The Road Trip Diet (Travel and Lose Weight): Food Tip #10, Reduce Number of Ingredients

In the previous McCool Travel: Road Trip Diet post, I said to scrutinize product labels and consume less unhealthy items.

One thing to check for on labels is the number of ingredients.

Products with more ingredients are usually less healthy. Not always–but usually.

Let’s look at bread.

Here is a label from a loaf of Pepperidge Farm whole grain bread.

Pepperidge Farm Bread Label

This is a relatively healthy bread, too. Compare to the ingredient list from Wonder Bread (bottom label on this image).

From http://adamstable.blogspot.com/2011/05/read-and-understand-labels.html

Note the presence of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Many researchers and doctors think that HFCS is a major cause of the American obesity epidemic.

I urge you to do your own research and here is a starter article.

Here is a description of chemicals used in commercially prepared breads and why.

Here is another image and description of ingredients in Wonder Bread.

Here is a list of ingredients in Subway’s freshly made everyday bread.

I sometimes make bread at home in a machine. The basic bread ingredients are flour, water, sugar, butter, salt, yeast. I often make a cinnamon raisin bread, adding cinnamon and raisins to the list.

My homemade bread does not have processed items (like HFCS) or chemicals, so it seems healthy to me.

Of course, it is easier–more convenient–to buy bread from a store.

Although I buy Pepperidge Farm bread at supermarkets, as much as possible I try to visit bakeries–especially on road trips.

I am fortunate to have two Great Harvest Bread locations near my house.

Here is a label from a loaf of Great Harvest bread:

Great Harvest Bread Label

I prefer products with labels having simple, short, natural words–like flour and sugar–instead of processed terms–like sorbic acid and calcium carbonate.

So, that is what I look for.

How about you?

Previous Road Trip Diet post ====> Check Labels.

To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.

If you are a dietician, frequent or infrequent traveler, or someone who wants to contribute to this ongoing series, you can email me at CharlesMcCool@gmail.com or leave a comment.

Thank you.

For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.

© 2012, Charles McCool

The Road Trip Diet (Travel and Lose Weight): Food Tip #9, Check Labels

When you buy fresh produce or items from the bakery or deli, there are no labels to check.

Let’s be realistic, though, we will buy pre-packaged food and drink.

At least we can scrutinize labels and consume less unhealthy items.

Upcoming McCool Travel posts will discuss specific strategies when checking labels, such as:

• reduce syllables (chemicals)
• fewer ingredients
• and more

Do you check labels?

When comparing packaged items, I look for lower levels of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar content. I try to avoid high fructose corn syrup.

You cannot, nor should not, completely eliminate sodium, sugar, and fat. Instead strive for healthy amounts.

One way to be in charge of your health is to scrutinize labels and buy only products that match your values.

If you value a healthier lifestyle, you can find products to support you. If you value convenience over health, you will also find those products.

Previous Road Trip Diet post ====> Measurement Theory

To read previous posts in the Road Trip Diet series click here.

For frequent travel deals, follow me on Facebook (McCool Travel) and Twitter (@CharlesMcCool). You can also follow me on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Klout, and StumbleUpon.

© 2012, Charles McCool