Comments on: The Truth about HFCS

By: suzannabanana23

suzannabanana23 — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:08:08 +0000

Heidi — you are right! Make it fun! They really do love to eat vegetables they grow themselves. And — I hate to say it — they eat more McDonald’s Apple Dippers if I also let them have the caramel sauce.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:52:57 +0000

Side note—Kids can, will and do like veggies and fruits : ) No really they do. Make it fun. Get them involved and remove the junk as options. My kids do eat all kinds of crazy things. But they also do the work in the garden, and the kitchen. Eat healthy is a family adventure not just mom’s agenda. In fact we eat so healthy that when my dd was diagnosed with diabetes type 1 we didnt have to do anything to change our diet. I have posted a blog about this and have made my agenda to encourage moms to put more healthy options out for their kids. Okay off my soapbox now…

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:49:09 +0000

The real problem, for all moms, is getting your kids to eat what their supposed to eat. Of course, corn sweeteners are sugar — but HELLO that’s ALL they are. So, it’s not rocket science. Get them to eat fruits and vegetables (against their will) and limit access to sugary snacks (whether corn sweeteners or just sugar) as treats. Corn sweeteners are NOT the devil, they’re just sugar.

By: Sara

Sara — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:59:33 +0000

Good points: There are bigger issues than the relative safety of HCFS as a sweetener. I would like to see us as a nation and as individuals address the horrible state of our diet.

The bigger meta-issue is even hairier: The economics of food. Cheap food generally comes with economies of scale, which in turn usually means less diversified operations. Similarly, processed food lends itself to mass handling and long-term storage, both of which help make processed, less nutritious foods cheaper than fresh produce, meat, milk and eggs.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:58:09 +0000

I’m with you that HFCS is not necessarily such a horrible health risk. But it is a huge portion of a nationwide crisis for farmers and plant diversity, and I think the means are as important as the ends. Family farms are going out of business, as only huge farms can keep up with the insane demand for corn crops, which are ironically paid for very poorly, but they’re the only thing being paid for in much of the country. Meanwhile, monoculture (only one crop for farm) has taken over America’s heartland due to the corn glut, and thus WAY more toxic chemicals have to be used to keep farms running, because crop rotation and the like are no longer possible.

I’m not an expert on these things, and there’s way more information available out there (Michael Pollan’s “Omnivore’s Dilemma” has great unbiased storytelling on the subject). But I think it’s wise to think about the means that create HFCS and its rise to prominence in the American food supply, and not just the ends of its health consequences… which, I agree, are not really so bad.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:38:31 +0000

I love it! The commerical was great, it was a perfect example of how little info gets shared accurately among moms. I think moms should be out there buried in science journals, carrying a pad in hand, reading every label, etc. Not that it is practical in real life, but hey most moms are the stewards of their families health. What we moms buy at the grocery store and put on the tables is what sets the example for the entire family.
Which is why we as a family have ventured far into the realms of unprocessed food..it is a lot easier when you start with raw, real ingredients.
Reading labels is further complicated by the so many ingredients put into food..just how many types of sugar does one need in their food!
So for all the moms on the internet battling it out for their families’ health, keep reading, and keep up the work, our family’s health is worth the effort!

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:24:58 +0000

Suzanne: I’ve found myself avoiding HCFS as “the word on the street” seeped into my subconcious. Lately, I’ve been wondering just WHAT IS the problem with HCFS?

I do notice, however, that the true sugar content of food is often masked by the number of different sweeteners used.

In general, I strive for “moderation” in all sweeteners. As a matter of prinicple, simpler and closer to original form is my preferred.

I certainly would choose a little HCFS over Splenda, etc. for my kids!