It seems like the word “natural” is being used on most food products nowadays. Walking into a local grocery store, you can easily spot the word “natural” or “naturally” on the labels of many food products. In fact, nearly 60 percent of people look for that term on food labels when they shop!
Unfortunately the word “natural” has very little regulation. Since there is no strict definition, food manufacturers can label their food as “natural” even if their products are heavily processed, full of sugars and toxic chemicals (basically, everything that is not natural!) The word is being used more as a marketing and advertising tool than an actual reflection of the food product.
This video gives a satirical view on how unnatural products labeled as “natural” really are:
Only the USDA Organic Seal means foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines. This label guarantees food that contains no GMOs, toxic pesticides, antibiotics or growth hormones. If you see this label on your food items, it means the ingredients and product have met stricter and more defined standards, compared to the word “natural.”
Remember, even if food is bought at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or another natural grocer, it doesn’t automatically make it healthy. It is always a good idea to look at the ingredients and read beyond the labels and advertising.
With all the false advertising, finding good, whole foods can be a little tricky. We’ve compiled a few of our favorite tips so that you can become a shopping pro!
- Shop around the perimeter of the grocery store. For the most part, many of the essentials are on the perimeter of the store: produce, meats, dairy, bread and healthy fats. If you can avoid wandering into the aisles, there’s a good chance you won’t grab the chips, cookies or other processed, packaged food. Stick to the perimeter of the store and only venture into the brightly colored aisles if you know exactly what you need!
- Read the ingredients list. It is best to buy foods that aren’t packaged and as close to their natural state as possible, but a good rule of thumb though is to buy pre-packaged food that contain five ingredients or less. Try to avoid buying foods that have a long ingredient list, full of words that only a scientist could pronounce!
- Stay away from sugars. Sugar is a very sneaky ingredient and finds its way into most processed and packaged foods. There are also many different words that are used on the ingredients label other than “sugar.” If the word sugar, or any of the words below, is one of the first few ingredients on the label, it’s best to avoid that food.
We hope these suggestions have empowered you to be a savvier shopper and really learn what is going into your “natural” food.