Reading List: Better In-Flight Foods, Contaminated Beef and Proposed HFCS Ban

In this week’s nutrition news: Home cooking makes a comeback, General Mills pledges to reduce salt levels in its products and a potato chip stand-in takes snackers by storm.
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Bottle of salt

Photo by: Jupiterimages

Jupiterimages

In this week’s nutrition news: Home cooking makes a comeback, General Mills pledges to reduce salt levels in its products and a potato chip stand-in takes snackers by storm.

General Mills Slashes Salt

This week, General Mills joined food giants Kraft, ConAgra and Unilever with a pledge to reduce product sodium levels. The company plans to cut salt by 20 percent in about 40 percent of its foods. General Mills has already decreased salt in some Progresso soups and Chex snack mixes, but this is the first time it publicly announced its salt-slashing efforts.

Proposed High Fructose Corn Syrup Ban
On the heels of the suggested salt ban comes a proposed ban of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in New York state.  Assemblywoman Barbara Clark's proposal would ban the use or sale of the sweetener. The bill is meant to improve public health, but is this taking it a step too far?  I'm not a big advocate of HFCS, but will sugar be next on the ingredient blacklist?  What's your take?
USDA: Chemically-Tainted Beef Is Common
Think the meat you’re buying is safe? Think again. A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture audit reports that the beef on supermarket shelves is wrought with contaminants. This time it’s not bacterial contamination, but rather potentially dangerous pesticides, antibiotics, and heavy metals. Federal agencies aren’t setting limits for these contaminates or even testing for them. It’s time to set new regulations. What do you think should be done?
Home Cooking Makes a Comeback

More Americans are thinking outside the (takeout) box and embracing home cooking, according to a recent American Institute for Cancer Research survey. Forty percent of participants said they were dining out less often, and almost 50 percent reported they were eating less fast food. The main reason? It's just too expensive. Folks are saving more than money, though -- they're also saving calories. This is excellent news! If you're looking for recipe  inspiration, don't forget to check in with Healthy Eats daily for easy, healthy meal ideas and nutrition tips.

Better In-Flight Foods

Most folks will agree that airline food is generally less than tasty -- and not something most people are willing to pay for. Many travelers bring their own food or buy meals from airport kiosks  as an alternative to in-flight fare. In response, airlines are working to create healthy and tasty choices for passengers. Air Canada offers a yogurt parfait and a vegetarian sandwich, and Alaska Airlines sells several healthy "picnic packs" of packaged foods. As a frequent flyer, I can’t wait to have better tasting (not to mention healthier) options in the skies.  Read our tips on healthier flying »

New Snack: Popchips
If you go gaga for potato chips, here’s a slightly healthier snack to chomp on: Popchips.  Instead of frying or baking, the chip is created by using heat and pressure. Each 1 ounce bag of  chips contains 120 calories, 4 grams of total fat and is trans fat-free.  Adoring fans are popping up around the country, and I was pleasantly surprised with both the taste and the relatively short (and recognizable) list of ingredients on the package. I've spotted this chip all over my area. Have you tried Popchips? What's your favorite potato chip alternative?

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »

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