The Millet Family: Canned Corn

September 19, 2008

Canned Corn

Yesterday, I saw this commercial on TV and I about DIED. People tend to believe most things they see on the old tube and it scares the patooey out of me that this new ad campaign is telling Big Gulp-guzzling Americans that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is basically the same as sugar and thus is not bad for you. Holy sugar-saturated fruit snacks Batman! Not only is this 30 second monstrosity an example of astonishingly bad acting, but it is also completely WRONG!! HFCS is in no way shape or form the same as sugar. Okay, sorry I guess they do have something in common -- they are both sweet. Thank goodness we have rules against false advertising...

So, I'm not a food scientist, but stay with me here: fructose (the sugar found in HFCS) doesn't stimulate insulin secretion. Insulin is the handy dohicky that helps us digest/absorb sugar. Thus when insulin fails, diabetes ensues. Icky. Still with me? HFCS also causes problems with our liver (where all that fructose gets broken down) leading to elevated triglycerides (the bad cholesterol) which can later lead to obesity and heart disease and death. Double ick.

Now I may be a little more sensitive to this issue than some due to my indoctrination as a small child that anything refined, sweet or basically good tasting is bad for you. But HFCS is like Big Brother -- it's everywhere. In our cereals, juice, candy, crackers, cokes, you name it, it's got HFCS. Why you ask? Because it is cheap (due to corn subsidies) and it has a long shelf life. Chalk up one more point for consumerism and Big Brother.

Now I enjoy a Cherry Coke as much as the next gal, but I imbibe knowing full well that I am not drinking something that is magically doing my body good. I know that this delicious concoction is chock full of chemically engineered sugars that my body will go into overdrive trying to digest. But I try to block that out because I'm trying to make up for all those cokes I didn't get to drink as a kid and by golly it tastes good, right?! Right??

3 comments:

Michelle D said...: Michelle - you are so GREAT! I've seen those commercials too, but hadn't formed an opinion on it until I read this post! Down with corn syrup! I'm sure glad my favorite treat these days (candy corn) is made with real honey! Bless those BEES!; 3:50 PM
Brandon and Erin said...: So I don't know if you will remember me, but this is Erin Allan (from slate canyon ward)...I saw your blogs and some others from people in that ward. I had to say hi and tell you congrats on the baby. I think it is fun to stay updated with blogs...hope all is great!; 2:20 PM
Anonymous said...: (Hey---look who you come across when you blog stalk!)

Um HORRAY! I was appalled when I saw these commercials. My husband was a pop addict and came within real threat of developing diabetes. If that were to happen, he'd lose his career (he has to pass certain medical rules.) So this is a serious issue to us, and the pop had to stop! I make every effort I can to cut out HFCS and my family all think I'm a weird freak but I don't really care. We don't eat fruit snacks, bread, spaghetti sauce, cereal, granola bars, or anything else that has HFCS. Thanks for joining me in the fight!

--Michelle Roper; 10:16 PM

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My kid said it

9/12/18

Peter: You should never hide your talent under a bushel. Especially if that talent is farting. Because pretty soon it's going to get really stuffy under there.

8/23/18

Mom: Nora, you're so strong and brave. You can do anything!

Nora (slyly): ... even watch a movie?

8/22/18

Nora: Are you impressed with me that I'm a cheetah?

5/14/18

Nora (singing): Blah Blah Black Sheep, have you any wool?

2/10/18

Nora, pretending to be Benji, to get Peter to let her in his room: (cue deep, gravelly voice) Open up. It's me, Benji.

2/17/18

Travis: It was a bloodbath.

Benji: Oh, I would be so scared to get in that water. I would never get in that tub.

Michelle: haha no, buddy. People weren't actually taking a bath in blood. It's an expression.

11/2017

Nora to Benji: Hey, you wanna play that game again?

(I hear this about 5 times every single day)

7/2017

Nora: Mailed it!

(she means 'nailed it')

6/15/17

Nora: Can I have some more bugglegum? (bubblegum)

6/2017

While pretending to read aloud from her journal, Nora: Poopy pants is not my fault.

2/29/16

Benji: Fee Fi Fo Fum...Who wants a taco?

9/6/15

Me: "So Benji, what did you do at school today?"

Benji: "Oh you know, a little of this, a little of that."

6/28/15

I was trying to explain to the boys what Anne of Green Gables was about when I told them that she is an orphan. Benji piped up immediately with, "Oh you mean like Batman?"

4/15/15

As I was taking Peter to the doctor one day, he told me, "Mom. Did you know I love books? They are like my home. Whenever I read them, it's just like I'm home."

3/8/15

Benji's new word for anything he doesn't know the name for is "thing-a-ding" As in, "Where's my thing-a-ding, Momma?"

3/2/15

We picked some asparagus from the garden and Peter said: "Let's cook it and have it for dessert!" Asparagus. For DESSERT.

10/17/14

While driving home:

Benji: Dad, sometimes when you close your eyes, do you see bats?

Travis: Um, no. [pause] When you close your eyes and see bats are they good bats or bad bats?

Benji: [looking at Daddy like he is crazy pants] When I close my eyes I do not see bats!

5/1/14

I asked Benji to go sing a song to Nora while I was putting away the groceries so she wouldn't cry and this is what I heard him singing: "Rock-it bye baby..."

4/25/14

Me: Benji, what do you want on your pizza?

Benji: Peppy-roni!

7/25/13

Peter wants to be a fireman when he grows up. While leaving the library, he said to some adults sitting next to him at bingo: "See ya. If ya need me when I'm an adult, you can just call 911!"

3/31/13

[During prayers]

Peter: "Thank you for Daddy, and Mommy, and Benji and me, Peter because I know everything in this world!"

12/13/12

Peter brought me a picture of airplanes he had just drawn and said "Mommy, next to where I wrote my name, could you write 'illustrator' for me?"

11/9/12

Peter: "Daddy, I got a fluid shot today!"

Me: "Um, I think you mean a flu shot."

10/1/12

Peter: "And then I will be a full ledged member!"

9/13/12

Peter: "Momma, my favorite word is Snoozy Toozy."

Me: "Why's that?"
Peter: "Cause it has an 'oozy' and a 'toozy.'

3/3/12

We had just gotten some ice cream from Cold Stone when Peter says: "It's a nice day for ice cream."

3/2/12

Coming into the garage to find Daddy: "Well, well, well."

3/1/12

Upon handing Peter a McDondalds cheeseburger: "MMmmm. My cheeseburger is hot and fresh from the oven."

2/3/12

Peter: "Did you know that girls like pink Momma? And purple. Do you like purple?"

12/31/11

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12/14/11

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11/17/11

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Peter: "Well you've been in my NOSE today Momma!"

10/27/11

When Travis was trying to get Peter to leave the Ronald McDonald House at the hospital.

Peter: "But I don't wanna leave the Old MacDonald House!"

10/8/11

Peter hands Travis a cup with water, milk, and juice all mixed together.

Peter: "Here you go Daddy, have some sloopie."

Travis: "MMMmm. Why's it called sloopie?"
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10/5/11

Peter saw a guy wearing a stocking cap and (while laughing hysterically) said : "He's wearing a sock on his head Momma!"

9/9/11

Me: "You need to go to time out now. We don't lock doors."

Peter: "That's okay. I like time out."

Me: !!

8/30/11
(while I was putting Peter to bed)
Peter: "But there are monsters outside!"
Me: "Well it's a good thing me and Daddy locked the doors up nice and tight."
Peter: "Oh! Fank you Momma!"

8/28/11

(while patting Benji's hair)

Peter: "Aww. He has softie duckling fluff!"

6/30/11

(After I told Peter he couldn't do something - yet again)

Peter: "No Momma. I have a sign that says "No saying no Momma!"

6/10/11

Peter: "His name is Benji, but I just call him Benj."

5/8/11

Peter: "What you doing there Mommy?"

Me: "I'm putting on my makeup."

Peter: "Oh. So you don't scare Daddy."

5/7/11
Me: "Mommy's big belly is gone."
Peter: "Now we can wrestle Mommy!"

4/17/11
Peter: [singing] "Hunky Dunky sat on a wall. Hunky Dunky had a great fall."

4/4/11
[While playing duck, duck, goose]
Peter: "Okay Mommy and Daddy. Now you two can quack like ducks."

3/30/11
Peter: "Ready, Steady, Set, Go!"

2/24/11
Peter: "Ma-chelle! Ma-chelle! Could you come snuggle wif me?"

2/20/11
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Peter: About Jesus. He is our friend. He doesn't hit us and he doesn't bite us.

1/27/11
[While watching me peel sweet potatoes for dinner]
Peter: "Sweet botatoes - you are all naked!"

11/26/10
Petey: "Do you have a freight car Grandpa?"
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11/19/10
Mom "Do the cows eat the hay the tractors cut?"
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Peter saw a guy wearing a cowboy hat and said: "He's wearing a howdy hat!"

10/13/10
Peter: "You look like a princess Mama."
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9/7/10
[pulling a chair up next to Trav]
Peter: "How's you work Dada?"

8/26/10
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8/22/10
[While saying prayers - we're trying to get him to think of things to say on his own]
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7/31/10
Dad: "Did you hurt your nose?"
Peter: "I hurt mine mustache." (pointing to his upper lip)