I know you are busy, so trust me when I say there is no judgment in this question: how often do you read product labels when food shopping? I completely understand that it becomes one more thing to do, and how many of us want to spend more time in the grocery store?

The problem is a food label can often be the key to treating illness, from a minor ache to a major health concern. Often there are hidden ingredients that can trigger a headache, cause an allergic reaction or contribute to inflammation and many other ailments. Eating healthily is the first step in treatment of disease and a food label can hold many answers to a lot of questions.

After I created this video I watched an episode of the Dr. Oz show. I was excited to listen to him share his concerns about trans fats just as I do in the video. Dr. Oz taught at my nutrition school so now you know I’m a good student, right? I pay attention so I can provide you with the most important and most up-to-date research so you can look and feel your best and live your best life.

Let me know what you learn from the video. And, of course, let me know if you have any questions.

The food court at Woodbury Commons doesn’t offer many options for a gluten-free, vegan like me. I did have a Pure Bar to eat as a backup, but thought I was safe with a plate of black beans and vegetables (what I ate a year ago while taking a break from shopping). As I approached the Desert Moon counter to order, I was focused on making sure the black beans were vegetarian. They were last year, but I know that ingredients and preparation often change (note to remember: you can’t control what other people prepare for you to eat).

I was assured the black beans were vegetarian so I decided to go with the tried and true: black beans and vegetables. After we placed the order, I noticed a brochure with allergen information and took a copy to peruse. The headline read: The Fresh, Healthful Alternative to Fast Food and I was curious to read more about the food being prepared behind the counter. And I thought that it was very cool that the chain was concerned about its customers to have the information readily available on site.

As I ate, I reviewed the brochure and the “coolness” factor wore off very quickly – check out how long the list of ingredients is for black beans. Argh!!! I was so worried about the vegetarian factor I didn’t even consider the beans would be made with high-fructose corn syrup, modified corn starch and more sugars. Seriously? A “fresh, healthful alternative to fast food” – No way!

I sneered and snickered when I read the testimonials in the brochure: “I still can’t believe that something so delicious can actually be good for you, too!” and “Everything is always so fresh…I feel great when my kids eat here, and we love it as well.” Interestingly, the quotes weren’t attributed to anyone so they might have been written by a clever copywriter in the marketing department.

My portion wasn’t very big (thank goodness). I realized I was practically finished eating when I felt that pit in my stomach. If I could be tricked into eating food loaded with sugar and preservatives, many others are getting duped as well, and that just isn’t fair to the consumers. They are being lured to Desert Moon under a false pretense – that it is healthier than “fast food” (think: McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, etc.)

Of course, Desert Moon is not the only establishment marketing food full of sugars and preservatives as healthy alternatives. McDonald’s has been advertising its “real fruit” smoothies. Here are the ingredients in the McCafé Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie:

Mango Pineapple Fruit Base
Water, clarified demineralized pineapple juice concentrate, mango puree concentrate, pineapple juice concentrate, orange juice concentrate, pineapple puree, passion fruit juice, apple juice concentrate, natural (botanical source) and artificial flavors, contains less than 1% of the following: peach puree, cellulose powder, peach juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, xanthan gum, pectin, citric acid, colored with fruit and vegetable juice and turmeric extract, ascorbic acid (preservative).

Ice
Ice

Low Fat Yogurt
Cultured Grade A reduced fat milk, sugar, whey protein concentrate, fructose, corn starch, gelatin. Contains active yogurt cultures.

CONTAINS: MILK

Do you know how healthy the food you eat really is? At speaking engagements, I often use this analogy and it gets a powerful response. I believe it is appropriate here:

Think about when you walk into a house of worship (synagogue, church, mosque, a place of honor for your religious and/or spiritual beliefs). Would you walk in and throw your garbage on the floor? I’m guessing the answer is no. Now think about your body. It is a place of honor, isn’t it? Treat your body as you would a place of honor and eat whole, natural, healthy food. Ignore the marketing lingo and make educated decisions about the food you eat. Aren’t you worth it?

I’ve learned a lot about making well-informed choices this week. The next time we go to Woodbury Commons, I’m bringing my cooler with homemade food.

Next Steps:

1. Take a look in your refrigerator and pantry and read some of the food labels.
2. Send me an email with any questionable ingredients (like the ones you can’t pronounce) and I will provide you with information.
3. DECIDE that you are worth eating healthy, natural, whole foods.
4. Begin to substitute your favorite brands with healthier options, one by one or two by two. It doesn’t have to be all at once and overwhelming.

These steps will help you to determine if you are eating healthy, whole foods to truly nourish your body, mind and spirit. If you are concerned about your eating habits and want to discuss options for change, contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com or call 413-282-7286. At Bravo! Wellness, I work with my clients to create manageable lifestyle changes so they are able to achieve their greatest potential in life, health and business.

My husband, Keith, and I enjoyed a great Memorial Day Weekend. We went up to the Berkshires for a couple of days. We relaxed and spent quality time together. We were in the car a lot, with a three hour drive to the Berkshires on Friday and home on Sunday evening, and on Saturday we drove to Northampton and walked around a great craft show (and we shared a gluten-free lunch!).

We sat on the couch with his arm around me and watched television (when we’re at home we’re usually doing other things while watching tv, so I really don’t consider it quality time together). We ate our meals sitting at the kitchen table and ran errands together. On Sunday, we met up with my cousins for another relaxing meal.

Yesterday, we read in the paper in bed and then walked around a quiet New York City. We visited the street fair on Madison Avenue, sat down for a snack and talked about the week ahead. It was a great way to end a wonderful holiday weekend.

It started getting late so I asked Keith what he wanted to do for dinner. We both thought about it and he suggested going to Candle Cafe, because he knows I loooooove it there. Often times we pick up a dish for me and Keith either orders in from another restaurant or makes a meal for himself at home, so I offered that if he wanted to pick up something for me and he could get something else, he replied, “No, let’s just go sit and eat there.”

We enjoyed a nice early dinner, which made me happy because it meant we could go home, straighten up a bit and watch the hockey game together. As we prepared to leave Candle Cafe, I smiled and told Keith how happy I was that we had eaten early, enjoyed delicious food and that we could go home and relax. And he replied, “That’s why I wanted to stay here and eat. If we brought it home, you would have sat down for two bites, then gone on the computer, then sent some text messages, then made a “quick” phone call, and before we knew it, it would have been ten o’clock.”

OMG! I got a knot in the pit of my stomach. Keith’s loving remarks about sitting down at a restaurant to eat dinner together made me realize how “unpresent” I can be at home, how I let the myriad of distractions get to me. How interesting that over the weekend I bought a postcard to frame that reads: make the present moment into the most wonderful moment of your life.

I love that today is the first day of a new month. My intention for this month is to establish the habit of “being present.” I don’t want life to pass me by; I want to enjoy all the great gifts it has to offer. I thank my husband for being the special man that he is and teaching me such an important lesson.

Is there a habit you want to create this month? Have you been saying you are going to eat healthily but then think, “I’ll start tomorrow”?  Contact me and we can discuss how you can transform your life and begin living the healthy lifestyle you desire.

Yesterday, I was walking in the pouring rain across 23^rd Street. I couldn’t wait to get to the subway. I thought, “No stops, just keep walking and you’ll be home soon.” And then something stopped me – a big sign that read, “Gluten-free Pizza.” I had come to Mozzarelli’s Catering Company at 38 East 23^rd Street between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue South.

Chef Ronny created the delicious crust with his secret blend of brown rice and beans. I tried the cheese-less veggie slice and it was yummy ($4.95). Mozzarelli’s also serves gluten-free pasta (10-minutes prep time) and has packaged gluten-free desserts.

Word of caution: the restaurant is not 100% gluten-free. The menu states that all gluten-free products are prepared in a separate area and every effort is made to avoid cross-contamination. I don’t have celiac disease, so I was comfortable eating at Mozzarelli’s.

For more information, visit Mozzarelli’s online or call 212-475-6777

Do you have questions or concerns about following a gluten-free diet? I invite you to contact me at jodi@bravowellness.com. Let’s set up a complimentary wellness profile and address your concerns. I’ve been eating gluten-free for a few years and it’s changed my life!

Happycow.com
HappyCow’s vegetarian restaurants guide is a global, searchable vegetarian dining guide and directory of natural health food stores, including nutrition & health tips, vegan recipes, raw foods, travel, veganism and other vegetarian issues. Definitely a favorite of mine. I’m already searching for places in Orlando, FL for my trip next week.

VegDining.com
A comprehensive guide to vegetarian dining throughout the world. In addition, for a low $4.95 annual fee, you can subscribe to vegdining.com and receive access to nutrition articles and recipes from some of the featured restaurants.

Epicurious.com
This site is an incredible place for people who love food. There is a travel guide, though I caution that not every restaurant is considered a “healthy” one. But, you can start with this site, do some searching and find a great restaurant. Usually, the chefs at great restaurants are accommodating to allergies and food sensitivities and you will probably get a one-of-a-kind, delicious meal.

I’m going to share more tomorrow. And please, share your favorite resources – how do you find healthy food when traveling ?