By Katelyn Lam, Staff Writer
Every day, at the supermarket or local convenience store, there are so many snacks being advertised as “healthy” and “full of protein”. But when customers go to buy one of these items, how many really stop and look at the nutrition label? Or do they only look at the words in the front advertising the healthiness of it? It’s important to remember that not everything is as advertised, and understanding the pros and cons of different snacks are important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
From granola bars to trail mix, popular easy-to go-snacks may tempt customers to purchase them without stopping to look at the nutritional information. It’s convenient, fast and there’s so many different brands for each kind of snack that people don’t bother turning around the package and looking at the different factors added to make it taste better than some of the others. A lot of the people who eat these are those who need a jump start to their morning or a quick snack after school, neither of which these products are made for.
Many of the people who grab these items are looking for a healthy but quick snack, advertised as “sugar free” or even with a “no added sugar” label, but these claims aren’t always 100% accurate. Sugar free snacks can have up to .5 grams of sugar per package and that can add up throughout the day. “No added sugar” labels may mean that natural sugar from things like fruit is what’s making these snacks a much tastier and faster alternative to homemade healthier options like an actual fruit or nuts. While that sugar may be healthier than processed sugar, it is still good to remember it may contain lots of natural sugar, no matter what the packaging says. 100% organic products aren’t much better either. According to the United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), as long as 95% of the product is organic, it can be labeled as such. With products with the label “made with organic ingredients,” only 70% needs to be organic. Organic food isn’t automatically healthier than the non-organic version; it simply means that they were at a lower risk of pesticide exposure. An organic health bar doesn’t mean it should be your go-to-snack in a grocery store.
Granola bars have always been a convenient snack to take anywhere, but they can contain as much sugar, carbs, and calories as a candy bar. It’s important to look at the labels beforehand and avoid things with lots of Monosodium glutamate (MSG) or artificial sweeteners and flavoring. For instance, Clif bars which are commonly advertised as healthy actually contain high amounts of sugar and carbs. These macronutrients are good for quick energy during a long run or hike, but is not recommended for a casual snack after school or quick breakfast. Clif bars aren’t made to be filling, they’re made for exercise. They aren’t much different than a candy bar. In fact, it may be better to eat a candy bar instead knowing that it counts as a treat and not as a healthy snack than eating a Clif bar assuming it’s healthy for you.
Trail mix is another example of a seemingly healthy snack that can be turned unhealthy with a couple of added ingredients. It usually contains a combination of dried fruits, nuts, granola and sometimes chocolate: easy to take wherever and seemingly nutritious. While dried fruits may sound healthy, being dried means that they are usually higher in sugar due to the water that has been removed. But the main problem is the chocolate or yogurt covered raisins. Having chocolate offers little nutritional benefit and starts to balance out the healthier side of trail mix making it not as healthy as it would have been. Yogurt covered raisins tend to have loads of sugar and fat making it about as unhealthy as a candy bar. Again, these were not made for a casual snack, but for hiking on “trails” as the name implies. Not all trail mix is unhealthy, it’s just important to know what to look out for when choosing one in a store. Nothing beats making them yourself knowing what you’re putting into them, but they can be good for a quick snack once in a while. Nothing is really guaranteed to be 100% healthy, and indulging in a bag of trail mix once in a while won’t hurt.
Knowing the differences between an actual nutritious food vs a falsely advertised healthy snack is critical to balanced eating & living a healthy lifestyle. Something that may be healthy in one situation would not be healthy in all. It’s important to know the appropriate time to eat a certain type of food and not group all “healthy” foods together. Learning to focus more on what’s inside each thing we eat may seem unnecessary but in the long run is helpful. Everything has pros and cons and it’s up to the individual to say which outweigh the other.
