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Redefining Pantry Staples
The Benefits of a Well-stocked Kitchen Part One
By Donna Smith
(Broadway, 2001), says there are many mistakes parents make when shopping for their families: "giving in to impulse buying and getting a lot of a certain items because it's on sale, then having it go stale; duplicating what you already have at home because you've shopped without a list; and giving in to the 'nag factor' when shopping with small children, which is exactly what the food marketers want to happen," she says. "If going out shopping with young children, which is inevitable, have them help you make a list and explain that you need to stick to it when you shop."
Dr. Larson feels parents fall victim to misleading advertisement claims made on packaged foods. "For example, 'fat-free' foods are often loaded with empty-calorie sugars and refined flour," he says. "'Cholesterol-free' foods can contain deadly trans fats. Cereals, breads and baked goods advertised as 'multigrain' do not necessarily mean they are 'whole grain.' The most important thing to do when buying food is to read the ingredients and ignore the marketing gimmicks."
Dr. Larson says to use this quick guide to help guide you through food shopping:
- Avoid buying foods made with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (these contain trans fats).
- Avoid buying foods made with vegetable shortening (also contains trans fats).
- Unless the food is intended to be a dessert, avoid buying foods with the first ingredient as sugar (also be on the look out for sugar proxies such as high fructose corn syrup, evaporated cane juice, corn syrup, etc.).
- Avoid foods made with bleached or enriched flour; instead look for whole-wheat and whole-grain flours.
- Avoid buying foods made with low-quality, overly processed vegetable oils (such as corn oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil and "pure" vegetable oil). Instead look for products made with healthful oils rich in monounsaturated fats (such as extra virgin olive oil) or essential fats (such as canola oil or walnut oil).
- Avoid buying white rice and white pasta instead buy brown rice and whole-grain pasta.