magazine-pdf.org_13325_Better_Nutrition_April_2017_2

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A Handy Way to Remember GMO Crops
One way to teach your kids how to remember the genetically modified crops currently on the
market is to teach them that there are 3 Cs, 2 Ss, 2 As, 2 Ps,* a Y, and a Z. (The 3 Cs and the 2 Ss
are listed first because they are the most common genetically modified crops hidden in a variety
of ingredients in most packaged convenience foods.)
The genetically modified crops are:
/
/
/
/
CORN (as in corn oil,
cornmeal, cornstarch,
corn syrup, hominy,
polenta, and other
corn-based ingredients)
CANOLA (as in canola oil) APPLES
COTTONSEED (as in
cottonseed oil)
SUGAR BEETS (as in
“sugar” in an ingredient,
which is almost certainly
a combination of sugar
from both sugar cane and
GM sugar beets—and
also in foods that contain
beet sugar)
SOYBEANS (as in
soybean oil, soy
protein, soy lecithin,
soy milk, tofu, and other
soy-based ingredients)
Teach your kids to either avoid these foods, or look for USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project
Verified versions of these foods, as well as indirect sources of GMOs such as meat, milk, and
eggs from animals that are fed these foods.
* Note: Another P, pink flesh Pineapple, was approved by the FDA in December 2016 and is
slated to come to the U.S. market within a few years.
/
/
ALFALFA, which is fed
to livestock
PAPAYA (from Hawaii
and China)
/ POTATOES
/
YELLOW SQUASH and
ZUCCHINI
the information. Let them research it on
their own by reading kid-friendly information
on the Internet. They may come
back to you with questions, and you can
gradually give them more information.
Making Changes as a Family
Making changes in long-standing eating
habits always works best when kids are
involved and they understand the reasons
why changes are being made. Ask your
children if they’d be willing to come to
the grocery store with you and help you
choose organic fruits and vegetables and
find packages of food products that have a
label with a butterfly on it (the Non-GMO
Project Verified symbol), or preferably
a label with a circle that says USDA
Organic. This is a great way to teach kids
what to look for when they become food
shoppers. Children often get engaged in
hunting down healthier foods and tend to
think of it as a fun game.
At home, bring in healthier substitutes
and alternatives to GMO foods you used
to use. Generally speaking, that means
avoiding processed foods and eating more
whole foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts,
and seeds).
Also, keep in mind that there are
organic alternatives to virtually every
kind of food. If your family doesn’t feel
like it can give up certain foods—tacos,
for example—make sure to buy organic
ingredients to make them. That’s the
easy way to avoid GMOs and pesticides.
Using organic ingredients doesn’t have to
be expensive either: Develop an eye for
bargains, and stock up on organic foods
you use in recipes when they’re on sale.
When your children are away from
home, it’s much more difficult to control
what they eat. But you can do your best
to help them eat non-GMO by buying
non-GMO and organic snacks, and having
those foods at home ready for your
kids to take at a moment’s notice.
Finally, always pack your children’s
lunches. Unfortunately, GMOs are often
found among the ingredients of schoolprepared
lunches..
Do you have a question for the nutritionist? We would
love to hear from you. Please email your questions to
bnaskthenutritionist@gmail.com.