HEALTH | READING FOOD LABELS | DON'T BUY 'MAGGI'.

HEALTH | READING FOOD LABELS |DON'T BUY 'MAGGI'.

Ok, so we always hear about what food to avoid and what to buy, and what is good and what is bad...but do we really pay attention?

For me, I always thought I was doing an OK job, I would choose 'healthy' options, and always have fruit and vegetables, and try to avoid too much sugar etc etc. But in fact, what I was missing was really understanding food labels. I never took the time to research about it, and understand what exactly manufacturers put on the labels, to confuse us and basically trick us into buying their products.

So, after I saw a few articles about a chemical called MSG, and how much some people were avoiding this, and how it causes obesity and depression, I wanted to know a bit more about it. So i researched what I could, and believe me the debate goes really deep, and i got lost at Monsanto (lol, baby brain, yes, i have it!)

So basically, MSG (MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE) is a flavour enhancer, like salt but made up of gross chemicals that are harmful and toxic. But as the manufacturers put a small percentage in our food, its deemed "safe". But I cant understand how having toxic stuff in our food, can ever be 'safe', even in small doses. Anyway, i checked my kitchen, and basically found that i have a whole load of MSG stuff. Especially 'MAGGI'...OMG! every Maggi product i read the label on, was containing MSG. How crazy is that!! Makes me realise how these huge companies prey on us housewives to buy their product, because of the ease and amazing taste, so we can halve our cooking time, just by using their products. And know that we will trust them and buy them because they are sold everywhere and everyone we know uses it.

What it really comes down to, is money. These huge multi-national companies only want to make more and more money. And obviously, by lowering their costs but 'enhancing' the taste of their product. Even if this means, putting small doses of toxins in the product, to make it 'taste' better, so we keep buying it!

So, the best thing is to not buy any products containing these gross chemicals. At least we know ourselves that we are doing the best for our bodies and our children and all the family. Its not always possible to stay away from them completely, because we dont know what restaurants use or what other family uses, when we eat at their houses. But, if we start ourselves in our homes, then we are going in the right direction.

Many companies use different names for MSG. By far the worst i found was Maggi, because its international, and used by pretty much everyone, which totally surprised me, and why i put it in the title.

So, a few changes that I made. Hopefully I can keep this up, because its not always convenient to buy fresh food and sometimes not always so many options available, depending on where you are. Dubai, however has so many options now, not like before, so ladies in Dubai, will have more options. Abu Dhabi, sometimes depending on where you live, might be tricky, due to location. But if you can try and shop in the major supermarkets, you will have no problems!

I dont buy any freezer foods anymore. Only fresh chicken and meat.

I buy lots more fruit and vegetables, and buy fresh spices too, rather than the pre-packed.

I try to buy fresh bread items too, Because I was so shocked as to the amount of E numbers in pre-packed bread (I was using L'usine), and there were loads of chemicals in that.

Buying fresh cheese, nothing processed, and even avoiding cheese spread like "Philadelphia", Labneh is a better altervative also.

Reducing chip snacks, and looking for snacks for kids with the least chemicals in, which is really tricky, because almost all snacks have some kind of chemicals.

(The bad stuff)

I am far from an expert in all things healthy food related, but I am a mother and wife, and if my instinct tells me something is toxic and can be avoided, then why not do it. It can be hard work, looking for alternatives and reading labels, but its a small sacrifice to doing the healthy thing when it comes down to your own self, your husband and your children.

Hope you ladies find something useful here, and hope you can be inspired to make a few changes in your grocery shopping too!

- Real Housewives of Dubai -