In my quest to further educate the world of the less nutritionally savvy, I stumbled upon an article hanging in the halls of the Nutrition building at wonderful ASU Polytechnic. At first glance it looked like nothing more than bullet points on a poorly colored piece of paper, but since I had time to kill before lab, I looked further. The one page concise article emphasized that there should really not be “good” or “bad” food. There should be Nutrient-Dense food and Non Nutrient-Dense. Instead of looking at your food as “good ” or “bad” the American Dietetic Association wants us to look at food as how Nutrient-Dense it is.
Genius!!! and I’m not being sarcastic.
This makes me very happy and kinda mad all at the same time. Happy because it will help people look at food in a much smarter way. Mad because they though of it first, but hey, they are professionals so I won’t hold a grudge.
Now the big question. How do I know if something is Nutrient-Dense?
Take a look at the label. If the food has a poor calorie to nutrient ratio, DON”T EAT IT. If the food is full of nutrients and has low calories, EAT IT.
Nutrients are Vitamins and Minerals, all that good stuff your Doctor, parents, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or whatever likes to hear you’re eating. So look for high percentages of Vitamins A, C, K, D, B and the whole rest of the alphabet and Minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and dietary fiber. These will keep you healthy and Nutrient-Dense.
So remember there is no longer “good” or “bad” food. There is only Nutrient-Dense and non-nutrient-dense foods. I will create a list soon.
Happy Eating
next post will be “Don’t Label Me…..ok fine, label me”
Walker
Walker, I thought that this was very interesting and I know that I personally will think about this Blog entry next time I check out a nutrient label on the side of box or on the back of bag. It is important to remember that foods are either nutrient dense or not and that they shouldn’t be labeled as good or bad. Some foods are just healthier than others not necessarily bad. Well done!
Jennifer Cairney
Gee, what an “aha moment!” You’re right; labels shouldn’t identify good from bad, especially because it can be subjective. So many people, so many different needs! Plus I think it makes you think twice about what you’re eating. Unless your an anal nutrition student, most people don’t even realize what they’re eating, or if they’re coming close to ingesting their daily requirements. This may be the solution.
Rebeca Castillo