[radio_flyer]

I wanted a light dinner, so I pulled out a can of Campbells Chicken Noodle soup.. I ate most of the noodles and very little of the broth. Was curious to see if this soup is healthy or not.... Geeeeeeeeeeesh 1/2 cup of this soup has 890 mg of sodium....

As I was "searching" I found a list of the top 10 worst foods for you and would you believe canned soup was number 4. Chicken soup may be good for the soul, but the canned variety is bad for the body. A serving of Campbell's chicken noodle soup contains 890 milligrams of sodium, nearly a full day's quota of sodium.

Looks like I will be back to making my soups again... My soup tastes much better than canned anyway......

Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Nutrition Facts*
Amount Per Serving (serving size) = 1/2 cup condensed
Calories 60
Fat Calories 20
Total Fat 2g
Sat. Fat 0.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsat. Fat 0g
Monounsat. Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 15mg
Sodium 890mg
Total Carb. 8g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars 1g
Protein 3g
Potassium 50mg

% Daily Values**
Vitamin A 4%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 2%
* The nutrition information contained in this list of Nutrition Facts is based on our current data. However, because the data may change from time to time, this information may not always be identical to the nutritional label information of products on shelf.
** % Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

[Little Lulu]

... supports the case for shopping the 'perimeter' of the grocery store as is recommended and cooking with fresh ingredients. I used to make chicken noodle soup from scratch but it is time consuming. Where is the balance??

Absolutely!! It is so ridiculous that carb loaded sugar food is the cheapest available. Its in the interest of the WHOLE WORLD to have fresh fruit and veg available so even the most poor can buy it. Governments are forking out millions of dollars due to bad health, a lot of which is caused by the wrong types of food. There are so many people ill for eating bad food and never knowing it. Promoting healthy eating by making it more affordable is just so obvious!!! And they wonder why we have an obesity epidemic....

[Maranara]

Set yourself boundaraies of what you consider healthy and not and check nutrition facts of things before you buy them. If it's not within your boundaries, don't get it. It'll take a bit of time and work for a bit as you get used to it and as you check everything out, but as time goes on, you'll only have to check items that you haven't checked before. I do this for sodium, fat, and cholorestrol content.

There is a pilot program running in Massachusetts right now, there may be similar ones in other states:

For those who are SNAP beneficiaries there is some kind of benefit gained for buying qualifying fresh food- the easiest examples being fruits and vegetables, obviously [frozen count but canned don't].

You get a certain amount of benefit/credit added to your SNAP balance for each qualifying purchase.

I think this is pretty great because it is true that fresh and healthy foods can cost so much more- if you already are on food stamps it is so hard to stretch your budget and include a lot of healthy options.

Dang Radio! You must want to live forever or something! I'll take my carcinogens with a side of trans fat!

[unaluna]

Mustard is surprisingly high in sodium, i believe. I read the labels on a bunch of different ones and i was like wtf. Anyway salt and high fructose corn syrup make my hunger insatiable. If i stay away from those 2 things, i at least dont turn into a crazy person with food. But if either is in something, all of a sudden i have no "full" switch. At all.

hankster, I am very similar. I have to stay on a very low carb diet in order to stay in control of my appetite. Otherwise I get very desperate while I am hungry and will make bad choices and overeat. Also, they say that MSG triggers overeating or a stark rise in appetite/hunger, so I am thinking about eliminating it although it is so dang delicious. In order to be old and wise, one must first be young and dumb. This comes to mind as I see how aging affects us and our attitudes towards our health. When I was younger my sisters and I would almost mock when people were so concerned about the things they put into their body. Now, not so much!

[healingme4me]

890 is a little more than half the daily sodium allowance. 1500-2500mg, but safer to be on the 1500mg range.

You'd be amazed at the sodium contents in many things. Diet frozen entrée, Diet Sodas. Yes, soup, is high in sodium.

I had to take nutrition training, for work.

I wasn't aware, of the credits on the MA SNAP program, must it still be in the works? I am aware of MA, being one of the states, that's been rolling out the numbers for the government, as far as public school lunches go. Dietary guidelines, must be met, in order to qualify for the government reimbursements. Audits, will be, this spring. My kitchen stands a 1 in 5 chance, in being one of the elementary schools, in my town, to have that one. Portion control. 2oz protein, 1/2c-3/4c veggie, 1/2c-3/4 cup fruit, 8oz (=1c)milk. I think the lunch calorie, don't have it memorized is 600 for lower grades. Then there's the whole color scheme, whole grains, etc, etc etc....

[eskielover]

One reason why I hate grocery shopping.....I look at all the labels then put them back. Living alone, if I don't have quick things to fix....I don't eat...which has it's own set of problems.

I will NOT buy anything with MSG in it & a few times things sneek by me. Noticed that All BBQ potato chips & the dorito flavored chips all have MSG....refused to buy them.....so I found some natural sweet potato chips that are baked......better than all that junk food tasting chips any day.

There are times when I just don't even feel like cooking or eating because of all the junk in the prepared foods & have no energy to prepare foods. Hate making so much with leftovers or freezing either. Haven't come up with any good solutions that work for me. Don't want to gain weight, so not eating sometimes is my options....NOT healthy either.

[healingme4me]

^^^ just reminded myself, of looking at the salt substitute label, at the nutrition training..

Morton Salt Substitute, 3.12 oz, 2 pk - Free Shipping

Filled with Potassium. Potassium, is my personal fav, to have in my body. Prevents cramping. Leg cramps, seem to plague the women, in my family.

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by eskielover

One reason why I hate grocery shopping.....I look at all the labels then put them back. Living alone, if I don't have quick things to fix....I don't eat...which has it's own set of problems.

I will NOT buy anything with MSG in it & a few times things sneek by me. Noticed that All BBQ potato chips & the dorito flavored chips all have MSG....refused to buy them.....so I found some natural sweet potato chips that are baked......better than all that junk food tasting chips any day.

There are times when I just don't even feel like cooking or eating because of all the junk in the prepared foods & have no energy to prepare foods. Hate making so much with leftovers or freezing either. Haven't come up with any good solutions that work for me. Don't want to gain weight, so not eating sometimes is my options....NOT healthy either.

Speaking of potatoe chips, not to debunk your MSG concerns, either, which for many lead to real health issues, such as major headaches, etc. But something I did, one day, I was looking at a bag of sunchips, and it was proclaiming a certain percentage less in 'fat'. And I wondered what the trade off was? To reduce fat, by I think 6gms, per serving, what was lost was Vitamins, A, C and Potassium. And I opt for regular potatoe chips, just because, I'd rather see the vitamins and minerals, in the diets of my children, although add a little fat and some extra calories. Chips, aren't daily, but reading labels, somewhere, due to work, became a part of my life. No Calories? Check the sodium count, and you'll know right away, if it's an artificial chemical or not.

I keep bread and peanut butter, for those bored with the food supply days. As to not starve out my body.

[Yoda]

The Kroger where I shop has reduced sodium soup available. If your grocer doesn't stock it maybe they would if you asked.

[eskielover]

The Kroger where I shop has reduced sodium soup available.

One of my favorite soups was the new boxed soup from Campbells....the Thai Tomato Coconut.....I was purchasing it for over a year & now all the stores around me including Kroger....quit carrying it....I checked on the internet & they are still making it.....so frustrated....& they say they only carry what their analyst says they can carry by the numbers of those that are purchased......don't care if someone is asking for it or not.....grrrrrrr.

I have no idea what the sodium is in that soup....but it seemed to be less...or there was just more flavor to cover up any saltiness....something I am very sensitive to.

I never salt my meat or anything....I use spices for seasoning & sauces with salt in them but never add salt to anything I eat..... I remember my H when I was first married never bothered to taste anything...he would just pour on the salt & I mean POUR.

No luck...I didn't loose him to a heart attack....I finally was able to leave on my own though it took too many years..

There are some things I like salty.....but most things I don't.....

OH, the potato chips that I really enjoy even though sea salty....are the Kroger Special brand.......Sea Salt & Balsamic vinegar.......I smunch them into smaller pieces & munch on them for week any time I get the salt craving. The balsamic vinegar is sweeter than normal vinegar & gives them a yummy flavor......Get my salt all in one place...lol.....but still stay away from the ones with the MSG.

Talk about unhealthy foods....I just read an article that one of our neighboring farmers put on facebook about how they are changing the meat inspections & are allowing meat that has tumors & all kinds of junk to go through the inspection because they are claiming that the rest of the meat isn't harmful to eat......

I doubt I will ever buy meat from anything but our local farmers any longer......the article was written by a meat inspector who is angry about the changes that are being made......Talk about unhealthy food.....then a few years down the road when more people start getting more cancer (that is one thing they are allowing go through....cut out the tumor & sent the rest on to be eaten)......they will look back & say.....oh, guess we were wrong.....or never admit it like with everything else that goes on.

With all the issues regarding food...sometimes it's easier to be anorexic..... from being afraid of the food that is available to eat.

Oxfam published a list of healthiest countries. 21 out of 25. Japan, being an island, has an excuse but the US should be ashamed, IMO.

"Although the United States has the most affordable and good quality food, high levels of obesity and diabetes pushed the nation into 21st place in the ranking, tying with Japan, which scored poorly on the relative price of food compared to other goods."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A0E01S20140115

Having just enjoyed a box of Annie's Mac and cheese I have to say I don't do a lot of prepared food. I do choose it when the choice is takeout or a frozen meal and I don't want takeout to win. I got a lot of simple ideas from aruyvedic menus and some blogs. In recent years I have become more aware of winter veggies. Of all the seasons they are the cheapest and most filling.

There is a lot of talk about canned soup. You can reduce sodium and increase nutrition by adding water and frozen veggies. Broth soups... Think broccoli, spinach, cauliflower. Cream soups... Corn, broccoli, squash.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I wasn't aware, of the credits on the MA SNAP program, must it still be in the works?

It is a pilot program that is only available to a small number of beneficiaries [who have already been selected]. So they are running it now to see if it is a worthwhile program to expand.

I read about it somewhere on mass.gov but I can't remember precisely where.

[Citrine]

I have been thinking this about the crisp (chips) sweets, chocolate and biscuit market in particular. Ive become very aware of the pushing the shops do especially as alot of goods are on offer for £1 rotated weekly. I can walk into a supermarket and the 1st thing Im looking at are these products. They are truly unneccessary foods.

[lizardlady]

This is why I read labels. That way I make an informed decision about what I'm buying and eating.

Radio, no disrespect intended, but I don't think selling "unhealthy" food should be illegal. It's up to the consumer to make a decidions for themself.

[Maranara]

Yes...I also tend to avoid MSG as well as artificial sweeteners (as well as high fructose corn syrup) and colors. I'm not perfect but I try. As for my personal guidelines on sodium and fat, if a product has more than 25% of your daily nutritional recommended intake, I try not to buy.

[Yoda]

you might be interested in these low sodium recipes

How to Cut Sodium Intake | Women's Health News Blog: Latest Health Headlines and Tips to Stay Healthy

[radio_flyer]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

This is why I read labels. That way I make an informed decision about what I'm buying and eating.

Radio, no disrespect intended, but I don't think selling "unhealthy" food should be illegal. It's up to the consumer to make a decidions for themself.

I agree to a point lizardlady, consumers should make their decisions for themself. Thing is, consumers have "faith or believe" that what they are buying is good for you. Like the Campbell's noodle soup commercial "When it's time for your child to come in from the cold greet them with a steaming hot bowl of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup. Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup TV Commercial, 'Snowman' - iSpot.tv This is just a drop in the hat..

Years ago I'd read the labels and didn't know what half the stuff that was listed, let alone pronounce it.. Guess I believe since it was in a grocery store, it was healthy.. Esp when they advertised as being "healthy"....would always pick the foods that said "healthy and good for you"....

ANYway could go on and on....AND I do agree we are responsible for what we buy and eat....Just is sad that such poor quality products are sold to consumers that believe they are buying good products....

hugggs

[radio_flyer]

I was complaining to my sister about the sodium in Campbell's noodle soup and she said
that was nothing. She started talking about "Sewage Sludge" that farmers have been using for years... She said folks in or close to Richmond, Va. were protesting and trying to
keep the farmers from using the sludge in their fields. They failed and the sludge was poured and the odor was unbearable..

The Real Dirt on Sewage Sludge - Natural Life Magazine - green family living

The Real Dirt on Sewage Sludge
by Wendy Priesnitz
sewage sludge renamed as biosolids for fertilizer is dangerous
Hold your nose! Waste from households and industries treated at a sewage plant may be spread on a farmer's field near you. Unfortunately, it may contain heavy metals and other nasty surprises that could end up on your dinner plate.
The safe disposal of hazardous waste has been a challenge for both industry and governments for decades. Under increasing assault by environmental groups for dumping waste into landfills, oceans, rivers and lakes, or burning it in incinerators, corporations and governments seem to have agreed upon a new solution.
They rename the waste as fertilizer or dust suppressant and spread it on farmers’ fields and country roads. The code word for this practice is “beneficial use”. While it may be an environmentally sound example of recycling, in many cases it’s merely relocating pathogens rather than disposing of them.
Although many different industries are “recycling” their toxic waste in this manner, one of the most controversial substances is sewage sludge, which is widely used as a soil amendment by farmers in both the United States and Canada.
Sludge is the mud-like material that remains after treatment of the wastes that flow into local sewage treatment plants. If human wastes were the only thing entering the sewage treatment plants, then sewage sludge would be a relatively safe, nutrient-rich fertilizer that could be safely returned to the land. However, sewage treatment plants also inevitably receive industrial and household toxic wastes.

I added a link to read more.... Lots of info online about sludge. If interested, you can
do a search..

[eskielover]

It's not just the processed foods we eat that's the problem....it's also the foods that they are feeding the meat we eat. .....look at how unhealthy the people are becoming & all the illnesses.....they aren't coming from just a sedentary life style......they are coming from the food we put into our body's. The government saying it's ok because in reality they have no concept or proof of the damage that will be caused until it's actually caused.

It's just like the infinite wisdom of the government to tell the meat inspectors to cut out the tumorous sections of the meat & cut up the rest for the markets.....or pass poultry with certain diseases because they don't think it will affect the people.....honestly they don't know what in the world they are talking about & don't have any proof it's safe....but they don't want to deny anyone anything just like the food processing plants.....the money to retrofit & change the kind of processing they are doing????? oh my, they might loose money if they were forced to do that.

In reality it's up to us to choose healthy food....food that hasn't been fed by junk that will harm it or more antibiotics for us to get through our food......geeze, honestly, the whole thing just makes me want to stop eating.....but I continue to try & find the most healthy food I can.....& figure, oh well....I don't want to live to be 90 anyway

[radio_flyer]

Oh Yes, I hear you eskielover.... Makes me want to stop eating too...

I might be wrong, but I "think" I read that Canada won't buy beef from USA because of all the hormones and antibiotics.

I eat very little beef.. Maybe hamburg here and there because I love hamburgers. Chicken is just as bad. We prob should stop eating meat altogether.. Aj brought some chicken legs home the other day and Lordy, the legs were huge. Don't think I've ever seen a chicken with such large legs..Giant chicken flashes in my mind..

Growing up in the 50's my sister said our parents would buy meat at the local butcher shop. We always ate fresh meat. Fresh meat was the norm back in the day, meaning it was not super expensive because that is all that was sold ... Today I doubt many folks would have the money to buy fresh meats....Food sold today without the hormones and antibiotics and chemicals are super expensive...

Really is one of those topics that is never ending..

huggs

All of this is why I became a vegetarian who will absolutely not eat anything made of animal dairy (ok, I'm actually allergic to dairy, but if you cut dairy, you cut like 90-95% junk food). Usually I don't eat eggs either, so technically I eat a "vegan diet" most of the time (I don't really follow the whole vegan philosophy though).

Ok, that's the extreme solution, but a few things people can try:
1. Coconut ice cream instead of dairy ice cream. It tastes amazing and is light. And coconut is healthy for you.
2. Eat real chocolate instead of "milk chocolate" (basically eat dairy free chocolate). Sure, chocolate in any form still has calories, but you get less of the "filler" and you pretty much just get bittersweet chocolate and whatever flavoring that's added.
3. Drink/cook with/etc. almond milk (or soy/coconut milk) instead of dairy milk—more calcium, less calories.
4. Drink your coffee black. And if you can't stand that, at least try to slowly cut down on the cream and sugar you use.
5. Substitute tofu or nuts in an entrée for meat as your protein on occasion (or all the time, if that works for you).

I guess my main advice is to eat less meat and animal-based dairy. I ended up cutting it all out, but like I said, that's extreme but it was necessary for me.