By Mermaid Jennifer
My new favorite thing this week is "Eat This, Not That - Supermarket Survival Guide," by David Zinczenko.
In my house, I am the primary shopper for everything from shoes to milk. Each week, I go to the grocery store to buy a big order of food for my family.
From daily sandwiches to dinner menus, I am planning them all while trying to make healthy food. It's a big job, but someone's got to do it; and I think I do it pretty well.
But, until reading this book, I thought was doing a fairly good job! Now, I see that even products that are clearly labeled as being "healthy" or "good for you," are not. False advertising seems to abound in food marketing these days.
According to the book, "Quaker 100% Natural Granola, Oats, Honey & Raisins," a product we eat regularly is just as sugary as Cocoa Pebbles! In fact, if we ate Cocoa Pebbles instead of the Granola, we could eat twice as much for the fat and fiber content. And here I thought granola was good for you!
Good thing - Veggie rundown
The listing of vitamins in fruits and veggies in this book is very cool. In one week I have already revised how much fruit we are eating throughout the day; and what vegetables to make at dinner. With each fruit of nature there is detail about the vitamin and fiber content plus overall benefits.
Great thing - Salad bar survival guide
If you like to go to the salad bar at lunch, you may wish to visit this section of the book. It details which items to snarf down on and which to leave in the little plastic serving bowls.
Good cheeses - who knew?
There is a section on cheeses with associated health values. Yes! I knew that somehow cheese would be declared as good someday. However, the only caveat is that some of these cheeses are expensive. I guess you really get what you pay for with Kraft Singles, vs Manchego.
The perfect pantry
This is awesome because you can get a great idea of common foods to carry in your pantry. They also do this with the Spice Rack. For example, my new favorite food, Quinoa, is a great pantry staple! It's super healthy and delicious with anything.
Size of books and variety
These books are great to leave on your coffee table to browse while you are watching TV at night. They have become an empire if their selection on Amazon is any indication.
Now you can buy this book right through Mermaids of the Lake! Hooray!
Jennifer, this books sounds like a plethora of information. I know that for years, I have been reading the labels on every single thing I buy at the grocery store. My food allergies and sensitivities make it neccesary for me to do so. It is so important that we know what we are putting into our bodies in the name of "healthy." Thanks for this great book review.
Posted by: Debbie | February 17, 2010 at 10:52 AM