Readings Unit 8

FOOD MYTHS
There's a lot of confusion surrounding healthy food choices. When looking at

almost any supermarket aisle in the country and you will find products that
advertise healthy ingredients, when in reality they can lead to weight gain in kids.
It is a mystery sometimes to understand what the healthiest food options truly
are.
Myth 1: Foods Labeled "Diet, Gluten Free and Organic" are Healthy Choices
This myth is false, because most foods labeled as diet, gluten free and organic
may not be healthy food choices. Food trends and product labels can mislead you
into believing you're eating a healthy diet. When deciding what to eat it's
important to look at foods as a whole. Look at things like sodium, artificial
sweeteners, nutritional value, and calories. All of these play a role in determining
if a food item is healthy or not.
Sodium can lead to high blood pressure, even in kids. Lowering sodium is especially
important for kids who are overweight in order to lower their risk for heart
disease in the future. You should also look out for artificial sweeteners, which can
make you want to eat more food, which causes you to consume more calories than
you otherwise would. As growing kids, you will need certain nutrients from your
food. A slightly higher calorie meal might be a healthier option if it's providing
significant amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, and/or
calcium.
Myth 2: Juice is a Healthy Drink for Kids
This myth is false, as you should eat your

fruit instead of drinking it. Many people
believe that since fruit is healthy, fruit
juice is great for kids. However, this high-
calorie sugary beverage can be contributing
to weight gain. Some would say that these
drinks have great nutritional value because
they can be rich in vitamins, but you're
better off eating fresh fruit for the
vitamins, because the vitamins and fiber are
lost in the juicing process.
Myth 3: Cereal is a Great Way for Kids to Start the Day
This myth is true and false, because there are very few “healthy cereals” on the
market, however if you eat a great cereal like oatmeal for breakfast, it is a great
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way to start the day! Cereal is an easy and tasty breakfast option when you are
rushing to get to school on time. But be careful; most kid marketed cereal options
contain more sugar than a regular dessert. Cereal can be tricky; misleading labels
often advertise healthy ingredients, vitamins, and whole grains. But these benefits
can be outweighed by the sugar quantity. The sugar in cereal, which causes
excessive glucose, can lead to a rapid increase in blood sugar as well as an increase
in calories taken in. Make sure to read food labels carefully and to replace sugary
cereals with healthier options. You need to keep a sharp eye out for sneaky sugar
terms that may appear on boxes, such as organic molasses, bee honey, and organic
sugar cane, which can fool you into believing that they're healthy cereals-they all
break down into glucose (sugar) in your body. Better breakfast options; like fruit,
low-fat yogurt, eggs, and oatmeal, give kids the energy they need without
increasing their weight.
MYTH 4: Store a ripe banana with other fruit to help it ripen faster
This myth is true: If you're trying to ripen any fruit, put them in a container
together. If you don't want to ripen them, keep them out of the fruit bowl and on
the kitchen or shelf. That ripe banana will speed up the ripening process of any
other fruits. Some other fruits for which this applies are tomatoes, mangoes and
papayas.
Myth 5: Whole Wheat Bread is Healthy Bread
This myth is true and false. While “true whole wheat bread” is healthy
there are fewer differences between white bread and whole wheat bread
than most people believe. They both have high levels of (sugar) glucose that
are broken down into the bloodstream the same way. This not only causes
weight gain but can lead to a more serious health problem, such as diabetes.
If a package is labeled as whole wheat, it doesn't mean it contains the healthy

grains you need. Processed whole wheat bread is almost entirely stripped of fiber.
Be careful when reading bread labels and look for packages that read 100 percent
whole grains. These healthier alternatives have been shown to allow for a more
balanced glucose level. The shorter the ingredient list, the better the bread. The
most nutritious bread may be made from only whole wheat flour, water, yeast, and
salt, with possibly a touch of molasses or honey, or the addition of other “whole”
grains. The key-word on the bread label is “whole.”
Myth 6: Frozen Yogurt is a Healthy Dessert Option
This myth is false because of the added sugars it usually has. Frozen yogurt can
be a healthier alternative to most ice creams, but that doesn't mean that it's the
best option. Although most frozen yogurt is low-fat, it still contains a lot of
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calories. A large cup of standard frozen yogurt is around 380 calories with 76
grams of sugar, not including toppings.
Most kids prefer their flavored frozen yogurt with sugary toppings. Adding
sprinkles, candy, and artificial syrups leads to potentially harmful levels of sugar.
Instead, plain low-fat frozen yogurt with fruit is the best option. The fruit will
sweeten up the yogurt without adding unnecessary, harmful sugars.
Myth 7: Veggie Chips are a Healthier than Potato Chips
This myth is false-trying eating fruit or veggies instead. This sneaky snack often
contains the same number of calories as potato chips and can have the same
weight gaining effects, too. The small serving of vegetables found in veggie chips
are countered by the high amounts of potato, corn flour and salt. The vital
nutrients that vegetables contain are lost in the process when veggie chips are
manufactured. Try cutting out the processed potato altogether and making
healthy vegetable snacks at home.
Myth 8: An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
This myth is true . Eating fruits and veggies on a daily basis does keep you
very healthy, and gives you many of the daily vitamins and minerals you need.
So if you love your fruits and veggies, keep eating them!
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FOODS THAT ARE HEALTHY YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT
1. Eggs are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Previous claims that
say they are high in cholesterol were incorrect. They are perfectly safe
and healthy for you.
2. Lean beef is among the best sources of protein in existence,

and loaded with highly bio-available iron.
3. Nuts and seeds, despite being high in fat and calories,

studies suggest that they can help you lose weight. These foods are
crunchy, fulfilling and loaded with important nutrients that many people
don’t get enough of, including magnesium and vitamin E. They also require
zero preparation, which is important because it makes it easier to
incorporate them into the diet.
4. Shellfish isn’t eaten very often, which is a shame because it contains

more nutrients than almost every other food. It ranks similar to meats
when it comes to nutrient density. Edible shellfish includes shrimp, clams,
oysters, mussels and scallops.
5. Kidney beans are loaded with various vitamins and minerals, and are very
high in fiber. Just make sure they are cooked properly, because they are
toxic when raw.
6. Sweet potatoes are among the most delicious starchy foods you can eat.
They are loaded with antioxidants and all sorts of healthy nutrients.
7. Apple cider vinegar is incredibly popular in the natural health community.

Studies show that it can help lower blood sugar levels and cause
modest weight loss .It is great to use in salad dressings, and to add flavor
to meals.
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WRITE TRUE OR THE FALSE NEXT TO THE STATEMENT BELOW
REGARDING FOOD FACTS
Juice is a healthy drink for kids ________________
Kidney beans are loaded with unhealthy nutrients.________________
Veggie chips are a healthy food option ________________
Eggs are not a healthy choice due to cholesterol ________________
Nuts and seeds are too high in fat to be healthy ________________
Frozen yogurt is a healthy dessert ________________
Sweet potatoes are very healthy for you ________________

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FOOD MYTHS

There's a lot of confusion surrounding healthy food choices. When looking at

Myth 2: Juice is a Healthy Drink for Kids

This myth is false, as you should eat your

Myth 3: Cereal is a Great Way for Kids to Start the Day

Myth 5: Whole Wheat Bread is Healthy Bread

If a package is labeled as whole wheat, it doesn't mean it contains the healthy

Myth 6: Frozen Yogurt is a Healthy Dessert Option

Myth 7: Veggie Chips are a Healthier than Potato Chips

Myth 8: An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

2. Lean beef is among the best sources of protein in existence,

3. Nuts and seeds, despite being high in fat and calories,

4. Shellfish isn’t eaten very often, which is a shame because it contains

7. Apple cider vinegar is incredibly popular in the natural health community.

Juice is a healthy drink for kids ________________

Kidney beans are loaded with unhealthy nutrients.________________

Veggie chips are a healthy food option ________________

Eggs are not a healthy choice due to cholesterol ________________

Nuts and seeds are too high in fat to be healthy ________________

Frozen yogurt is a healthy dessert ________________

Sweet potatoes are very healthy for you ________________

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