The Myth of Moderation Part 3: Processed and Chemical Ingredients

Back in November, I wrote The Myth of Moderation Part 1: Sugar, and The Myth of Moderation Part 2: Soy

The reason I wrote these posts was because I have heard so many people say that all foods are good “in moderation.” I pointed out the sugar and the soy in a 1 day American menu, and plainly showed that eating the typical American Diet is not eating sugar or soy “in moderation.” Now, for this third post, I want to point out the processed and chemical ingredients.

I will share the same one-day American menu below, and then the ingredients, and this time I will show you in red all of the man-made ingredients and chemicals. This time, I will also share links, when applicable, to details about each of these ingredients. If you’re still eating boxed, packaged, pre-processed foods, please click on these links and educate yourself!

These are ingredients that, if you were homesteading and growing or raising all of your own food; you could not produce.

These are “foods” that your great, great, grandmother would not recognize as edible.

You tell me, are Americans eating processed and chemical ingredients in moderation?

~~The Menu~~

Breakfast:  

Multi Grain Cheerios with 1% milk

Low Fat Yogurt

Coffee with Coffemate Nonfat Non Dairy Creamer

Lunch:

Tuna Fish Sandwich on Wheat Bread

Carrot sticks with Ranch Dip

Goldfish Crackers

Snack: 

Granola Bar

Dinner:

Spaghetti with ground beef & bottled sauce 

Caesar Salad

French Bread

Dessert: 

Skinny Cow Ice Cream Cone

~~The Ingredients~~

Multi Grain Cheerios:

Whole Grain Corn, Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Whole Grain Barley, Whole Grain Wheat, Whole Grain Rice, Corn Starch,Brown Sugar Syrup, Corn Bran, Salt, Trisodium Phosphate, Distilled Monoglycerides, Canola and/or Rice Bran Oil, Color Added. Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) Added to Preserve Freshness. 

Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Zinc and Iron (Mineral Nutrients), Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), a B Vitamin (Niacinamide), Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), a B Vitamin (Calcium Pantothenate), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin Mononitrate), a B Vitamin (Folic Acid), Vitamin A (Palmitate), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.

1% Milk:

Lowfat Milk, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.

Yoplait Light Very Vanilla Yogurt:

Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Nonfat Milk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch Nonfat Milk, Kosher Gelatin, Aspartame (Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine), Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate Added to Maintain Freshness, Vitamin A Acetate, Colored with Turmeric and Annatto Extract, Vitamin D3.

Starbucks House Blend Ground Coffee:

Coffee, Ground, Latin America, House Blend, Medium

Coffee Mate Vanilla No Fat Non Dairy Creamer:

Water, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil, and Less than 2% of Sodium Caseinate (a Milk Derivative) (Not a Source of Lactose), Dipotassium Phosphate, Disodium Phosphate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Color Added, Carrageenan.

Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light Tuna in Water:

Chunk Light Tuna, Water, Vegetable Broth (Contains Soy), Salt.

Best Foods Mayonnaise:

Soybean Oil, Water, Whole Eggs and Egg Yolks, Vinegar, Salt, Sugar, Lemon Juice, Calcium Disodium EDTA (Used to Protect Quality), Natural Flavor.

Franz Cracked Wheat Bread:

Enriched Unbleached Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin and Folic Acid), Water, Crushed Wheat, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Yeast. Contains 2% or Less of Each of the Following: Wheat Bran, Vital Wheat Gluten, Salt, Vegetable Oil (Canola and/or Soy), Honey, Molasses, Raisin Juice Concentrate, Yeast Nutrient (Ammonium Sulphate), Dough Conditioners (Mono-Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Ascorbic Acid, Azodicarbonamide, Monocalcium Phosphate), Calcium Propionate (Mold Inhibitor), Calcium Sulfate (Source of Calcium), Enzymes, Nonfat Dry Milk, Soy Flour.

Reeser’s Ranch Dip:

Sour Dressing (Nonfat Milk, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Modified Food Starch, Tapioca Flour, Gelatin, Lactic Acid, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Caseinate, Propylene Glycol Monoester, Guar Gum, Citric Acid, Acetic Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sorbate to Protect Flavor, Carrageenan, Potassium Phosphate, Artificial Color), Mayonnaise (Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolks, Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spice, Calcium Disodium EDTA to Protect Flavor), Salt, Seasoning (Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Parsley, Dehydrated Garlic, Dehydrated Onion, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Guar Gum, Yeast Extract, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed and Soybean Oil, Natural Flavor), Vinegar, Modified Corn Starch.

Snack Pack Baby Peeled Carrots:

Carrots

Goldfish Crackers:

Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour [Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid], Cheddar Cheese [(Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Water, Salt], Vegetable Oils (Canola, Sunflower and/or Soybean), Contains 2 Percent or Less of: Salt, Yeast, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Leavening (Baking Soda, Monocalcium Phosphate, Ammonium Bicarbonate), Spices, Annatto (Color) and Onion Powder.

Nature Valley Oats & Honey Granola Bar:

Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Canola Oil, Yellow Corn Flour, Honey, Soy Flour, Brown Sugar Syrup, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Baking Soda, Natural Flavor.

Barilla Spaghetti Pasta:

Semolina (Wheat), Durum Flour, Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid.

Ragu Spaghetti Sauce:

Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Soybean Oil, Salt, Sugar, Dehydrated Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Spices, Romano Cheese (Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Natural Flavor.

93% Lean Ground Beef:

93% lean ground beef nmt 7% fat. Product of Canada, USA.

Kraft Parmesan Cheese:

Parmesan Cheese (Pasteurized Part-Skim Milk, Salt, Less than 2% of Enzymes, Cheese Culture, Cellulose Powder to Prevent Caking, Potassium Sorbate to Protect Flavor).

Fresh Express Caesar Supreme Complete Salad:

Salad: Romaine Lettuce, Dressing: Water, Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Romano and Parmesan Cheese (Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes), Salt, Egg Yolk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Monosodium Glutamate, Dehydrated Garlic, Citric Acid, Anchovies, Dehydrated Onion, Mustard Seed, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Molasses, Polysorbate 60, Caramel Color, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Calcium Disodium EDTA (Protects Flavor), Cheese: Romano Type Cheese (Pasteurized Cow’s Milk, Salt, Cheese Culture, Enzymes), Parmesan Type Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Cheese Culture, Enzymes), Medium Asiago Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Cheese Culture, Enzymes), Potato Starch and Powdered Cellulose (Prevents Caking), Natamycin (Mold Inhibitor), Croutons: Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Barley Malt, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or Less of: Yeast

Francisco Bread French Vienna Sliced:

Unbleached Enriched Wheat Flour [Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Reduced Iron, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid], Water, Sesame Seeds, Yeast, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Malt, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Wheat Gluten, Sodium Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Wheat Gluten, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Calcium Sulfate, Calcium Propionate (Preservative), Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Azodicarbonamide.

Skinny Cow Vanilla With Caramel Low Fat Ice Cream Cones:

Skim Milk, Cone (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Palm Oil, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Caramel Color), Sugar, Corn Syrup, Cone Coating (Sugar, Coconut Oil, Salatrim, Cocoa, Soy Lecithin, Vanillin-Artificial Flavor), Caramel Topping (Corn Syrup, Sugar, Water, Condensed Skim Milk, Cornstarch, Natural and Artificial Flavor [Contains Soy], Carrageenan, Soy Lecithin, Caramel Color), Water, Polydextrose, Cream, Whey Protein, Inulin (Dietary Fiber), Stabilizer (Microcrystalline Cellulose, Cellulose Gum, Mono and Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Calcium Sulfate, Polysorbate 80, Carrageenan), Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate.

This post was shared at Monday Mania