This morning, I’m taking you on a journey to New York City, to so you can experience with me what I call a "SUGAR SHOCK! Snapshot."
The other day, I dashed into a deli to grab some lunch (while an appointment kept me waiting), and I had the most shocking encounter with a brownie.
Mind you, this was no ordinary brownie. This was a "low-fat brownie." Huh? How could that be?
You see, as I walked up to the checkstand to pay for my juicy salad, topped with enticing veggies, eggs and tuna, I saw this gorgeous-looking treat.
Yes, despite the fact that I’ve been sugar-free for close to 9 years (come April 15), every so often, desserts do hold a visual appeal. (But bear in mind that this doesn’t mean that I allow myself to indulge in them. These days, I prefer to feel good, and I full well know that giving in to a tempting sugary dessert would bring on what I call "The 3-Day Crud.")
Anyhow, back to the deli delicacy. Because as I was waiting to turn over my money in this bustling luncheon establishment, there, in big bold letters, you saw that this sugar-laden brown creation was being trumpeted as "low-fat."
As I faced this culinary concoction — a low-fat brownie — all I could do was flash a big smile — or did I actually smirk? I mean this brownie-pushing was absurd advertising at its best.
My brain became busy:
- How the heck could such a nonsensical dessert even exist?
- Did the deli owner really thank that this sign would boost brownie sales?
- And how could usually smart-and-savvy New Yorkers be dumb enough to be duped by that ridiculous description and assume that this sugary food would be any healthier than your average sugary, nutrient-deficient, blood-sugar-bouncing dessert?
Anyhow, my encounter with the brownie basically spotlighted one of the many food-label misconceptions that many Americans have.
You see, people get confused. In fact, as I reveal in my book SUGAR SHOCK!, folks may assume that "low fat" and "fat free" mean "sugar free."
But that plain isn’t so. While you may think a low-fat brownie — or low-fat yogurt, for that matter — may be a more healthy choice, it’s entirely feasible that this allegedly low-fat creation does, in fact, contain as much, if not more sugar, than its high-fat counterpart.
Think about it: If you’re going to remove fat and you want to keep a food tasty, what do you do? Well, you add sugar!
So, the next time you see a sign or label which proclaims that a food is "low fat" or fat free," be forewarned. It may not be as good for you as you may initially presume. And it may be made tasty by tossing in sugar.
You can learn about "Top 10 Food-Lable Misconceptions About Sweeteners" in Chapter 20 of my book SUGAR SHOCK!, which, of course, I invite you to check out now.