The reason for that is because there are just soooo many different brands and versions of products, with varying prices, and I am so frugal, I want to know that I am getting the best value for my money. Notice I said best VALUE for my money, not most for my money. Thats one of the tricks they use, and you'll understand why I say that in a minute.
Probably much like you (or not), I used to go into the market and I would try to get the most for my money. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you are on a budget, or like me are just tight with where you spend your hard earned money. Now-a-days however, with all the high fructose corn syrups, and genetically modified ingredients found in nearly everything, I am much more cautious about what goes into my shopping cart. While Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are great resources, I can't afford to get all my groceries from them, so I shop there for specific items, but do the bulk of my shopping at regulaar grocery stores...including the almighty Wally World!
So while the average Joe-Scmoh (did I spell that right?) is going around counting calories, I'm inspecting ingredient labels. I think its important, and often very interesting to know what is actually in your food. While calorie counting is fine, I tend to be more interested in ingredients, and from the Nutritional Label, I'm checking the sodium and sugar amounts, as well as fats presence (or absence) of any actual nutrients (that would be those vitamins and minerals). But that is for a later post. This one is about ingredients...
So anyway, I am moseying along the aisle in my local Food Lion, I think this particular day without the two year old (though that matters not), and a look to my left and my eyes fall upon none other than Apple Butter. Immediately feelings of nostalgia overtook me as I remembered the days of my youth, when my mother used to bring home apple butter and we would eat it on toast. I knew instantaneously that there was no way I could leave the store without it, as it had been probably a decade or more since I experienced its taste, and well, lets just say my mouth was watering just thinking about it.
There were three brands on the shelf. Food Lion, White House, and Country Acres. The Food Lion jar was clearly the biggest, next being the White House brand, and last coming in, the unknown Country Acres.
If you are shopping quantity for price, clearly the Food Lion brand would be the take home. It was 28oz for $2.99. The 28oz, but much fancier packaged White House was $3.44, and the Country Acres was $2.79. The Country Acres was the cheapest, but smallest and least known. Very easy to dismiss. The most known was the White House but also a bit overpriced. The Food Lion brand was the best prices and the best value for size. It was also the one that I would have been most likely to pick up...
...had I not decided to check out the ingredients listing.
Check this:
In terms of the (transparent) ingredients, both the Food Lion adn White House brands were the same. Of course with the ingredient "Spices" there could arguably be a slight difference, but over all it is the same. Apples, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and "Spices".
What spices? And why is there a need for both Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup? My feelings of nostalgia were begining to wean. I know "grandma" did not make hers with Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup. Something was not quite right here. But oh a beam of hope. There was still this Country Acres version I had never heard of. I decided to check it out and see what it contained...
Big difference from the other two: Apples, Cider, Salt, Baking Soda, Ground Cinnamon, Cane Sugar, and gee: No Preservatives Added. Now this sounded like something I could clearly recreate in my kichen at home, and hence the true winner was revealed.
One of my criteria for packaged food items when I am shopping, is that I should be able to make it at home. The ingredients should be things that I can clearly gather and find (depending on the complexity of the product) or at least recognize and (hopefully) pronounce. And I was definitely happy to walk away with my Country Acres Apple Butter.
So what's my point? Well just be aware of what you are getting and what you are looking for. Quality or Quantity? If its quantity, then by all means price and size is what you should be aware of. If its quality, then you better start brand comparing the ingredients.
Yes it is a bit more time consuming, but don't you think its worth it for your health, and your children's health? Besides, what are you rushing for anyway? SLOW DOWN!
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment below...
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