Free Sample!

At my door this morning, tucked neatly in the plastic sleeve that housed my daily paper, was this little packet of instant bouillon. Nestle, what are you trying to do to us? I see they've lowered the amount of sodium per serving by 25% while maintaining the "same great taste". Instead of 900mg of sodium per teaspoon, this innovative, newly released magic pouch of powder only contains 650mg of sodium per teaspoon. But it's not just the sodium that concerns. The ingredient list contains a frightening roster of ingredients that have been shown to contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, migraines, to name just a few of the more common diseases that plague the planet since the inception of convenience foods became so prevalent in our kitchens.

Last time I looked, chicken broth comprised simply of simmering a whole or parts of a chicken with aromatics (onion, carrots, celery) four ingredients plus water. Not much effort involved in putting a large pot on the stove, rinsing the chicken and veggies and tossing them together with enough filtered water to cover. Once at a boil, the burner is turned down to simmer, the foam is skimmed and an hour or so later, you have quarts of chicken stock, plus some great chicken for salad or soup.

Sure, it isn't something we do after putting in a long day at work. But it works very nicely when we're occupied at home with other projects. It doesn't require much effort to produce. Not only is it superior in flavor to anything that can be purchased. It's good for us.

This little packet, made up of 98% chemicals and 2% dehydrated chicken, was made in Guatemala.

In addition to the listed ingredients, the packet is stamped in capital letters: CONTAINS SULFITES.

Salt, cornstarch, monosodium glutamate, sugar, partially hydrogenated palm oil, garlic powder, onion powder, and less than 2% of dehydrated chicken, turmeric, (spice and color), spices, artificial flavor, chicken fat, disodium inosimate, natural flavor, TBHQ (to preserve freshness) sulfiting agents.

(16 ingredients).

Check out the sidebar for more information and food warnings about the listed ingredients.

I suppose I could easily be considered anachronistic. But daily, studies are showing that it's what we eat or what we neglect to eat that determines the state of our health. Waiting for disease to strike then treating it with pharmaceuticals doesn't make much sense, when with a little knowledge, a little planning and just a little effort, we can eat our way to health.