Not to get you in an uproar before lunch today, but did you ever really think about what may be IN your lunch? A lot of the items described below are commonly found in lunches across America, but the good thing is that there are replacements for them. Check out the infographic below and then we’ll discuss these unexpected ingredients…
Most of the nasty ingredients mentioned above can be easily replaced with something else (or avoided altogether).
Aspartame can be replaced with good old sugar, brown or white, or depending on the recipe maybe even honey!
With regard to the estrogen in the dairy products – we opt for organic for dairy; I am an almond milk girl as I have lactose issues.
Nitrates are easy to avoid if you ask the right questions and do your research. Boars Head, for example, has products that do not contain nitrates.
BOAR’S HEAD NITRITE AND PRESERVATIVE FREE PRODUCTS
HAMS:
Seasoned Fresh Ham
Fresh Ham (Caramel Glazed)
Prosciutto – Traditional Riserva Stradolce
Skinless / Shankless
CHICKEN:
Bar B Q Sauce Basted® Chicken Breast
Golden Classic® Chicken Breast
Hickory Smoked Chicken Breast
Maple Glazed Roasted Chicken Breast
TURKEY:
Ovengold® Roast Breast of Turkey
Deli Dinners® Ovengold® Roast Breast of Turkey
Golden Catering Style Turkey Breast
Our Premium Lower Sodium Turkey Breast
Ready To Cook Turkey Breast
Hickory Smoked Black Forest Turkey Breast
Mesquite Wood Smoked® Roasted Breast of Turkey
BEEF:
Deluxe Roast Beef – All Cuts
Cajun Style Seasoned Eye Round
No Salt Added Roast Beef – All Cuts
Italian Style Seasoned Roast Beef
With Classic Braciole Seasoning
SAUSAGES:
Bratwurst
Italian Sausage – Sweet & Hot
Breakfast Sausage
CHEESES:
All Cheeses
Italian Items:
Prosciutto Panino
Prosciutto di Parma®
All Natural Salame with White Wine
All Natural Salame coated with Herbs
All Natural Salame coated with Coarse Black Pepper
All Natural Smoked Uncured Ham
All Natural Uncured Ham
Aroastica® Seasoned Chicken Breast
Blazing Buffalo® Style Chicken Breast
Lemon Pepper® Chicken Breast
All American BBQ Seasoned Roasted Chicken Breast
Cajun Style Oven Roasted Smoked Breast of Turkey
Salsalito
I’m not too worried about the spinach dust as it isn’t harmful, it just doesn’t have any nutritional value. The TBHQ is a bit scary, considering the FDA had to impose a limit on the percentage of TBHQ used in food. If you consumed 1 gram of TBHQ, you could experience symptoms ranging from nausea to collapse, while 5 grams is a lethal dose. You would have to eat over 11 pounds of Chicken McNuggets to reach a dose of 1 gram of TBHQ — and that would have to be in one meal, since it does not build up in the body over time. Not to say you shouldn’t try to avoid TBHQ, don’t get me wrong…
Trans fat has been on the bad guy list for quite some time. The best way to avoid them is to try to eat a healthier whole food lifestyle. Avoid fast foods, deep friend foods, and high in fat dairy products.
I am a bit wary of anything that starts with the word “synthetic”, so synthetic vanillin worries me. Check the ingredients to determine of the delicious vanilla taste you are enjoying is the real deal!
What other food additives are you wary of?
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