Comments on Cranky Fitness: "Smart Choices" at the Supermarket?

I finally decided to write a comment on your blog....

2009-10-20T02:01:11.750-04:00

I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts and comments.

Agree with all above, if its got a label, be suspi...

2009-09-16T15:56:56.407-04:00

Agree with all above, if its got a label, be suspicious, and only look at the nutrition label, etc etc.

But I will say this. The big corporations lie and do nasty, evil things in the name of profit, but ultimately they are at the whim of what the 'public' wants. They can only sell what the consumer is willing to buy. Obviously this label is a sign that even the fruit loops eaters are beginning to want nutrition, even if they haven't the first clue the crap they are shoveling into their mounths, and their kids' mouths. Even if its a total farce on the side of the corporations, I am hopeful that this may be a sign that the mentality of the general population is at a turning point where nutrition is beginning to be demanded...perhaps the next step is that the corporations will actually have to start supplying more healthful foods, foods containing actual nutrition.

We've had this label in the Netherlands for quite ...

2009-09-16T03:33:57.211-04:00

We've had this label in the Netherlands for quite some years now and everyone has the same concerns..

Just because a particular product is a little less bad than another version, doesn't make it healthy.

It's been on TV in all kinds of 'consumer awareness' programs and they're trying hard to get rid of the label.

In the meantime, people keep claiming it's not about healthy food, but about the best option in a particular group, or 'the lesser evil'..

Greetings from the netherlands!

As Dr. Will Clower said in his book The French Don...

2009-09-15T22:56:18.826-04:00

As Dr. Will Clower said in his book The French Don't Diet Plan, "This is the most stunning, mind-bending fact of our modern technological world. We are allowed, coached, and even encouraged to eat things that are not food."

Real food has no labels.

Great post. I can't believe some of the foods that...

2009-09-12T19:39:08.898-04:00

Great post. I can't believe some of the foods that are on the smart list.

Do you think anyone would object to me coming up w...

2009-09-10T20:24:16.704-04:00

Do you think anyone would object to me coming up with my own labels and putting them on items? Or just running around the supermarket,armed with a sharpie writing "anything but" in front of their ridiculous claims?

Not that such things change people's minds at the vending machine. Any moron can tell you that the fig newtons are better for you than the gooey, fatty danish pastry, but that doesn't stop people from buying the latter more than the former.
(based on the exhaustive research of walking past vending machines and seeing which lines are 'out')

Have to admit I agree with a lot of these comments...

2009-09-10T12:36:46.434-04:00

Have to admit I agree with a lot of these comments - especially about the food manufacturers, you are so right, that name alone gives cause for concern. I am striving to stick to nature's produce, however that can be hard with so many 'colourful' concoctions on sale - no wonder obesity is a problem!!!
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This "program" strikes me as another example of yo...

2009-09-10T09:02:40.269-04:00

This "program" strikes me as another example of your government thinking it's citizens are so stupid they can't figure out that a bowl of sugar-poops or a package of snack twinkos is not good for us.

And, to be honest, for a lot of people it's about taste and convenience. Who wouldn't rather have a nice, stinky rutabaga for supper instead of gooey gloppy faux-cheese-n-macaroni?

I think that the "smart food" program is not smart...

2009-09-10T03:17:32.176-04:00

I think that the "smart food" program is not smart! I do NOT think that you are being too hard on our nations food processors and who needs free crap, anyway? Fabulous post. I'm over here in the "amen" choir.

AMEN! Pollan's book "In Defense of Food" has alr...

2009-09-09T23:52:23.624-04:00

AMEN!
Pollan's book "In Defense of Food" has already been mentioned, but its an AWESOME book!

It's amazing what the FDA in compliance with a few...

2009-09-09T21:59:52.277-04:00

It's amazing what the FDA in compliance with a few genius marketing methods can do to convince us that eating sugar, starch and an obscene amount of carbs is healthy for us.

I think we should all be furious about this. We ha...

2009-09-09T21:19:19.764-04:00

I think we should all be furious about this. We have similar system in Australia that is just as flawed. We have a red tick that is the Heart Foundation tick of approval. It seems if food manufacturers give enough money they will put the 'tick of approval' on their processed products. Makes me mad!

The sad part is the many Australian shoppers reach for these products in trust without reading the label because of that silly tick. It ticks me off!

I agree with you! We really have gotten away from...

2009-09-09T19:21:56.711-04:00

I agree with you! We really have gotten away from the good old days of fresh, wholesome foods and rely on these processed foods so much. They are now "the diet" instead of just a treat or an extra. But, so many people do not understand what it is to eat in a healthy way and they try to find "a better for you" replacement for the junk they are normally used to eating. So, in that respect, maybe it's a step up for some, but I think the real "smart choice" is fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins:)

I'm going to stay on the SMART CHOICE diet and not...

2009-09-09T19:13:57.369-04:00

I'm going to stay on the SMART CHOICE diet and not eat anything labelled SMART CHOICE.

I'm with you 100%. The other day I was in a store...

2009-09-09T19:10:24.395-04:00

I'm with you 100%.

The other day I was in a store and asked if they had any organic meat... and the guy said, "We have the chicken... the healthy chicken."

(which was of course "natural" "healthy meals" conventional, grain-fed chicken...)

And today I was at a restaurant and the menu said "We proudly serve grain-fed USDA approved Angus beef."

So proud of your grain-filled omega-6-laden cows that you actually put it on your menu? I was beyond shocked.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry after I'd re...

2009-09-09T16:08:17.190-04:00

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry after I'd read the article. HOW are people supposed to learn how to read ingredient labels to help themselves now that THIS new system is working its deception all over the place? Froot Loops ...

You are not even close to being too hard on the fo...

2009-09-09T15:37:21.735-04:00

You are not even close to being too hard on the food manufacturers.

Even though your post is outrageously funny (as usual), I'm too pissed off to laugh.

Even though I don't expect better from the agra-Franken-food, deep pocketed monster.

Goodness - I have not laughed so hard in a long ti...

2009-09-09T14:58:03.055-04:00

Goodness - I have not laughed so hard in a long time! Esp. about the smart choices in prostitution... Perfect satire.

And, for the record, I agree with you completely about the ridiculosity of the label.

I agree with you 100%. But, if it helps my challen...

2009-09-09T14:25:59.124-04:00

I agree with you 100%. But, if it helps my challenged family from picking even worse foods to eat then maybe it has some use. At least it's a step, although a poor step, in the right direction? yes, a question mark b/c I think the companies should be held more acocuntable than that.

Eh... baked potato chips ARE better than the greas...

2009-09-09T13:47:33.797-04:00

Eh... baked potato chips ARE better than the greasy kinds so in that respect they are the "smart choice" but yea I'm with you on this. The smart choice is to avoid potato chips altogether. Doesn't stop me from buying them but I have no delusion about how good for me they are.

Wow...I am stunned by the stupidity of this. I'm ...

2009-09-09T13:24:06.996-04:00

Wow...I am stunned by the stupidity of this. I'm with Fab Kate - I only go by the ingredient list and the nutrition info labels.

I read labels simply because of my allergies. Some...

2009-09-09T13:15:08.023-04:00

I read labels simply because of my allergies. Some could well be a "Smart Choice", but if it is going to trigger my asthma, I avoid it. Oh and if I can't pronounce it...

Then of course there is the warning on the bags of mixed nuts "Caution: may contain nuts" I certainly hope so, that is why I bought the bag!

AS ALWAYS, you rock!!!!! Who says special interes...

2009-09-09T13:07:24.672-04:00

AS ALWAYS, you rock!!!!!

Who says special interest groups are ruining the country?
Oh wait, I DO!!!!
Look, people, if you wanna eat yout cocoa puffs, go ahead! Just be honest and stop telling yourself it's health food! It's OK to eat treats, but there's a reason they're called TREATS.
Remember when all the sugary cereals had the tagline "part of this nutritious breakfast," and then they'd show a bowl of said cereal placed next to some whole-wheat toast and fruit? Yeah. The toast and fruit were the nutritious part, while the (small serving of) cereal was the reward.
Personally I'm not a fan of the heavily processed stuff. bit I do think that, in small amounts, it's OK. Not ideal, but OK. But labeling it as healthy? so NOT OK!!!!!

I've been following Marion Nestle's commentary on ...

2009-09-09T12:45:09.744-04:00

I've been following Marion Nestle's commentary on this and she is, to say the least, acerbic.

I just stick to whole foods!

You are so funny! I love coming here!

Back away from my Fudgsicles lady. When you're ou...

2009-09-09T12:41:24.851-04:00

Back away from my Fudgsicles lady. When you're out to here preggo, those *are* a Smart Choice compared to the gallon of Ben and Jerry's. :)

But yeah, I agree with you. I'm a label reader. And if it has some "smart" or "healthy" or "better for you" sticker? I'm immediately suspicious.