Don't Fall for Label Hype

I'm amused by the nutrition claims I've been hearing and reading lately. It used to be "fat-free," "sugar-free" and "low-calorie." But just in the last week, I've heard about fudge that's "gluten free" and "trans-fat free" and restaurant French fries cooked in "cholesterol-free vegetable oil." Not that these claims aren't true, of course. But fudge never had gluten OR trans fat in it, and vegetable oil never had cholesterol in it!! That's like claiming that vodka is a diet food because it's fat-free! Come on, people!

Just because a food or product has a healthful-sounding nutrition claim doesn't make it healthful. Think about the food itself. Does fudge sound like health food? How about French fries? Yes, trans fat is bad, and gluten (the protein found in rye, wheat and barley) can be problematic for people with celiac disease and other syndromes, but a food that's primarily made of butter, sugar and cream should not be a mainstay of your diet. And French fries--whether fried in vegetable oil or lard--are still French fries: high in fat, calories and starch, and not much else.

So be wise to the hype, and take it for what it's worth. Look at the nutrition facts and see through the myth to the truth. As long as you're aware of what you're eating, there's nothing wrong with indulging in a little fudge every now and then, and maybe a "small" serving of fries (rarely!). But don't be fooled into believing you're doing yourself a favor.