Isn’t Junk Food - Junk? at Her Active Life

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Isn’t Junk Food - Junk?

Posted December 23, 2007 at 06:00 PM by Alexandra M. Haller

Section: Her Nutrition, Diet Myths, Healthy Eating, Her News

Flat Earth Chips If you’re hungry and really want something to munch on, is there a snack that can be as healthy as, say, an apple? Is a serving of fruit really as nutritious as the whole fruit itself? Another debate about nutritional content heats up as more food marketers are touting the fruit and vegetable likenesses in certain snack products.

I have to admit that I’ve seen Flat Earth crisps (a product of Frito-Lay) in the vending machine at my work and been curious. Is it really a more nutritious alternative than the other items in there? Looking at the nutrition label, I see the serving of fruit comes from the second and third ingredients, dried apples and potato flakes. What exactly is a dried apple? And is eating that ingredient along with things like fructose, dextrose, and sugar supposed to be something I can feel good about? This is the crux: are flaked and dried fruits and vegetables the equivalent of the real thing?

A Frito-Lay employee definitely thinks it’s a viable alternative, but I don’t think she wants you to really analyze the issue too much.

Frito-Lay company spokeswoman Aurora Gonzalez says the snacks aren’t meant to replace produce. “We’re not saying eat apple crisps in place of an apple,” she says. “We’re saying that if you’re looking for healthier snack options, this is a good one.”

On the other side of the debate, are those stalwarts of health, the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation (created by the CDCP). They maintain the 5 A Day Campaign that seeks to inform consumers about the importance of getting in the proper amounts of fruit and veggies.

“The science suggests when it’s powdered, it’s no longer a true fruit or vegetable,” says Elizabeth Pivonka, president and chief executive of the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation. “We need the intact veggie with fiber, water and nutrients to get the full benefit.” Based on the CDC guidelines, the snacks don’t meet the fruit or vegetable serving requirements, she says.

Here’s an example of the difference. You can eat an apple or a bag of the Flat Earth crisps. To get the full serving of fruit in the snack, you have to consume 260 calories, 9 grams of fat, and all the extra sugar from processing. A medium apple rings in at about 80 calories. It also provides 4g of fiber to the crisps’ 2. 0g of sodium to 35mg. 159mg of potassium to 105mg. Your best bet is most likely the whole fruit.

For research and more information, MSNBC