The Granola Gap

[reinhard]

I found this fascinating (and rather attractive) infographic in the New York times illustrating the "granola gap," the difference between how healthy various foods are according to scientists vs. public perception (with granola bars the discrepancy was particularly shocking). I don't think it's an accident that most of the biggest gaps were for heavily marketed product categories (diet shakes). Reminds me of "The diet bar is what separates the total scams from the mere fads." -- No S Diet, page 48.

http://nyti.ms/29jzkXY

[LifeisaBlessing]

Reinhard--Thanks for the post and article link! I was happy to see sushi's high nutrition ranking. That is definitely a family favorite!

[oolala53]

And what was ubiquitous as offerings at restaurants when I went on my recent trip to the low Sierras (where choices were more limited, being away from the big cities)? pizza, hamburger, fries. Everything else was darn expensive. I've rarely seen good quality oatmeal offered anywhere. (If people were eating better at home, these foods could be just what they eat on special occasions.)

Problem is, people may be asking Google what's healthy, but they are still very often buying and eating what is not. If they didn't, those foods would hardly be available.

This is where dang freedom gets in the way of what might be decent public policy that somehow limits access to the egregious items.

I think it's also interesting that not many vegetables were asked about .Does this mean people know they're healthy? (But still don't eat them?)

[Ray E]

I like reading how former "evil foods" like whole milk and red meat are now deemed healthy by 60%+ of nutritionists, but this number would be 20% or lower if this poll were conducted 20 years ago.

Perhaps they should no longer be called nutritionists, but food faddists since this really seems to be what they be.

[Dale]

It's interesting as well that the general public seem to be right in line with the nutritionists on certain foods (hamburgers, whole milk, cheddar cheese, peanut butter, bread, etc.). I'm surprised that the public don't see quinoa, kale, olive oil and cottage cheese as as healthy as the nutritionists, as most of those are "fashionably" healthy at the moment!

[oolala53]

A lot of the public isn't fashionable! Bless us all...

It's funny how sometimes colleagues will be talking about "new" healthy foods and look at my plate, saying "Oh, that's what you've been eating." Only for 15 years. OK, quinoa not so long, and not so often in my book. Much more energy dense than grains.

[Merry]

It's funny how sometimes colleagues will be talking about "new" healthy foods and look at my plate, saying "Oh, that's what you've been eating." Only for 15 years.

LOL!