As a parent, your child’s health and well-being is always in the forefront of your mind. We hold their hands when we cross the street, we put helmets on them when they ride their bikes, we worry endlessly as we watch them jump, run, and play as hard as they can. So what can we do to ensure that they’re eating healthy? Being aware of what you’re putting in your child’s body is the first step to proper food safety.
GM-NO!
GMO’s, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are any type of organism that has been transformed from its natural state in a laboratory setting. Most GMOs have been altered to tolerate herbicides, and have been known to lead to health concerns. Many countries do not even allow the sale of GMO products. That’s right- GMO’s are BANNED in over 60 countries!
GMO labeling is not required in the US. The NON-GMO Project is a nationwide project to identify products that do not contain GMO’s, by requiring a vigorous verification in order to allow companies to use the “NON-GMO” seal on their labels. GMO’s can be found in as many as 80% of the processed foods that we eat today. A list of foods that are NON-GMO verified can be found HERE.
What does Organic Even Mean?
Shopping for organic foods for your family is the best bet in avoiding GMOs. Organic farmers, quite simply, are not allowed to use GMOs in their farming. In fact, when qualifying to become an organic farmer, they have to go three consecutive years without the use of anything unnatural. This applies to the crops, animals, and agriculture.
There are different levels of organic products. 100% Organic means that everything in that product is organic. If it says “Organic,” it has to be made with at least 95% Organic ingredients to be labeled as such. Finally, “Made with Organic Ingredients” means that 70%-94% of the product is organic. Anything less will only show on the ingredient panel. No matter where or what you buy when shopping for produce, you should always rinse your raw products before eating.
Where to Start?
If you’re concerned about feeding your family healthy foods, then your best bet is to read the labels. Make good choices. All we can do is give our kids the tools to succeed, and that includes putting good foods in their bodies, and eliminating lots of sugars and unnecessary bi-products that manufacturers use to make foods yummy and appealing. Just because a box says “Light”, “Sugar-free”, or even something as generic as “healthy” on it, doesn’t mean it is good for you. Manufacturers know that moms care about making good purchases; what they’re counting on is that moms don’t know how to read ingredient labels.
Ingredient labels can be very tricky to understand. Educate yourself! Learn what it is that you should look for on a food label, and if you don’t know what a word is, whip that smart phone out and google it! Did you know that ingredients in foods are listed in order of greatest amounts to smallest? Ingredient labeling requirements are mandated by the FDA, for your knowledge. Be informed!
Also, be aware of what your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) is when reading labels (usually listed in percentages on the right of the label). A great rule of thumb when comparing food brands, is that the less ingredients on the label, the better it is for you to eat.
There are many helpful sites that can teach you how to read labels. The picture above is one such example. There are even apps now where you can scan a label like Fooducate! Don’t be scared to make your own guidelines and decisions. For our family, I really focus on sodium and sugar levels. In the beginning, you might be stunned by what you learn when you read the labels of the foods that you’re buying. Making healthy choices and teaching your children to do the same is a great gift that you can bestow upon them!
Helpful Sites
About the Author
Stacey Pecenka is a Jacksonville transplant and a busy working mom to a 3 ½ year old vivacious little girl and a 1 ½ year old sweet-natured little boy. She is the very lucky wife of Nick, who continues to dazzle her with his sense of humor and awesome toddler-whisperer abilities. Stacey has been working in the Food Safety/Quality Assurance industry for close to 5 years. When she’s not working, she enjoys getting out of the house to do things with her kids, date nights with Nick, visiting her family (not nearly often enough!) and hosting parties with friends (she enjoys planning anything). She is currently training for her second half-marathon, and likes to read to decompress.
