Last week a friend and I went along to listen to Cyndi O'Meara speak in Devonport. Even though I had already heard Cyndi speak before it was really enlightening to go and listen to her again. As much as I love my thermomix it was nice to just listen to Cyndi speak without the accompanying thermomix demo. Listening to Cyndi I felt really proud of how far our family has come on our healthy and whole food journey and I felt inspired to continue further down the path. I felt so emotional when Cyndi revealed her tragic family circumstances which have impacted on her life and made her so passionate about helping others lead wholesome and chemical free lives. You can listen to her interview with Richard Fidler about her family here online here.
The evening reminded me once again why I need to make most of our food from scratch. I had honestly forgotten quite how frightening many of the prepared foods out there really are and how little protection our food authorities provide us here in Australia. I must admit that I am a little sheltered from it all now though. I do my very selective grocery shopping online through Biodistributors and Coles Online and my orders are delivered to our home each month. No need to tackle the stupidmarkets :). My only regular food shopping trips are to our organic farm shop and our local fruit and vegie store. Yesterday I got a rather rude little shock however when our Coles online order was delivered.
Nestled amongst the red lentils and canned tomatoes was a little Kellogg's LCM 4D choc bar. A free sample. As quick as a flash I whipped it out of the crate (before it was spotted by my boys) and put it away for later inspection. Later when the boys were busy playing I snuck it out to have a peak at the ingredients. While some people would no doubt be caught up reading the protein, fat and calories on the packet, I now just read the ingredients. Had I not been to see Cyndi last week I may have been shocked, but I knew what to expect. Check out the ingredients of the Kellogg's LCM in comparison to my homemade LCM's.
Kelloggs LCM's 4D Choc
Ingredients: Rice Bubbles (32%) (whole white rice, sugar, salt, barley malt extract, vitamins [vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, folate], minerals [iron, zinc oxide]), glucose syrup, fructose, dark chocolate chips (8%) (sugar, cocoa mass, milk solids, cocoa butter, emulsifiers (322, 492), flavours), milk chocolate compound (8%) (sugar, vegetable oil, milk solids, cocoa powder, emulsifiers (322, 492), flavours), invert sugar, hydrogenated soyabean oil (antioxidants (320, 306, 304), sugar, glucose solids, cocoa powder (1.5%), skim milk powder, humectant (glyercol), gelatin, (beef), flavours, emulsifiers (soy lethicin, 472e), salt.
My Homemade LCM's - Fruity Puff Bars
Puffed brown rice, butter, rapadura, organic honey, homemade vanilla extract,organic shredded coconut, dried sultanas and craisins.
You have to ask when this craziness is going to stop. Food should be made in a kitchen using real ingredients and not in a laboratory using rubbish!!!
Wow, I just listened to the interview and although I've read Cyndi's book, that was a little kick I needed to remind me why I make everything from scratch too. It's not cheaper, which is why some people think I do it, but it is worth every extra cent we spend on good quality ingredients.
ReplyDeleteIt is just crazy what they are putting the food on supermarket shelves. Thanks for the comparison
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting that Cyndi interview. It was really interesting.
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