Fakin' It

Any true Arrested Development fan would know exactly what I was referencing if I screamed "Faker!" in a British accent.

The rest of you would think I am crazy (especially since screaming in a fake British accent and slapping people isn't quite socially acceptable). Maybe this video will help you out a bit...

[I will take advantage of any opportunity to insert a Bluth reference]

But, in all seriousness, what about when some of the food that we eat every day is fake? I try to cook as many meals as I can for myself to avoid eating all of those processed foods, but sometimes it is just so much easier to pop a frozen meal into the microwave!

Here are the truths about 5 processed foods that you may be eating every day:

1) Cheese Products

You know what I'm talking about - those Kraft Singles that are a staple at backyard cookouts.  Normal cheddar cheese includes milk, enzymes, salt and annatto (for coloring). "Fake Cheeses" include those, as well as crazy mixtures of Milk Protein Concentrate, Sodium Citrate, Calcium Phosphate, Milkfat, Gelatin, Sodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid, and Sorbic Acid (preservative), just to name a few.

Usually, these fakers have about the same fat and calorie counts as regular cheese (plus real cheese tastes better). Next time you are making a burger, ditch the fake cheese and opt for the real stuff.

2) Margarine

In my opinion, butter is easily one of the best inventions of all time. But fake butter? Not so much.  Most brands of stick margarine have been high in trans fat, which increases bad cholesterol. Softer margarine spreads have less hydrogenated oils, thus lowering the trans fat contents. Our cardiologist friend recommended using light butter rather than margarine for your ticker.

  But buttery sprays? These have some crazy additives such as emulsifiers (mixtures of two liquids that are normally unblendable), preservatives, acidulants (regulate the pH) and tons of artificial flavors and colors! If you need some flavor without the calories, try and stick with some good ole' salt & pepper instead of a chemical-filled spray.

Random Fact: By the end of the 20th century, the average American ate around 5 lbs of butter and 8 lbs of margarine!

3) Sugar Replacements

Aspartame is a scary word...but maybe that's just for me (for years my mom has been telling me that my Diet Coke will kill me). People have been arguing the pros and cons over this one for years, and scientists can't quite reach an agreement on the safety of artificial sweeteners.

If you are crazy about eating organic, these may be on your "no-go" list. It all depends on your opinion! For some good info on sugar substitutes, my friend Loren wrote a great post here.

4) Fake Crab Meat

This is in a lot of the store-bought sushi that I have seen recently (I'm looking at you, Central Market)! However, usually there will be a pricier  alternative to the fake crab meat for you (which is well worth the extra $$).

 What exactly is fake crab meat? Think like the pink slime in meat that caused so much controversy a few months ago. Technically speaking, it is processed fish myofibrillar proteins that are formed into a paste. Oh. My. Gross. Always check the labels or ask if you are getting the real thing!

5) Whipped Cream

I am not going to lie to you. Freshman year of college, I kept a tub of Cool-Whip in the freezer and ate out of it with a spoon.  Looking back, that probably wasn't the best idea. Products such as cool whip actually don't contain cream at all (thus the low calorie count), but have a combination of Water, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Skim Milk, Light Cream, Sodium Caseinate, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Xanthan, Guar Gums, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Monostearate, and Beta Carotene (color).

My advice? Use a mixer to whip up some organic heavy cream and sugar rather than using the foamed oil product filled which chemicals.

Source: The Dark Side of 5 Fake Foods