Guilt Free my A$$!!!!!!

[JennyFromTheRock]

I just opened this months Chatelaine magazine to find a bookmark inside, on the back, a recipe. The recipe reads "Guilt Free Brownies" As I look at the picture I see a good looking pan of brownies and think how nice it is that Respectable magazines are offering up healthy choices for their readers.

I read the FIRST ingredient............. 2 1/2 ICING SUGAR!!!!! Second Ingredient 2 CUPS ALMONDS Third Ingredient COCO POWDER Fourth ingredient SALT!!!!

I mean, compared to some recipes, Sure, its got less fat but GUILT FREE??? No, NOT guilt free!!! I hate to the end of the world and back the way companies prey on the weaknesses of people.

I coach weight loss and the main reason many people are over weight is because the simply do not understand Calories, carb counts and what really is good for them. I have encountered people who were over weight and would say "Well I don't eat much" and sure enough, that was true, but what they were eating was the problem and they truly had no idea these things were bad.

People like this, who just don't know about food values could easily see a recipe like this and think "Awesome!! I can eat as many as I want, GUILT FREE" and its disturbing because I see it more and more.

Rachael Ray is another one that bugs me..... her and her "Finger Friendly" recipes. Everything she ever cooks contains cheese of some sort. More often than not accompanied by mashed potatoes full of cream and butter, pasta or bread. If you have ever watched her show, after almost every recipe she says "Delicious and finger friendly" or "healthy and full of goodness" or something along the lines of passing it off as "health food"

People are being mislead into thinking things that are bad for them are good for them and they are being set up for failure!!

I had to rant, that recipe on that bookmark really hit the wrong note with me, I'm off to email Chatelaine and tell them how I feel about it. lol

[cath007]

False publicity....that's was it is....

[r0c0upons]

fine print: serving size=1/500th of the pan, right!

[Shwa Girl]

I never realized how much cheese Rachel Ray used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt4svqSs6K0

[RebeccaRYoung]

I think you just have to be aware of what you eat everyday. It's fine to have a treat, but be aware that you had that treat and then eat accordingly for the rest of the day.

[torontogal12]

This is a good rant. They should never write guilt free on dessert recipes. Sugar is never guilt free

[JennyFromTheRock]

I never realized how much cheese Rachel Ray used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt4svqSs6K0

Yeah no kidding right?? I use to watch her show and then I noticed a pattern with her cooking, everything she cooks is LOADED with cheese, butter and cream. Then at the end she raves about how healthy it is. Its insane. I got so frustrated I had to stop watching it. Some people really don't know the difference and think its ok to eat and cook that way and she's encouraging it. I can't stand that, especially in a day and age where so many people are obese.

This is a good rant. They should never write guilt free on dessert recipes. Sugar is never guilt free

I agree, at least if there's THAT much sugar involved. I have a few "guilt free" treats.... I slice apples and microwave them and sprinkle with cinnamon and splenda..... but I would NEVER consider something with 2 and half cups of icing sugar to be guilt free. And yes, I know splenda has a bad rap for being a "fake" sugar, but compared to other "fakes" out there its the one for me since its made from sugar. I think the lack of calories to outweigh the "fake" sugar sigma.

Either way, I think its just terrible for reputable people and magazines to "trick" people like that. It really gets me upset because I have lived obesity and I see it every day with the people I coach.

I emailed Chatelaine, I wonder if they will reply.

[cath007]

Thanks you for the apple cinnamon -splenda more healthy treat easy recepie in microwave.I will try it

[Sunshyne1]

Jenny, what are your thoughts on Stevia?
I m trying to get my protein intake up and im trying to incorporate Greek yogurt more into my day at work.
But, I can't stand it plain...and the ones with fruit are high in calories. So I tried sweetening it with some honey..blech!
Someone suggested using Stevia to sweeten it?

[Natalka]

Oh, it's not just Chatelaine and that recipe - there are many recipes and products out there which are touted as low fat, but they have to up the sweetness level to compensate for the loss of taste.

So many consumers get fooled!

Agree about Rachael Ray - cheese-o-rama crazy!

[JennyFromTheRock]

Jenny, what are your thoughts on Stevia?
I m trying to get my protein intake up and im trying to incorporate Greek yogurt more into my day at work.
But, I can't stand it plain...and the ones with fruit are high in calories. So I tried sweetening it with some honey..blech!
Someone suggested using Stevia to sweeten it?

Personally I think sugar substitutes ( aside from aspartame and the VERY artificial ones ) are fine in moderation. Some studies have shown side effects in animals ( but never humans ) with stevia and splenda, however those were large doses and ALSO its important to remember when things are tested on just animals ( Guinea pigs in the sweetener studies ) that all creatures, humans and animals included do not react to everything equally. A good example is chocolate. Chocolate can kill a dog,but is fine for humans. If years ago there were studies on chocolate using dogs and the dogs died.... we would never have chocolate in our diets today for fear of it being "toxic" or "brown death!!" lol.

Personally, the benefits of "calorie free" for me, outweighs any fear of side effects. As long as it is in moderation and only use as much as you need. Go for it!!!

[JennyFromTheRock]

Oh, it's not just Chatelaine and that recipe - there are many recipes and products out there which are touted as low fat, but they have to up the sweetness level to compensate for the loss of taste.

So many consumers get fooled!

Agree about Rachael Ray - cheese-o-rama crazy!

Yes I agree, it certainly isn't just Chatelaine, its everywhere. McDonalds and their "healthy choice" menus, where some of their salad dressings alone have more calories than I would ever eat in a normal meal.

"Nurtigrain Bars" which are just sugar paste rolled in carbs.

I could go on and on, its everywhere and it really gets me. The recipe in particular on the Bookmark from Chatelaine especially bothered me though because its so flat out wrong. Anything with the first and main ingredient as "sugar" is just a slap in the face for consumers. It's like they assume people are stupid.

[nessa23]

I coach weight loss and the main reason many people are over weight is because the simply do not understand Calories, carb counts and what really is good for them.

This statement is incredibly true..... It's sad that at a time when so much information is readily available, that people still do not take the time to research and form their own opinions.
The problem being that people assume what the media tells us is true. which ties into the comment below;

Yes I agree, it certainly isn't just Chatelaine, its everywhere. McDonalds and their "healthy choice" menus, where some of their salad dressings alone have more calories than I would ever eat in a normal meal.

"Nurtigrain Bars" which are just sugar paste rolled in carbs.

It's like they assume people are stupid.

They must assume people are stupid. Too stupid to realize that the 'healthy' meals thing is just a marketing scheme......

Always read the ingredients, and nutrition facts. Do your OWN research, and find some un-bias information! ...just my thoughts!

[alicia]

I totally agree that people just don't understand how foods affect their bodies. Additionally, I think very few people realize how little we need to eat because we've gotten so used to portions being super-sized.

Side note about Splenda: we had a little ant problem this year as they were crawling in our kitchen window. My fiancé sometimes makes midnight snacks and he spilt some Splenda on the counter and didn't wipe it up (ugh, men!). Next morning? Many dead ants. I know that chemicals react differently with different animal models (or in this case insect) but I was little surprised. Since then I've tried to keep my artificial sweeteners to a minimum. Don't get me wrong, we definitely still use Splenda since my fiancé is diabetic, but it's significantly limited.

[DH666]

The only guilt-free brownie is the one you don't eat. I'll stick to fruits for dessert thank you very much.