Day 17 - Be a Label Sleuth

Who is joining us tonight for the grocery store tour at the Super Bi-Lo in Matthews?  It is at 6:45pm, come if you are able!  We will be learning the best God foods to buy, comparing prices, and learning how to read labels.  In case you can't make it, I wanted to share a few tips on label reading.  These simple and important steps can have a huge impact on the foods you eat!

4 Steps to Label Reading

#1 - Read the ingredients.  If it has more than 5 ingredients, it's not Food by God.  Don't buy it!  Also, if you can't pronounce or understand what an ingredient is, don't buy it.  Chances are it's a chemical or man-made ingredient.  Write it down and go home to research it before deciding to buy.

#2 - No sugar, No artificial sweeteners.  Sugar is highly inflammatory and is a main contributing factor to diabetes, obesity, and even cancer.  I recommend choosing foods with low-to-no sugar.  And watch out for artificial sweeteners!  Companies are answering the awareness of sugar and disease by removing the sugar and replacing with chemicals like aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin.

#3 - Choose full-fat.  While the fat-free and low-fat craze that started in the 80s still has a hold on the marketing in America, the truth is healthy fat is good for us.  Did you know that good fat has been proven to help you LOSE weight?  Read the label and opt for full-fat options of yogurt, cheese, etc, as long as no bad fats have been added in.

#4 - Is it really Trans-fat Free?  Labeling guidelines allow a product to say it is Trans-fat Free on the label, but still include hydrogenated oils.  How is this possible?  Our government says as long as there is less than 0.5g of trans-fat per serving it can be called Trans-fat Free.  What a joke, right??  Don't pick foods just because the front of the label says it's free of hydrogenated bad oils.  Dive in and investigate, because a lot of foods will have hidden trans fats in their ingredients list.

See you tonight!


Elise, Healing Cuisine

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The Purpose Driven Life - Finding Your Purpose

CHAPTER 17 - A PLACE TO BELONG

You are called to belong, not just believe.

We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God's purposes by ourselves. While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God's family you are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity. The Bible says, "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5 (NIV)

Why do I need a church family?

1. A church family identifies you as a genuine believer
2. A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation
3. A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle
4. The Body of Christ needs you
5. You will share in Christ's mission in the world
6. A church family will help keep  you from backsliding 

The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Attenders are spectators from the sidelines; members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers; members are contributors.  The Christian life is more than just commitment to Christ; it includes a commitment to other Christians.

Point to Ponder:I am called to belong, not just believe.

Verse to Remember: "In Christ we who are many form one, body, and each member belongs to all the others" Romans 12:5 (NIV)

Question to Consider:  Does my level of involvement in my local church demonstrate that I love and committed to God's family?