Tuesday's Tip-So NOT your Happy Meal

I had another Tuesday's Tip planned for today, but I decided I wanted to share this tip with you instead. I can't get it out of my mind after reading the article and I had to tell as many people I know. I even posted it on Facebook.

If you've been reading my blog for awhile now, you will know I am into healthy eating and natural ingredient body products that are good for me and my family. My school of thought is this, if I buy organic, then my family is getting healthy food about 80% of the time. That way, when we eat, out I don't stress about whether or not the food is organic. I only know of a couple of restaurants where I can eat out and know they have a selection of organic or natural foods. Those 2 being Jason's Deli and Chipotle. I hope more restaurants will follow suit.

More and more people are choosing to buy organic because they know the health benefits of it. I heard this quote once that has stuck with me. "You pay for your health now, or you pay for it later". Meaning, you pay a little extra now for good quality food or you pay for it later in health problems and medical bills. Either way, you will pay. I choose to pay more now for my family's health and wellbeing.

This article didn't come as a big shock to me. I've never been a fan of the Golden Arches. My girls have never had a happy meal. The only time we go to McD's is to play on their playground in the winter when it's too cold to go outside. I also saw Super Size Me about 6 years ago and that movie got me thinking. I knew that their hamburgers never rotted even after months of being in a room, but I had no idea about the chicken. I do now.

Here is a list of ingredients in their chicken products:

"White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary).

Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness).

TBHQ and Dimethylpolysiloxane are the biggest culprits. Do you know what these ingredients are? I didn't, until I read them.

Dimethyl polysiloxane, is a type of silicone with anti-foaming properties used in cosmetics and a variety of other goods like Silly Putty.

Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a petroleum-based product with antioxidant properties. The latter, TBHQ, is typically listed as an "antioxidant," but it's important to realize it is a SYNTHETIC chemical with antioxidant properties – NOT a natural antioxidant.

So why do they put this in the chicken that their consumers will eat? Bottom line. So it will last longer and not spoil. The chemical prevents oxidation of fats and oils, thereby extending shelf life of processed foods. It's a commonly used ingredient in processed foods of all kinds, but you can also find it in varnishes, lacquers, pesticide products, as well as cosmetics and perfumes to reduce the evaporation rate and improve stability.

Are you grossed out yet? The article goes on to say what these chemicals can do to your body. Imagine what they can do to a small 30 pound child? I encourage you to read the full article here.

I am not perfect when it comes to eating. My husband will tell you that, but I try really hard. I hope this post doesn't come across condescending to those of you who like to eat at McDonald's. I am in no way standing in judgement. Please hear me in saying I am not telling you to not eat at McD's. I posted this merely to educate people to find out what really is in the foods that we eat.

I highly recommend another movie, Food Inc, if you haven't seen it. It will rock your world. I think you can rent it at Red Box. I always wondered how the food I eat got to my stores and restaurants. Now I know. It will also make you feel for all the small farmers out there trying to raise their crops and animals the right way. My husband comes from a long line of farmers and it sickens me to know what the big corporations are doing to the local farmers. If you can buy local, please do. You are getting great quality food and helping out families in the mean time.

I hope you have found this helpful. I would love to hear your thoughts about this, positive or negative. Please leave me a comment. I always read every one.

Disclaimer: This is my opinion. I do not get paid to endorse any products that I suggest. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on t.v. I am just a mom who enjoys researching the ingredients in the products my family uses and the foods that we eat. Thank you.