Fiction on the Inside

Written By Stacie Wheatley

I recently caught. up with my friend, Jeff Oehman (@jeffoehmen) over Artisphere weekend here in Greenville, SC. Naturally we start chatting about my work as a Registered Dietitian and his as a Nutrition Coach.* I shared how much I love getting a small group of patients together for grocery store tours because it's like a library of food labels...and Jeff quickly added, "yeah, and all of the fiction is one INSIDE." And I love it! So, I stole it, but promised to give him partial credit. :)

A big part of my job is education and food label reading is critical. In general, most of us don’t know what criteria and parameters are required for food labels and what isn’t.

For example:

  • Did you know that you can find as much or more information about the product in the ingredients listing? How often do you read the ingredients listed? CAN you read the ingredients listed without a Ph.D in chemistry?

  • Do you know why the grams of the fat types, for example, don’t always add up to the total?

  • Have you ever wondered how those RDI’s compare to what YOUR needs actually are?

Moral of the story: Even in the grocery stores, profit is KING and his love language is marketing. Truth in marketing comes in many shades of grey. Fresh food doesn’t need a label: it is what it is and doesn’t have to explain itself.

Note: For more information on the difference between a dietitian, nutritionist, and nutrition coach, please see my FAQ.

Stacie Wheatley
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