2020: The Year To Remove Food “Buzz Words” From Our Vocabulary

Can we stop with the food buzz words? They seem never ending! Each product trying to make their product seem superior to the next – it has created an elitism in food that is ridiculous.

I am over it. Can we all be over it, please?

We have the safest food supply in the world. I will say that again – the safest food supply in the world! We have grocery stores full of nutritious food but the marketing – which is all it really is – has gotten out of control. And beyond the store – the marketing involved in the endless diets that are out there – UGH! 

“Many are drawn to diets that either eliminate certain foods or put others on a pedestal because of misleading food labels or social media posts” says Nicole Rodriguez RDN, NASM-CPT, “when in truth, many claims boil down to marketing.”

Let’s cut ourselves a break and make a promise to ourselves that we can look past the labels and feel confident that we are feeding our kids (and ourselves!) delicious, nutritious food!

Here are the TOP TEN things to remember when it comes to food this year (and every year after):

1. Just because you can’t pronounce it or don’t know what it is – doesn’t necessarily mean anything and certainly doesn’t mean it’s bad for us. The vast majority of people don’t know what dihydrogen monoxide is. Do you? It sounds scary – so it must be?! And in truth, everyone that comes in contact with it will die, it can cause major damage to your home, rust metal, it can even cause erosion but you also can’t live without it. This is a very special chemical compound, and obviously I am referring to water (H2O – two hydrogen, one oxygen – the chemical compound of WATER).

2. The dose makes the poison. The same dihydrogen monoxide from above? It has a lethal dose too. Too much of even things as pure as water can be bad.

3. ALL FOOD has hormones in it. If it was growing (alive) at some point, it has hormones. Hence, nothing is hormone-free (except salt – which is a mineral.)

4. ZERO food has antibiotics in it (For meat: some animals they aren’t even allowed at anytime throughout their lives, others they are required they go through a withdrawal period. Milk is tested before it even leaves the dairy!)

5. Organic is not better or healthier. Just a different growing method.

6. GMOs are GOOD for the environment and play an important and vital roll in modern agriculture trying to feed the world. Most foods that say they are Non-GMO couldn’t be a GMO if they wanted to! There are only 10 GMO plants currently on the market and one isn’t even edible.

7. Your body does not need a detox or cleanse (unless prescribed by your doctor!) – it already does it all day, every day – it’s called a liver and your kidneys.

8. Alkalyne Water is marketing – you have kidneys to control your body’s pH.

9. Not everyone needs to eat Gluten-free – In fact, “Avoiding foods that contain gluten can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients, including iron, calcium, fiber, folate, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin” wrote Honor Whiteman in Medical News Today. It’s really only required for those with Celiac or other medical issues. 

Plus we live in the Bread Basket – support Kansas wheat farmers! (and bonus! They are in development for a new gluten-free GMO wheat!)

10. Can we all finally just admit there isn’t a pill that isn’t going to fix everything (sadly)? Paleo, Low-Carb, the Zone, South Beach, Dukan, the list goes on and on (and on and on) all diets, all have good qualities others not as good. Being healthy is the most important.

Food is part of our everyday. As a mom, food consumes a ton of your life, if your house is anything like ours – which kid dislikes which food, breakfast, making lunches, trying to figure out what to make for dinner, remembering what you need from the grocery store and the list goes on. Food brings people together, helps to commemorate experiences or celebrations.

Food is life! Enjoy it!

And ignore stupid labels.

Teach your kids where their food comes from, and help them learn about food and how it’s grown. And if you don’t know a farmer or a rancher – take the time to meet one and ask questions about they choices they make. And most importantly – any changes you are planning to make with your diet or exercise please make sure to discuss them with your physician. And if you have a lot of food questions, talk to a dietitian (not a nutritionist) about them, like I did while writing this article.

Happy New Year!


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Jamie Lindamood
Jamie lives outside of Eureka on a cattle ranch with her favorites...husband, Diltz, and their three kiddos, Sydney (10), Henry (8) and Charlie (6). Works at Krehbiel Architecture in Wichita and spends quite a bit of time in her hometown working, playing, and volunteering. At home in Eureka, she is overly involved too...working with the community for revitalization and always enjoys encouraging people to learn how their food really gets to their plate as an advocate of agriculture through her Day at the Ranch tour, You Are Here agriculture education program and Greenwood County Cattlewomen social media outlets.