So much unhealthy food in grocery stores

Fallleaves

http://oracletalk.com/10-foods-sold-u-s-banned-elsewhere/

Is it any wonder we have so much illness in this country (not just cancer)? I love Fresca, but I've cut it out because of the brominated vegetable oil. I've replaced it with green tea, so at least that's one move in the right direction.

Momine

One of the things I like living where I live is that I have an actual green grocer, a butcher, a great bakery (they make old-fashioned whole wheat bread and grind their own wheat for it) and a large health food store. If I want fish, I go down to the central fish market. The end result is that we really don't eat any pre-fab food. Going out is also easy in Greece. Greeks can't conceive of a meal that does involve some sort of salad or greens, and you can always get a piece of fresh fish. In traditional restaurants, dessert is often just fresh fruit.

Fallleaves

Wow, lucky you! (You make me want to take a trip to Greece!) I think many in the United States need to learn (or relearn) how to cook. We've gotten so used to heating up frozen food or going by fast food places. I definitely think the Mediterranean diet is the way to go.

SelenaWolf

Mediterranean is a nice way to eat.  It's nutritious, flavourful, light on the digestive system and healthy.  Never had a Mediterranean-style meal (from Italian to Greek) that I didn't like.

Blessings2011

Shopping takes us forever. Nothing goes in the cart unless DH or I have read every single ingredient on the package. Lots get put back on the shelf.

Momine

Fall, it really is a pretty nice way to eat, and I agree about the cooking. Cooking seems to be a dying skill, which is a pity.

SelenaWolf

Blessings... I`m the same way. I read the label before anything goes into the buggy. I`m also watching salt content because my honey has some minor heart issues that we don`t want to become major issues. I`m finding that, more and more, I am just buying frozen and fresh; it means shopping more often, but it`s healthier. I keep dried and canned goods on hand, just in case, but prefer to make fresh.

rozem

im Canadian, of European decent (my parents are both Italian) and we have always had a really great diet. Very little red meat (veal is the meat of choice), olive oil, fresh veggies (we have been eating veggies that have only now come into vogue such as rapini, brocollini etc since I was a kid). The biggest healthy thing we did is that we had little to none BOXED food - crackers/chips/granola bars etc. In part because my parent didn't believe in them, and partly because they were always on a budjet and couldn't afford it. My mom cooked and baked everything (and she worked) I strive for this for my family but its difficult when they are pre-teens and just want junk all the time

I have to tell you I have travelled all over the US for work and there are definite regional differences evident to me in grocery stores that paint a picture of how people are eating. In some stores the fresh food aisle is pathetic, with produce in trays wrapped in cellophane and where the frozen and boxed food aisle is 3/4 of the store. We would never buy 6 oranges in a tray wrapped in plastic! In other states (like California) there is much more focus on fresh, organic, locally grown. I know this is because as the sunny state they grow a lot of produce but I think its a lifestyle and way of eating that is just focused on health. I found this interesting -