In a world where nutritional information floods us from all sides, it is difficult to know what is really true and what is not. Yael Kahanovich Michael, a dietitian at Nestlé, set out on a journey through the supermarket shelves to debunk some of the most common myths in the food field. From snacks to ketchup, she reveals the truth behind the products we consume every day.
Myth 1: Snacks cannot be part of a balanced diet
"This is simply not true," clarifies Kahanovich Michael. "Snacks can be integrated into the daily diet, it all depends on the quantity and quality." She cites Bamba as an excellent example: "Bamba is a baked snack made from 54% peanuts, corn grits, sunflower oil, salt and added vitamins and minerals. A small bag contains about 130 calories and over 4 grams of protein."
Myth 2: It is better to avoid cookies because they are full of sugar
"Sometimes we just want something sweet with our coffee," says the dietician. "I will recommend cookies with a combination of whole grains, but also cookies like 'creamugit' or Petit Beurre are a great option." She emphasizes the importance of portion size: "2 cookies have about 120 calories, and that completely closes the corner of something sweet in the afternoon."
Myth 3: Ketchup is just sugar
"Absolutely not!" Kahanovich Michael announces. "Barn ketchup contains 100% ingredients from the home kitchen, with tomato concentrate being the first ingredient." She explains that a tablespoon of ketchup has only 16 calories and 3/4 teaspoon of sugar, and some of the sugar comes from the tomatoes themselves. "If you prefer to reduce the amount of sugar, there is also reduced sugar ketchup without artificial sweeteners."
Myth 4: All food colorings are harmful
"At the barn we use natural raw materials to color the products," explains the dietician. "For example, beetroot extraction in red bamba, paprika in breadcrumbs, and turmeric in soup almonds."
Myth 5: If dietitians accompanied the production process, it would be unpalatable
"wrong!" states Kahanovich Michael. "We in the nutrition team of Nestlé Barn accompany all the development processes of the products. The goal is to bring the best products nutritionally, without compromising on taste."
In conclusion, the dietitian emphasizes the importance of reading the food label: "Be sure to read the list of ingredients and the nutritional table and choose a product that fits your dietary habits. Osem products are not only delicious - they are also made from carefully selected raw materials and developed with your dietary habits in mind."