Who doesn’t get excited about having an afternoon snack or something delicious while watching “The Pit”?
But not all snacks are created equal. If we want to choose nutritious snacks, what are the best options? And are these new “naked” and “natural” snack foods that are popping up everywhere really that much better for us than “dressed up” and “unnatural” snack foods?
That’s us, Raj Punjabi Johnson and Noah Michaelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” Podcast — We spoke with Dr. Maya Badibello, registered dietitian, nutritional epidemiologist, and associate professor of nutrition at the University of Rhode Island.
“I have a question [from a listener named] Cambria, and she’s talking about… something called Simply NKD Nacho Cheese Doritos,” Michaelson said. [this snack] If you look online right now, it says, “The classic Doritos flavors you love, but without any colors or artificial flavors.” What do you think about that? ”
Vadiveloo had doubts about this product and others like it.
“For me, it’s more of a health-washing trend,” she tells us, adding that companies are aware that many consumers are now concerned about so-called “ultra-processed” foods and the impact they have on our bodies.
“The current working definition is [of an ultra processed food] …It’s actually just a food product that contains some form of cosmetic additive or ingredient that is not normally available in home kitchens,” she said.[Warnings about] Super processed [foods have] It’s currently in the political spotlight, and food companies are being maligned for having food dyes, so they won’t lose out. ”
Manufacturers are encouraged to make snacks free of colors and artificial flavors, but that doesn’t necessarily mean these snacks are good for us.
“They’re not doing anything to make Dorito inherently healthier,” Badibello said. “And to me, cosmetic additives may not be necessary, but just because you take away cosmetic additives doesn’t mean Doritos suddenly becomes something that should be the base of a snack.”
When Mr. Johnson, who is Punjabi, pointed out that “Naked Dorito feels like tortilla chips,” Mr. Badivero retorted: “Even though they’re tortilla chips, tortilla chips are relatively high in calories. Again, you can eat a handful of tortilla chips in a balanced meal, but it doesn’t really make for a balanced snack that will give you the nutrition you need.”
Instead, he encouraged us to reach for whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, that contain protein, fiber, and other nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are “grossly underconsumed” in the United States, she said.
Buddy Bello, who loves snacking on baby carrots and trail mix with nuts and unsweetened dried fruit, also emphasized that it’s not just words like “naked” and “natural” that are being used to mislead shoppers.
“Food companies are really smart. For example, if you look at the packaging of NKD Doritos, it’s not as bright and loud as regular Doritos,” she pointed out. “It’s like it’s meant to be muted… They did thousands and thousands of focus groups to say things like, ‘What do you think when you see a greenish matte color palette?’ In the same way we use the “traffic light” label to convey a message very simply, we associate it with health. You know, you can use this to make people think it might not be so bad… One of the things that’s so interesting about things like behavioral economics is that we can all be manipulated even if we know we’re being manipulated. [being manipulated]”
Buddy-Bello spoke about research showing that “generally, the greater the number of health claims, the less likely the food is to meet common nutritional guidelines,” which she said highlights the absurdity of the health wash that currently exists in many products.
“I always find it funny when I see a jar of peanut butter labeled ‘Cholesterol Free,'” she said. “of course Plant-based foods do not contain cholesterol, only animal foods contain cholesterol. ”
Ultimately, Vadiveloo advised us to be wary of promises that are too good to be true.
“If you start seeing more health claims about something, that should be a warning that maybe someone is trying too hard to prove something,” she says.
And, like most things in life, moderation is always best when choosing snacks.
“[We should] “It completely normalizes that it’s not that easy to make healthy choices and always carry them out, and that everyone is imperfect in making those choices,” Badibello told us. [just about] You’re trying to move the needle of, “OK, how can I feel better at my next meal or my next snack?” ”
We also spoke with her about the current protein bar craze and what to avoid, the relationship between anxiety and snacking, and more. Click above to listen to the entire episode, or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also watch the entire episode on YouTube.
Learn more about Maya Vadiveloo here.
If you have any questions or need help with something we did wrong, please email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com. Future episodes may explore this topic.
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