Everything we hear these days is about if it feels good do it, — in ‘moderation’ of course. THAT is sheer propaganda. It’s like the serpent in the Garden of Eden telling the first couple it’s ok to take just one bite. Don’t get me wrong, ‘moderation’ still means the occasional Burger House, Mema Mary’s caramel cake, DQ blizzard …those things are still ok once in a while. HOWEVER, there are some things should never hit your lips. I mean it. Never. Here are a few of those things:
Anything with COLOR not occurring in nature.
Artificial food coloring. No matter what the dye number, this stuff is toxic. Not just a little bit toxic either. The EU has already banned many of these dyes from entering their food source. FDA? Not a chance. Those food industry lobbyists (the Fruit Loop loving folks from General Mills and the like) are just too tight with the good ole government that touts itself as our protector. Food coloring is a derivative of PETROLEUM. Yes, petroleum. Would you pour 40 weight oil into your oatmeal?
Microwave Popcorn. Remember that freaky guy who sniffed microwave popcorn everyday and then he got sick? Have you ever heard of anyone getting sick sniffing lemons? Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), say what?? in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. They stay in your body for years, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in lab animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but until then, use a Whirly Pop and coconut oil. Healthy and FUN for the whole family!
The entirety of anything larger than your head in one sitting. This is more portion-control than foodstuff-related, but it’s important. If it’s bigger than your cabeza, whether it be bowl of popcorn, ham hock, or butter sculpture, it’s more than one serving. Failure to follow this rule will result in a wide variety of issues, not including the obvious FAT ASS.
Anything that resembles plastic. Seriously: you can make a perfectly good macaroni and cheese without Velveeta (and the yellow dye they use in it). Likewise, you can probably live without creepy fruit roll-ups in neon colors, strangely flexible things, or oddly shiny foodstuffs that resemble the packaging that they came in more than what they claim to be. If it looks, smells, and acts like plastic, it probably is made from something like plastic. Life is too short for that.
A rule of thumb: if you can’t pronounce it, get all your ingredients for it at a regular grocery store, it glows in the dark, or if you need a turkey platter to put it on…don’t eat it. I promise you will live longer.
Vegetarian me agrees. I’m still recovering from allergic reaction to mystery ingredient consumed at Disney World. Stay close to nature and eat in moderation with the occasional treat.
Absolutely so true!
Never, ever– eating micro popcorn again!!
we have banned burger house. its Elevation Burger or home made!!!
already have my whirly pop – I’m a quick learner!
hey leslie,
i am lovin your blog!!!! how are you? not sure if you got my last email. where are you getting your holistic nutrition degree? sounds like something i would love. i am obsessed with clean green living! give my best to the fam!!!
xo,
abbe
….even…….jello?? (Clutching a kleenex, with prayers to the Patron Saint of Congealed Salads that jello somehow made the list in error…)