughout the country food is not universally available, accessible or affordable. Many families are suffering because of job loss and the inability to shop on a regular basis. Food pantries are struggling to meet the need and school districts have found creative ways to feed students such as using idle school buses to deliver meals to home bound students.
Sadly, many of the stories in the press tend to be fearleaders not cheerleaders for all the inventive ideas and systems being activated to meet the food and nutrition needs of Americans. The internet is still full of stories that actually dissuade people from eating otherwise healthy foods.
The recently released, annual Dirty Dozen is a prime example of food bullying. Only one in every 10 American meet their daily fruit and vegetable recommendation. These types of do not eat lists undermine the regulatory process that upholds the US food system and often are not based in sound scientific knowledge. Strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, and potatoes are all nutritious, healthy choices and should not be excluded from your diet. Switching to organic alternatives is unnecessary because both are grown with the use of pesticides, just different types, and neither has residues that are linked to adverse health effects. Most pesticide residues have dissipated to the point of non-existence by the time the food reaches your grocery. Even when residue might exist it is so small it must be measured in parts per billion (PPM). To give this a little perspective it is equivalent to one blade of grass on a football field or one penny out of $10 million. Up to 40% of the world’s food production would be lost to insects, weeds or plant disease without some type of crop protection.
Fear of food can lead to unnecessary elimination of healthy food choices. Many shun GMO crops believing they are eating a Frankenstein-propagated plant. Farmers and plant breeders have been altering plants for over 10,000 years. Plant biotechnology is actually just an extension of traditional plant breeding with more specific gene alteration. These changes create disease tolerance, drought tolerance, insect resistance, herbicide tolerance so less can be used, and improved food quality. In the US there are only 11 GMO crops and 2 are not used as food – cotton and sugar beets. Apples, potatoes, field corn, canola, alfalfa, soybeans, sweet corn, and summer squash may come from a GMO source. Listing nonGMO on food labels is a marketing technique that induces shoppers to prefer one brand over another for no perceived nutrition or health benefit.
Those who try to persuade you to avoid anything that is in a box, can or jar are engaging in food shaming and taking a very elitist and incorrect approach to processed food. This same group is often advocating for protein shakes and snack bars that contain just the right selection of nutrients you need, never considering that both of these choices are as processed as the foods they shun. Would they give up coffee or chocolate? Both are processed foods. Processed foods run the gamut of choices from those that should be left on the shelf to others that can stock your pantry in time of crisis, like today. Processed foods have a longer shelf life when you can’t shop as often. Many, like canned tomatoes or tuna, can provide the basis for a quick and healthy meal. A loaf of bread, a box of cereal, yogurt, peanut butter, a jar of peaches or a healthy frozen dinner are all acceptable nutritious choices. Reading the nutrition label and the ingredient list can help you quickly sort out the best choices to buy.
Everyone had on opinion about food. These opinions run deep and they can be very emotional. That is okay. But, when you decide how to eat, what to eat, and how to feed your family you should rely on sound resources. If you see something in the news or on a website, search it further for other opinions and look for places that are backed by professionals in that area. I offer nutrition advise and attempt to explain nutrition science. Run for the hills if I try to give you advice on how to build a house or install an electric circuit. Depend on the right experts for the information you need.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books.
Available as eBooks from iTunes and Kindle/Amazon:
Diabetes Counter – the most up-to-date information on managing diabetes
Calorie Counter – a weight loss guide that won’t let you down
Protein Counter – put the latest protein recommendations to work for you
Healthy Wholefoods Counter – planet-friendly eating made easy
Complete Food Counter – food counts and nutrition information at your fingertips
Fat and Cholesterol Counter – newest approach to heart-healthy eating
Available in print from Gallery Books:
Most Complete Food Counter, 3rd Ed.
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com or on twitter: @JoAnnHeslinRD.