Its a numbers game ...
Typical of many in the ‘western’ world, we are currently watching our food intake, where on medical advice a member of the Smith household has to watch closely their dietary fat intake.
In this quest, many accomplishments have already been made in the last two months and the diet is working very well with some excellent culinary choices.
This blog entry is not about these successes but the challenge of getting the right information from the manufacturers on the fat content in their foods. Whilst we are not inclined towards processed food, there is still a surprising amount that you buy where you have to be sure that the levels are appropriate.
The magic number is 4g per 100g, or 4%, a little variation (5% for example) is reasonable, but you need to be strict for the diet to work, and working it is.
Therefore a studious review of products is required and what is required/desired that fits the percentage requirement is purchased.
In the UK over the last few years, there has been a concerted effort by manufacturers to present accurate nutritional information on their packaging. Giving accurate values on calories, fats, sugars etc. This information is always correct and is always legally defensible, but it can be very deceptive.
The numeracy level in the Smith household is good, we can make relative calculations and understand comparative values. But occasionally, usually in the chaos of the supermarket we have found that the information we have first seen on the packaging, is not what it would seem. On reflection at home, when you look carefully at the headline values, which all looked very promising, the reality is very different when you look at the small print on the very back of the packaging. Both sets of values add up, but the information is presented in a very promising light.
Very legally defensible ...
With many pundits discussing in the media the state of the weight of our nation (and many others), it is not made easy for those who are making a valiant effort to improve their diet and reduce their intake of fats/calories/sugars when the information take some mental mathematical athletics to accomplish.
In this quest, many accomplishments have already been made in the last two months and the diet is working very well with some excellent culinary choices.
This blog entry is not about these successes but the challenge of getting the right information from the manufacturers on the fat content in their foods. Whilst we are not inclined towards processed food, there is still a surprising amount that you buy where you have to be sure that the levels are appropriate.
The magic number is 4g per 100g, or 4%, a little variation (5% for example) is reasonable, but you need to be strict for the diet to work, and working it is.
Therefore a studious review of products is required and what is required/desired that fits the percentage requirement is purchased.
In the UK over the last few years, there has been a concerted effort by manufacturers to present accurate nutritional information on their packaging. Giving accurate values on calories, fats, sugars etc. This information is always correct and is always legally defensible, but it can be very deceptive.
The numeracy level in the Smith household is good, we can make relative calculations and understand comparative values. But occasionally, usually in the chaos of the supermarket we have found that the information we have first seen on the packaging, is not what it would seem. On reflection at home, when you look carefully at the headline values, which all looked very promising, the reality is very different when you look at the small print on the very back of the packaging. Both sets of values add up, but the information is presented in a very promising light.
Very legally defensible ...
With many pundits discussing in the media the state of the weight of our nation (and many others), it is not made easy for those who are making a valiant effort to improve their diet and reduce their intake of fats/calories/sugars when the information take some mental mathematical athletics to accomplish.
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