Fooducate

[dancerjodi]

My boss has recently gone through a health transformation of sorts, and told us about a smart phone app from these folks http://www.fooducate.com/. Brian and I have been having fun using it at the supermarket on any processed foods we are considering buying.

Foods are rated A-F, with A being the best and F the worst. It helped us at BJs to find some good breakfast cereal options (yes processed isn't best, but sometimes you just don't have the time to cook some oatmeal or some eggs).

Today's realization: there aren't any good granola bars, least that I could find scanning for a bit at Stop and Shop this morning. The best I could find was a C rating (Cascadian Farms organic) which was at least better than most of the bars that were Ds and Fs. Time for better easy snack options. I think Brian will need to get used to eating pieces of fruit and that kind of thing. He had such unhealthy foods as a kid that just grabbing an apple or that kind of thing doesn't seem like "food" to him. :)

Comments

[alonewiththemoon]

How about Larabars? They are just fruit and nuts, no grains, no syrups or sweeteners, all raw, pressed together in a way that makes them seem like a bar. I am addicted to them and should probably buy stock.

[dancer.livejournal.com]

They rate a B- http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product-search&term=larabar

Which is good as far as these things go. I'll need to check them out! :)

[alonewiththemoon]

I finally had a moment to check the website out--I think the rating is due to non-organic ingredients and the nuts sometimes being roasted. I did search the entire site for Larabars and found a blog series in which they compared various snack bars head to head, and Larabars always came out ahead. So I guess while they are not as good as say a bag of organic raw nuts and berries, they are better than the majority of the snack bars on the market. Cool site in general, thanks for the reference!

[tiamatlady]

could you design your own granola/trail mix? One of my LJ friends has taken on a Vegan diet, and has put together her own trail mix that she CAN'T stop eating! I totally can't find the entry, but I know the final tweak for her was craisins (which I know you love.) I know I'd love to just grab something at a store for snacking but not everything appeals to me. I think mine would be yogurt covered peanuts, almonds, maybe some nut and flake clusters, and a smatter of chocolate chips. Not very GOOD for me, but I'm always of the opinion if it keeps me out of the pint of ice cream, it's good! hehehe

I know you don't need anything that takes up MORE time, but maybe a little while putting together some trials at TJ's next time you go, then you can order in bulk and premix. I was even thinking you could make your own bars, but THAT is too far atm. :) a pile of stuff in a baggie is way easier.

Now I'm hungry! Which is good because I've been so cough-y it had killed my appetite.

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Making our own would take time and probably more money (a reason why we are buying these things in the first place, lack of the first).

Craisins have a lot of sugar! I haven't been having them as much lately.

I haven't been to TJs in so long. It is all about multitasking. We find we get lots of errands done at the same time shopping at Target, or Stop and Shop or BJs. We are spending so much more on food now, so we definitely need to get smarter about it (while also being a good influence in what we are eating).

[tiamatlady]

I know. :) She made it look pretty easy. Decided on what she wanted, purchased in bulk then it's two scoops of this, one of that, one of this other thing, and BOOM big bag o'snack.

I'm sure it'll get easier when Miss Thing eats what you do. Especially when she snatches it out of your mouth as you try and eat dinner. I think it's called the Toddler Diet. ;)

Maybe it's time for online ordering again? Or are you still doing that? One of my friends here does it, I never expected her to but she just HATES the shop so much. She swears it keeps her from eating crap, because she doesn't hit the store to buy it. And that's something you can do while her maj eats/needs some help sleeping. (If we had ANY storage and a bigger fridge I'd so do that. I hate shopping at the local tiny store with a passion, and I can't get to the big one with any ability to cart stuff home. Hmmm Maybe I should do delivery!)

[dancer.livejournal.com]

It is a cost versus convenience thing. Peapod is easy, but they have crap produce and their organic selection/price is not great.

BJs has the cheapest organic milk and cold cuts (but they don't have nitrate free cold cuts)
Whole Foods has good bulk stuff, nitrate free cold cuts, good produce but the $
Shaws/Star has a great selection of cheaper organic baby food, but their produce and other things are iffy. Some is cheap and other stuff isn't.
We gave Market Basket a try: selection of what we buy was limited or expensive that the cheap didn't balance the expensive. Plus, it is in Burlington.

We are just taking it week by week. The Shaws next to Job Lot, across from her play group and a block over from BJs and Stop and Shop close to home give us a lot of options.

And then there is the 'we need Target diapers so we'll just buy whatever grocery options they have there' quandry.

Silly stuff. It is good to have choices and all, but sometimes it makes it more confusing. :)

[dionysia.livejournal.com]

We've been buying these:
http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/2012/04/trader-joes-rolled-oats-peanut-butter.html
(as well as the chocolate chip version)

While Leo can't bring them to school (it's a nut-free school), they work well for snacks on the weekends. Quite filling and yummy.

[hanni123.livejournal.com]

The best I could find was a C rating.