While conducting classes or coaching people individually, I’ve been surprised by the number of reasonably intelligent people who hold the belief that everything sold at the health food store is actually healthy. This is an unfortunate misconception that stems from a combination of savvy product marketing and uninformed consumers.  While there certainly are some healthy products at the big chain and smaller independent health food stores, many items are nothing more than junk food with a fancier label and higher price.

Product labels can be very deceptive. The words “Light”, “Natural”, “Organic”, “Gluten-Free”, “Fat-free” and other assertions are terms manufacturers use to lure you into purchasing their products.   Some products of concern include fake meats and cheeses, jars of coconut oil, protein energy bars, protein shake mixes, certain cereals and crackers, tortilla chips, pre-packaged salads, salad dressings, oil-infused dried fruit, most canned soups, organic margarines and even certain peanut butters; these products are highly processed items which contain added oils and other fats, dairy proteins such as whey or casein, excessive sugar, sodium, additives, preservatives and even food dyes.  The only real way to determine if a product is truly healthy is to read the ingredient list.  Doing so will allow you to make an informed decision about whether you should purchase the product or put it back on the shelf.  Some of the key things to look for are listed here.

Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper.   (Proverbs 19:8, GNT)