What To Eat

I must ask this question as soon as possible as to not forget: does anyone else find google reader really annoying? Is there any way to comment on people's posts other than having to click on and go into their blog? I feel like it takes up too much time! I have been blog slacking!

Today I started reading a great book:

The intent of my reading going forward is to get a jump start on my career in nutrition. I was recommended this book by a Certified Nutritionist I recently met and am really happy so far. I plan to do a bit of a mini book report on each chapter here on my blog so I can keep track of what I am learning.

Nestle caught me within the first chapter. Her intent in this book is to take the reader through a supermarket and educate them about why and how to select your food. She begins by stating what some may say is the "obvious mantra" to dieting and exercise: eat less, move more, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, go easy on the junk food.

Easy enough right? However, because of sly advertising techniques being used by so many of our food distributors today, we are confused. Food labels splash hundreds of promises- "low fat, omega-3 fats, high in fiber...etc...etc" how can we truly begin to understand what's really important?

One thing that really struck me is the way in which supermarkets and food distributors have gotten consumer persuasion down to a science. Did you know that companies pay for the spot that they are shelved (called Slotting Fees)? Or how about that appearance in the weekly ad- we can be sure that cost a pretty penny. Nestle suggests these tactics take away most of the decision from the customer and places the power in the food distributor and supermarkets hands.

Think about the last time you walked in the grocery store. Did you stick to your list or did you ad those items you just HAD to pass to get to the dairy section? Did you buy that conveniently placed bag of potato chips that was on such a great sale? How often do you grab things from the very top, or very bottom of a shelf--probably not very often?

Did you know that America produces roughly 3,900 calories in food per day for every man? No wonder our obesity rates in America are skyrocketing! Food companies will not risk giving up profit by making less food- so what option does that leave them? They sell it- in every way they can.

Let's take the power of food shopping and place it back in our own hands. Let's educate ourselves on how to select and what to look for at our local supermarket. Grab a cart and join me:

What to Eat: An Aisle by Aisle Guide to Savvy and Good Eating

by Marion Nestle

(let me know if you'd like to read along with me!)