Food Labels & Other Pitfalls

The only one that counts!

My recent experience with food labels in the Starbucks Protein Plate is not an isolated incident.  Misinterpreting food labels is Weight Loss Myth #4 on a list compiled by James A. Peterson, Ph. D., FACSM in a 2008 Health & Fitness Journal.

Peterson’s complete TOP 10 list of common weight loss mistakes:

1. Severe calorie restriction
2. Having a narrow perspective of the problem
3. Failing to maintain muscle mass
4. Misinterpreting what some food labels are saying*
5. Trying to lose too much, too soon
6. Believing the myth of spot reduction
7. Mistaking water loss for fat loss
8. Buying into the “magic beans” theory
9. Following unproven dieting advice
10. Considering surgical solutions

* Peterson states that “[i]t is extremely important for individuals who want to control their weight to be aware of the fact that…’no fat’ or ‘no sugar’ does not mean ‘no calories’.”

I would add that food labels other than the standard numbers chart (see above) are misleading by design.  How else could Starbucks take a product that is 41% fat, 41% carbs & 18% protein and call it at ‘Protein Plate’?

[Via http://tblof.wordpress.com]

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