At times I feel like a giant ogre with my kids as I harp on
about food and making wise choices. I am sure as a parent you have felt this at
times too. I unapologetically say “No!” in front of people now if I feel the
food offered is not appropriate. I’m no longer concerned what other parents may
think of my song and dance about what our kids can and cannot have. I
make sure our kids go to places with food so something is available for them if
they decide within themselves to make a wise choice not to eat what is offered
to them. They know we eat organic food and that we approach health differently
to the majority of their friends. They too are comfortable with saying to
people “no thank you.”
As I was registering our boys for this year’s Rugby season I
was under no illusion that companies are happy to sponsor kids activities –
Kellogs, Nestle etc – and provide “snacks” when they go to register. What I
didn’t expect to see in the goodie bag was a chart titled “Key Foods For A
Rugby Players Pantry” listing foods “appropriate” for kids and adults alike. My
mouth dropped when I read it so much so that I took a photo to show you what
they were recommending!
Let me go through and point out a few of the items on the
list and shed some light on them. A high number of items on the list suggest
coming from cans in fact there are six on the list and a possible nine
depending on how you purchase these items.
Here’s a light shedder…
Independent laboratory tests found a toxic food-can lining
ingredient associated with birth defects of the male and female reproductive
systems in over half of 97 cans of name-brand fruit, vegetables, soda, and
other commonly eaten canned goods. The study was spearheaded by the
Environmental Working Group (EWG) and targeted the chemical bisphenol A (BPA),
a plastic and resin ingredient used to line metal food and drink cans. There
are no government safety standards limiting the amount of BPA in canned food.
While some companies are phasing out the use of BPA they are instead replacing
BPA with BPS (bisphenol S). BPS was an originally deterred chemical and its now
being used in products according to a study conducted from researchers at the
University of Texas and later published in the journal Environmental Health
Perspectives. Saying no to BPA (bisphenol A) worked and companies have reduced
the amount they use. Now it is time to say no to BPS which is in fact doing the
same thing as BPA, although thought to be “milder” it is estrogen mimic. It is
however a chemical non-the-less.(biosphenol A) (biosphenol A) because it mimics
estrogen in the body, and has been linked to a variety of health A (biosphenol
A) because it mimics estrogen in the body, and has been linked to a variety of
health challenges – cancer, reproduction defects, neurological defects, obesity
and diabetes certainly made a difference. Now it is time to “SAY NO to BPS.”
BPS is in fact doing the same thing as the BPA although thought to be milder in
its estrogen mimic! A chemical none-the-less.
Next up is trim milk powder and low fat biscuits! Gosh where
do I start with this? We seem to be obsessed as a society with consuming no
fat. My motto for our family is if you are going to eat
something then consume it as close to it’s original form as possible,
this includes eating the fat contained within a food. I feel the danger comes
when we begin to pull apart food, extracting the “fat” and then attempt to “put
it back together.” The biggest health by-in by societies across the globe in
the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s was the need for less fat and
today we are one of the fattest populations on earth. Clearly that practice
didn’t work! Fat is required and I urge you to be leary of “low fat,” “trimmed”
“foods.” Again read the ingredients and look at the marketing of the packet. If
it says “low” anything or has a “tick of approval” put it back on the shelf and
run to the perimeter of your local supermarket where you can continue to shop. Least
processed ingredients are kept on the perimeter of the stores whilst all
processed foods are contained in the middle where no refrigeration is required!
Umm…
Last one I want to draw your attention to is Milo. Our kids
each had a 200g can of Milo in their “goodie” bag. When we arrived home I asked
them to each get their cans out of their goodie bag. We sat on the couch and
went through the ingredients – milk solids, vegetable oil, maltodextrin,
flavour and soy lecithin just some of the ingredients. They asked the
question “mum, why do people say it’s okay to have a little if you don’t have
it all the time?” It was a beautiful question and one I took a while to answer
during which I shared this quote with them…
“It is the inability to see
the effects of chronic, low-level toxicities on human health that has been, and
remains, our greatest failing as intelligent beings.”
- Dr Boyd Haley
In other words I shared how the “toxic little times” add up
over time affecting the nerve system and our ability to express health to our
highest level. We then create a health situation, e.g. dis-ease and at times
disease that challenges us to wake up and change the way we do life. Some of
you right now might be thinking “she’s taking it too far.” My response is it’s
actually not about the Milo it’s about the opportunity to educate. If I’m
presented with an opportunity to educate my children on health, in this
situation ingredients, packaging and marketing then I will jump at the
opportunity to share the wisdom in seeing what most don’t. The kids understood
the “lesson” and by the end of the conversation and openness in sharing they
happily threw the cans of Milo away settling instead for a beautiful homemade
organic hot chocolate with oat milk, all made from scratch!
Thoughts? More information please visit site.www.vitalmoms.com
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