Why? Yes, it is processed and it does not contain vitamins, minerals or antioxidants. And it contains more fructose that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Sources vary, but agave can be up to 90% fructose, where as HFCS is 55%. What’s wrong with fructose? Fructose can cause decreased glucose tolerance, high triglycerides and metabolic syndrome (which can lead to heart disease, stroke and diabetes). Considering that, if you eat a little bit of agave here or there it likely won’t harm you! But if you substitute all sugar for agave, I do not think this is a healthy change. At least to your pocketbook ☺

In fact, a lot of “natural”sugars have a health halo. Read a box of organic cookies that claim to be healthy, and you may see: enriched flour (white flour), brown rice syrup (sugar), honey (sugar) etc etc. No better for you than: enriched flour, sugar, sugar. This video compares the nutritional value of sweeteners like brown rice syrup (at the very bottom of the pile) with honey, brown sugar (white sugar with molasses), white sugar, maple syrup and agave. The only two sweeteners with nutritional value are date sugar (ground up dates ) and molasses (this is nigh in minerals like iron). I am going to try date sugar in baking. What about you?

“Knowing where our food comes from, how it’s grown and harvested and how to choose foods for the best nutrition is the goal of this year’s National Nutrition Month campaign. Our country has much to celebrate with regard to the food available to Canadians”, says Caroline Dubeau, National Nutrition Month Manager for Dietitians of Canada. “And there are plenty of ways to celebrate:

1)    Spend time at a farmers market to discover new foods;

2)    Involve the kids in preparing the foods and talk about the new foods during meal time;

3)    When you’re at the grocery store, use nutrition labelling to help make healthy food choices;

4)    You can also grow your own garden, if weather and space permit, and preserve the fresh taste of foods by freezing or canning them for year round use.”

Check out Dietitians of Canada nutrition month website: www.celebratefood.ca/ It contains a game to teach which provinces Canadian-produced foods are grown in, and “Did You Know” facts like: “Saskatoon berries commonly known as saskatoons, are purplish-blue berries that grow on a bush. Saskatoon berries people enjoy today are the same crop grown and enjoyed by the Aboriginal peoples of Western Canada hundreds of years ago. ¾ cup contains 6 g fibre; saskatoon berries naturally rich dark royal purple color comes from anthocyanins. Saskatoon Berries rank high in berries rich in anthocyanins with 562.4 mg / 100 g dry basis.”

The website also offers recipes using common Canadian-grown foods:

Baked granola apples

Makes 4 servings

Preparation time: 2 minutes / Cooking time: 30 minutes

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C)
• 9-inch (23 cm) glass pie plate, ungreased

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Ingredients

4 apples
175 mL (3⁄4 cup) low-fat granola

10 mL (2 tsp) margarine

125 mL (1⁄2 cup) low-fat plain yogurt

15 mL (1 tbsp) pure maple syrup

Preparation

1. Core apples, creating a large hollow. Firmly pack with granola and dot with margarine. Place on pie plate.
2. Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until apples are tender.
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine yogurt and maple syrup; set aside.
4. Place each apple in a dessert bowl and garnish with maple-flavored yogurt

Nutritional information PER SERVING: Calories: 192, Fat: 4.1 g, Protein: 3.8 g, Carbohydrate: 36.9 g, Fibre: 3.6 g, Calcium: 88 mg

While living in Calgary, I certainly don’t have the option to buy fresh local produce like Californians. But we do have local greenhouses. And access to local farms through the Farmers Market and spud! Spud is a grocery delivery service that provides local, organic foods, and is the only carbon neutral grocery in North America. If you want to try it out, we both get freebies if you use the code: CR5-308878

Many small, local farms are also organic. Organic farming practices are healthier for the environment, and therefore better for the world our children will grow up in. However, I think a lot of people get mislead into thinking that organic is automatically healthier, and that’s not necessarily the case. Read my blog “Organic Food – Is it Healthier” below for more info.

Happy New Year! And if your resolution has to do with nutrition…..give me a call!!

Another reason to buy organic produce is to avoid pesticides. This is especially important for small children, pregnant and breastfeeding moms. We don’t know what these chemicals may do to developing brains and bodies. BUT it is still much better to eat conventional produce than none at all. And if you can only afford to buy certain produce organic, organic apples and dried fruit are easy to find and the conventional forms of these fruits contain lots of pesticides. For more info on the “dirty” and “clean” produces with regards to pesticides, visit http://www.foodnews.org/

As for packaged organic food, a lot of the time they appear healthier, but are  not. The ingredient list is more important than the claims on the front of the package. “Organic brown rice syrup, organic corn syrup, organic honey, etc, etc.” STILL means sugar. And “Organic unbleached flour” STILL means white flour.

Good luck navigating those grocery isles – and let me know if you want a tour! Organic food is becoming easier to find. Which is great for the environment and perhaps, in some cases, our health.