We’ve got some great news to share! The
hours of the Morris Market at the UMC are being expanded to Noon to 5 p.m. on Friday
afternoons. This way, we are able to share even more fresh and tasty
produce with our friends in the Butternut Valley!
Our Edmeston market, located in the Pathfinder Commons, will
continue its hours from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Please note that during
the winter months, we have to keep our eye on the weather: To learn if
the markets are closed due to storms, please check your email if you’re on our
weekly mail list, or our weekly blog or Pathfinder Village Facebook Page.
Or, simply call Pathfinder Village at (607) 965-8377, or send an email to lgrace@pathfindervillage.org.
Below, my colleague, Martha, offers some thoughts on how
commonly-held food perceptions can work against your healthy eating goals.
***
If you Google “halo effect,” you will get the following
definition: “The tendency for an impression created in one area to influence
opinions in other areas.”
The halo effect is something that we sometimes use, often
subconsciously, to draw erroneous conclusions. We use it to judge:
· People: A
person who is a snappy dresser may be seen as smart or more upstanding.
· Businesses:
When businesses use outdated spellings like “olde” instead of “old,” or “shoppe”
instead of “shop,” it lends the business an aura of being traditional and
homey, or being more high-brow— it all depends on your perspective.
Advertisers seize on this effect in trying to promote their
products. In just a moment people literally judge a book by its cover or a
product by its label. An attractive façade may be just that, so we all need to
be cautious.
The halo effect is also something to be aware of in making healthy
food choices. We have a running joke at our house that a chocolate-covered
chewy granola bar is practically health food, because granola is good for you,
right? Call it a “granola bar” and it sounds so much better than the candy bar
that it actually is. An article from Fitness Magazine's website discusses
certain popular foods that are wrapped in “halo.” I’ll highlight a few of their
observations:
· Turkey: A turkey
burger must be healthier than a beef burger, right?
Not necessarily. According to the article, turkey can have just as much fat as red meat. If you are making burgers at home, read the labels for fat content. If you are ordering at a diner, be aware that choosing turkey over beef is not necessarily a lower-calorie choice. This holds true for deli meats as well.
Not necessarily. According to the article, turkey can have just as much fat as red meat. If you are making burgers at home, read the labels for fat content. If you are ordering at a diner, be aware that choosing turkey over beef is not necessarily a lower-calorie choice. This holds true for deli meats as well.
· Vegetable
chips: A deep fried anything is not good for you, even if the
label does say “veggie.” Nothing nutritious going on there. Stick to actual
veggie sticks—carrots, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, string beans, almost any
veggie can be eaten raw. Use your imagination!
· Gluten-Free: There are
many reasons to go gluten-free, and I won’t go into all of that here. But
whether your gluten-free diet is a choice or a necessity, the thing to remember
is that gluten-free does not equal calorie-free. Plus, some
gluten-free products have artificial ingredients used in substitution for
grains.
Other foods that you should be careful of are listed in this Prevention Magazine
article. The bottom line is to read your labels! Look past the
pictures and trendy terminology splashed on the package front, and read the
nutrition label and the ingredient list carefully. Compare brands and
varieties. Remember that food formulas can change, so even if you stick with a
certain product consistently, periodically check their information again.
Until next time, shop and eat wisely and be well!
Martha (and Lori)
