Are you being cheated at the grocery store?

---

f you wouldn't invest in ocean-front property in North Dakota, why would you allow yourself to be cheated, ripped off, deceived, conned, or duped at the grocery store or the drive thru? You may think you're getting a real bargain when you swipe your credit card at check-out, but you may be actually getting "foodless" foods (mega calories with mini-nutrition laced with synthetic colors and knock-your-socks-off flavorings) at a very high price.

You not only pay at checkout, but you pay again and even more at your HMO and drugstore when you inevitably go on slow life support for the side effects and diseases that low quality food gives you over time.

According to a large study published in the Journal of the American Dietetics Association (JADA, December 2005), whole foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes) are a much better bargain than empty foods when you account for the real nutrients you're getting. The study demonstrated that, although fruits and vegetables appear to be more expensive than empty foods like ramen noodles or macaroni and cheese, the essential nutrients you're getting make the fruits and vegetables a far greater bargain. 

"Fruits and vegetables had the highest score because they were nutrient-rich in relation to their low energy (calorie) content. They also had a relatively high nutrient-to-price ratio, showing that they provided nutrients at a reasonable cost when compared with other foods." There's no way to get your essential nutrients more affordably than by eating fruits and vegetables. 

The study evaluated 16 nutrients with recommended daily values because they are widely considered to be essential nutrients. It analyzed the relationships between calories, nutrients, and retail costs of 637 foods, 129 of which were fruits and vegetables. 

FDA considering modification of food label to show nutrient density per calorie
One surprising suggestion in the conclusion of the article is that the FDA has actually "contemplated a revision of the food label that is based on a nutrient density standard, i.e., the amount of a nutrient the food provided in relation to the energy that it contains." This means that in the future you may be able to tell how nutrient-rich a food is just by looking at a label and comparing it to the price. What a breakthrough that would be!

Until then, you'll have to take the Journal's word for it that whole foods are a huge bargain compared to the empty sodas, boxed foods, and fast foods you may now being lured into buying because of their cheap, bargain prices and crazy flavors. They're not a real value when there's so little nutrition. 


ACTION STEPS:
1. The next time you shop at the grocery store, imagine checking nutrition density per dollar on the label. Go for the foods in the perimeter of the store-produce, whole grain breads, lean meat, low-fat dairy, etc.
2. Develop a healthy system for the way you shop using a grocery list of nutrient-dense foods. Share it with your friends. 

http://www.xyngular.com/lrivera