| You'll never get an argument if you say, "We need to | | | | are often loaded with sugar, many beef stick products |
| find healthier snack solutions." It's not controversial to | | | | are almost all fat! Truth be told, this is usually the case. |
| say "Unhealthy Snacking is among the top reasons for | | | | In order to find a dried meat product that is not all fat, |
| Americans being overweight and obese in | | | | you need to look at certain types of beef jerky. |
| unprecedented, never before seen in the history of the | | | | The bottom line in all of this is that you can't believe the |
| planet numbers. That said, try to move forward and | | | | hype. Don't buy into advertising slogans, jingles or |
| then define what the definition of a "Healthy Snack" is, | | | | whatever else the multi-million dollar industry has |
| and that's where the fireworks begin. | | | | concocted to convince you of the merits of their |
| Some people will point anything that says "all natural" | | | | product. There is only one source of truth, and that's |
| as being a healthy snack solution. But really, "all natural" | | | | the nutrition data printed on the back of the package. |
| says very little about the nutrition quality of the snack. | | | | While there is not absolute for parameters of healthy |
| Many juice boxes or fruit drinks are "All Natural" and | | | | snack solutions, you can usually be safe following the |
| yet loaded with sugar. Going further on concept of | | | | CA SB-19 guidelines for snacks in schools which state |
| sugar content, many snacks are billed as "low-fat" or | | | | that snacks should be less than 35% fat, less than |
| "Reduced Fat." It's important to note that many of | | | | 35% sugar, less than 10% saturated fat and less than |
| these reduced fat items have more sugar than their | | | | 250 calories per container. Short of simply saying "I'm |
| "Regular Fat" counterpart. It's often the case that | | | | only going to eat carrots and celery, while drinking only |
| lowfat items have more actual calories and sugar. | | | | water," the above guidelines are a good place to start. |
| They've simply replaced one nutrition impediment with | | | | Since we all need definitions and guidelines by which to |
| another. | | | | conduct our lives, and our eating, the 35/35/10/250 |
| Also beware of beef stick type products. People will | | | | description is an excellent goal to aspire to. |
| often look at various beef sticks and assume their | | | | So go forth and spread the healthy snack numerical |
| healthy snack solutions. After all, they aren't candy! But | | | | mantra of 35/35/10/250. Become an educated snack |
| these products fool people in a similar way to how | | | | consumer; watch the pounds peel away from you as |
| "Fruit juices" and "Fruit Snacks" do. While Fruit Juices | | | | newfound energy come to you. |