What? No Transfats in Poptarts?

You may or may not know about the law that went into effect this past January ('06) that every food item being marketed for sell to consumers had to list, along with nutritive values and such, the amount of transfats found in that particular food product. While I like the idea of having that defined, I am wondering about how it is really calculated and how accurate it is.

One of my lazy, quick, and very unhealthy breakfasts is to eat a Poptart with my coffee. This morning I looked on the back of the package and saw where there are 0 Transfats found in the Poptart I was going to eat. When I looked at the ingredients on that back, there are no tell-tell signs that would prove otherwise. Hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats is a sure sign that there are transfats in a food product, plus, let's don't forget the saturated fats. Transfats are the main ingredient in some (mainly processed) foods that cause major cholesterol buildup in arteries and longterm damage to the circulatory system. They're not good in any form, at any time. And our bodies do not do a good job of ridding themselves of these fats either. So...

Still, how do you get a Poptart to stay in its infamous, perfectly formed rectangular shape, popping with fatty, but good stuff right underneath the surface? It's a mystery to me - and please know that I am an extreme skeptic when it comes to food products and usually what I put in my mouth (okay, except for the Sundrops and Poptarts! -- but we all have our dark sides!).

If you are a purist when it comes to food, you will consume absolutely no processed foods. A purist will only eat those things that are grown in nature and that are not brought together with binders, fillers, and artificial anything. I am a partial-purist. Probably 85% of my diet is all natural, whole foods. My family has slowly, and mostly unknowingly followed my lead, but it has taken 10 years for the process. Now, when my husband or daughters go off somewhere and are not able to eat as I usually feed them, they say that their bodies crave for healthy, natural stuff. That's a great compliment and relief to my culinary beliefs.

While it takes a lot more effort to cook from scratch using no shortcuts or processed additions to the meal, it is a tastier, more satisfying meal.

So, as I'm writing this about healthy foods and all, I am feeling pretty guilty about eating that Poptart this morning. If it were up to me, I would not even keep them in the house. That would force me to eat cereal and/or fruit for breakfast. But Poptarts is one of the few things that I relent and buy for my family.

Sigh....so I guess I'll just trust that my arteries are no worse for eating that Poptart since there are no transfats in them.....and go on with my day!