1. Put something wholesome and natural on the front
Fresh fruit, lush meadows, and green trees.
The Reality. Don't judge a box by its cover.
2. Buzzword of the month
At the moment it seems to be "whole grain" and "omega-3" and "fortified". The Reality: The actual content of the whole grain may be minimal.
3. Big wrappers
Looks like value for money yeah?
The Reality: How many times have you ripped open a food wrapper only to find you've paid for about 1/3 air.
4. Keep changing the product design
More colors, unique designs - whatever it takes to make you think that the same old food has suddenly become altogether different.
The Reality: Same food, different box.
5. Ticks and bullet point lists
Free from artificial flavors "check!" Free from preservatives "check!" Baked not Fried "check!".
The Reality: The 3 main ingredients in this particular item (a cracker) are refined white flour, vegetable fat, and sugar.
6. Bite-sized. Mini-sized. Snack-sized
Many popular food items also come in smaller versions. The Reality: You probably end up eating twice or three times as much of the mini-versions.
7. It's organic
Just because it's organic doesn't mean it is any better for your waistline. Example: organic baked beans - complete with added sugar and 456mg of sodium.
The Reality: 3,500 calories of organic food is still 3,500 calories.
You're the consumer and ultimately you make the choice when it comes to the food you buy. Next time, make sure you know what you're getting is the real thing. Diet-friendly options may not be so diet-friendly after all. Read labels!
