Children/Families

Response to Pacific Resource Partnership and I Mua

May 9th, 2012
· by admin · Filed Under: Children/Families · Hawaii · Oahu's Rail Debacle · Politics

Response to Pacific Resource Partnership launching I Mua Rail

First of all, I know this is a partnership that includes Pacific Business News and is throwing more money at this controversial project. After 5 million and counting of our taxpayers’ money has been poured into propaganda to tell us (obviously stupid) citizens how to think, they figure that just isn’t enough. So, they are going to pour more hundreds of thousands into the propaganda machine. So, the public has had MASSIVE amounts of info and strategies and facts hidden, but now the powers that be see fit to spend more piles of cash to rehash the propaganda to try to make their point.

1. KEY QUESTION: If this is such a brilliant idea, and I for sure know we have hundreds of thousands of good, hard-working intelligent citizens on Oahu WHY on earth does it take millions to convince them/us that this is a good idea?

The standard claim is that the Rail project will create 10,000 jobs annually-4,000 in construction and 6,000 in support sectors architecture, planning, retail, restaurants and other service industries.

2. KEY QUESTIONS: Estimates now are between 400 and 500 jobs will be created in the construction. That’s the local guesses and Kiewit won’t even respond to questions about this. Is this REALLY enough to warrant proceeding with such a huge investment? Now hundreds of mainland people have already moved here to build the Rail (which ironically makes the traffic worse.) When a Kiewit supervisor was asked the other day on TV; “How many local and how many mainland people have been hired?” he stumbled with that very basic concept here in the islands. He responded to that that they were having a hard time telling who is local and who is not. Another Kiewit person told my friend that they would start off with some local workers, but then, as the locals scam them with sore back claims and such they would replace the locals with those from the mainland. In fact it has already been declared that people of Oahu don’t know how to build a rail, so that those people will have to be brought in. I submit that this influx of people is exacerbating the situation and putting an unnecessary toll on the rest of the island’s infrastructure. So, again, is this huge project worth it for the very few amounts of jobs that will be provided to locals. And to Mr. Kiewit, locals are NOT those that move here to work and stay. Regarding the large amounts of locals who would support (?), Yes I guess there seems to be a small need that will be filled. Unless the Rail Supporters are conceding that this influx of new people coming in to build it will need restaurants and other businesses (REALLY?) then it’s just the same number of residents just going to work mainly on Monday through Friday. So they will go to restaurants if they already were, of they won’t if they didn’t. So maybe businesses will ‘move’ towards the Rail and away from the neighborhoods those people come from. Not real gains though. Lastly on this topic, many WILL be needed, (at minimum wage, I am sure) to clean up the Rail stations, clean and/or paint over graffiti, and patrol the stations and lots as security. I will falt out guarantee that this money is NOT in any kind of budget right now, however. Again, Is there enough jobs to make this the main reason for the project?

It has been said that there will be fewer cars on the road, less congestion on highways and side streets, reduced air pollution and less reliance on foreign oil. (And many say there is a Santa Claus.) A LOT of things have been said, but this one has been ‘unsaid’ by Wayne Yoshioka. He reported that this project probably won’t relieve congestion. The rest is just a laughable pie in the sky statement, some of which I have not seen. And I thought I had heard it all.

3. KEY QUESTIONS: As more and more people move here, they will continue to drive cars on the roads and in fact add to this issue. No one will be measuring air pollution before and after and I suggest that if they do, there won’t be much change (that one is a reach.) Surface streets. DID YOU SAY SURFACE STREETS? Has anyone yet begun to consider the overwhelming strain to our side streets when this construction is going on? Not only is it going to make the present commutes unbearably longer for periods of time, but the wear and tear from the extra use of those side streets will cause repair problems. Of course the budgets for that will have to be slashed to help subsidize the Rail-right? Less reliance on foreign oil? Give me a break. So the extra workers and citizens moving here will go on using the roads and some, a small number will switch to electric cars. Hardly a mass of people leaving their cars and that will hardly qualify as less reliance on foreign oil. Now, this is an interesting question. Is one of the subplots of the Rail to mess up traffic SO BADLY through the construction period that, when (and if) it is ever completed, the traffic will then ‘seem’ to get better because there then will be ‘less’ traffic issues? Is that their big trump card?

Residents who use Rail will save on gas auto expenses. The cost of owning a car is highest in Hawaii. It IS, as it is for almost everything else. For many, including myself, I drive less because we are on an island, but that is besides the point I think. So get used to it. We all chose to live here, so the costs are higher. IN FACT ARE WE FORGETTING THAT THOSE WHO LIVE OUT WEST SAVE THOUSANDSS ON THEIR HOME PRICES BUT DO HAVE TO ‘PAY’ IN THE COMMUTE?

4. KEY QUESTIONS: Are we forgetting that the person who uses the Rail will be inconvenienced to the point that many will have to start earlier, come home later, do a lot of walking (even when it is raining) and still drive to a park and ride lot? Won’t they charge for the park and ride lot? I assume so, but no one is volunteering that information. They will be inconvenienced, standing, holding on to a strap all the way from Kapolei for example, to downtown. Are we forgetting that the Rail itself will charge a fair? How much? No one is sharing that info.

5. KEY QUESTIONS: You say you’ve talked to 36,000 people and the vast majority support Rail. I DARE THE C & C TO DO ANOTHER POLL. You will probably see what the most recent polls have shown-that the support is waning. In fact, isn’t that why you are introducing I Mua in the first place? Other than the fact that your businesses are ‘in on the profits.’ And, would you really admit if people were AGAINST Rail? Propaganda doesn’t work that way. Oh, and the claim that you Rail supporters all work? It is ridiculous and insulting to imply that those who are against Rail either don’t work or have nothing to do than show up at Rail meetings. I Mua actually tries to remind residents why they voted for Rail in 2008. That’s absurd. All they knew about this project was the sunshine and rainbows propaganda that the C & C has been spreading so long and that you are claiming to continue. What’s really going on is that the hard-working, intelligent people of Oahu are waking up and seeing the other side finally. With a tiny fraction of the budget and mainly other hard-working family people-NOT your fat cat corporations and Who’s Who of 1% businesses of Oahu-the people who oppose this project are making headway. We know that bugs you, but too bad.

And lastly, we know that the person who wrote that article in PBN last week is among the groups that will profit-as so many who are for Rail are. The hundreds of thousands who oppose tend to be family people who want to say NO to increased taxes on their properties and gas in the future to allow for this Rail. They have kids and grandkids and worry about what type of future their families are headed for with this colossal expense-not to mention the strain on the aina in so many ways and in so many places. I commend her for using public transportation now, and I will count her among those that I am aware of who will use Rail daily when it is here. I have easily talked to and encountered hundreds and that count is up to 4 now. Aloha, Rick Emmer

First of all, I know this is a partnership that includes Pacific Business News and is throwing more money at this controversial project. After 5 million and counting of our taxpayers’ money has been poured into propaganda to tell us (obviously stupid) citizens how to think, they figure that just isn’t enough. So, they are going to pour more hundreds of thousands into the propaganda machine. So, the public has had MASSIVE amounts of info and strategies and facts hidden, but now the powers that be see fit to spend more piles of cash to rehash the propaganda to try to make their point.

1. KEY QUESTION: If this is such a brilliant idea, and I for sure know we have hundreds of thousands of good, hard-working intelligent citizens on Oahu WHY on earth does it take millions to convince them/us that this is a good idea?

The standard claim is that the Rail project will create 10,000 jobs annually-4,000 in construction and 6,000 in support sectors architecture, planning, retail, restaurants and other service industries.

2. KEY QUESTIONS: Estimates now are between 400 and 500 jobs will be created in the construction. That’s the local guesses and Kiewit won’t even respond to questions about this. Is this REALLY enough to warrant proceeding with such a huge investment? Now hundreds of mainland people have already moved here to build the Rail (which ironically makes the traffic worse.) When a Kiewit supervisor was asked the other day on TV; “How many local and how many mainland people have been hired?” he stumbled with that very basic concept here in the islands. He replied that they were having a hard time telling who is local and who is not. Another Kiewit person told my friend that they would start off with some local workers, but then, as the locals scam them with sore back claims and such they would replace the locals with those from the mainland. In fact it has already been declared that people of Oahu don’t know how to build a rail, so that those people will have to be brought in. I submit that this influx of people is exacerbating the situation and putting an unnecessary toll on the rest of the island’s infrastructure. So, again, is this huge project worth it for the very few amounts of jobs that will be provided to locals? And to Mr. Kiewit, locals are NOT those that move here to work and stay. Regarding the large amounts of local jobs who would support (?), Yes I guess there seems to be a small need that will be filled. Unless the Rail Supporters are conceding that this influx of new people coming in to build it will need restaurants and other businesses (REALLY?) then it’s just the same number of residents just going to work mainly on Monday through Friday. So they will go to restaurants if they already were, they won’t if they didn’t. So maybe businesses will ‘move’ towards the Rail and away from the neighborhoods those people come from. Not real gains though. Lastly on this topic, many WILL be needed, (at minimum wage, I am sure) to clean up the Rail stations, clean and/or paint over graffiti, and patrol the stations and as security. I will flat out guarantee that this money is NOT in any kind of budget right now, however. Again, Is there enough jobs to make this the main reason for the project?

It has been said that there will be fewer cars on the road, less congestion on highways and side streets, reduced air pollution and less reliance on foreign oil. (And many say there is a Santa Claus.) A LOT of things have been said, but this one has been ‘unsaid’ by Wayne Yoshioka. He reported that this project probably won’t relieve congestion. The rest is just a laughable pie in the sky statement, some of which I have not seen. And I thought I had heard it all.

3. KEY QUESTIONS: As more and more people move here, they will continue to drive cars on the roads and in fact add to this issue. No one will be measuring air pollution before and after and I suggest that if they do, there won’t be much change (that one is a reach.) Surface streets. DID YOU SAY SURFACE STREETS? Has anyone yet begun to consider the overwhelming strain to our side streets when this construction is going on? Not only is it going to make the present commutes unbearably longer for periods of time, but the wear and tear from the extra use of those side streets will cause repair problems. Of course the budgets for that will have to be slashed to help subsidize the Rail-right? Less reliance on foreign oil? Give me a break. So the extra workers and citizens moving here will go on using the roads and some, a small number will switch to electric cars. Hardly a mass of people leaving their cars and that will hardly qualify as less reliance on foreign oil. Now, this is an interesting question. Is one of the subplots of the Rail to mess up traffic SO BADLY through the construction period that, when (and if) it is ever completed, the traffic will then ‘seem’ to get better because there then will be ‘less’ traffic issues? Is that their big trump card?

Residents who use Rail will save on gas auto expenses. The cost of owning a car is highest in Hawaii. It IS, as it is for almost everything else. For many, including myself, I drive less because we are on an island, (but that is besides the point.) So get used to it. We all chose to live here, so the costs are higher. IN FACT ARE WE FORGETTING THAT THOSE WHO LIVE OUT WEST SAVE THOUSANDS ON THEIR HOME PRICES BUT DO HAVE TO ‘PAY’ IN THE COMMUTE?

4. KEY QUESTIONS: Are we forgetting that the person who uses the Rail will be inconvenienced to the point that many will have to start earlier, come home later, do a lot of walking (even when it is raining) and still drive to a park and ride lot? Won’t they charge for the park and ride lot? I assume so, but no one is volunteering that information. They will be inconvenienced, standing, holding on to a strap all the way from Kapolei for example, to downtown. I see a rash of carpal tunnel or bursitis type injuries in the future…ha ha. Are we forgetting that the Rail itself will charge a fair? How much? No one is sharing that info. So the car owners that try the Rail as an option (and decide to stay at it) will save some on auto expenses and will pay more in other areas and perhaps with more time, so it’s a wash, even a trade-off.

5. KEY QUESTIONS: You say you’ve talked to 36,000 people and the vast majority support Rail. I DARE THE CITY & COUNTY TO DO ANOTHER POLL. You will probably see what the most recent polls have shown-that the support is waning. In fact, isn’t that why you are introducing I Mua in the first place? Other than the fact that your businesses are ‘in on the profits.’ And, would you really admit if people were AGAINST Rail? Propaganda doesn’t work that way. Oh, and the claim that you Rail supporters all work? It is ridiculous and insulting to imply that those who are against Rail either don’t work or have nothing to do than show up at Rail meetings. I Mua actually tries to remind residents why they voted for Rail in 2008. That’s absurd. All they knew about this project was the sunshine and rainbows propaganda that the City & County has been spreading so long and that you are claiming to continue. What’s really going on is that the hard-working, intelligent people of Oahu are waking up and seeing the other side finally. With a tiny fraction of the budget and mainly other hard-working family people-NOT your fat cat corporations and Who’s Who of 1% businesses of Oahu-the people who oppose this project are making headway. We know that bugs you, but too bad.

And lastly, the person who wrote that article in PBN last week is among the groups that will profit-as so many who are for Rail are. The hundreds of thousands who oppose tend to be family people who want to say NO to increased taxes on their properties and gas in the future to allow for this Rail. They have kids and grandkids and worry about what type of future their families are headed for with this colossal expense-not to mention the strain on the aina in so many ways and in so many places. I commend her for using public transportation now, and I will count her among those that I am aware of who will use Rail daily when it is here. I have easily talked to and encountered over a thousand and that count is up to 4 now.

Aloha, Rick Emmerich

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Tags: auto, C & C, City & County, commute, downtown, Hawaii, I Mua, Kapolei, Kiewit, Oahu, Pacific, Paicific, Partnership, Rail, Resource, Rick Emmerich, Santa Claus, traffic, Wayne Yoshioka, west

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Rail Pushers-Quit Hiding Your Transparency!

April 14th, 2012
· by admin · Filed Under: Children/Families · Hawaii · Oahu's Rail Debacle · Politics

I am noticing the irony of the tough talking politicians and their anger saying we’re building this no matter what. It will take World War III right? We’ll build even if we don’t get the money right? We are plowing through, are we? Well easy when we’re playing with other people’s money and their children’s cash as well.

What I feel is ironic is that with all this angry bold talk, we still have to bring in SO many people from the mainland to build this darn thing. We can’t even run it with a local guy, we have to pull in a guy from as far away as possible (who went down in flames there, by the way) to run this project.

They won’t ever confirm this so I am going to say what I heard. Maybe that’s what it will take to get the truth out. I was told on Thurs. that of the whole Kiewit office building, of all the people brought in from the mainland to help run this thing in their offices, ALL are from the mainland except one, who moved back partially because of their local roots.

And I was told about 7 months ago that Bank of Hawaii had set up ‘lots’ of accounts for the many workers that have moved here to build the Rail.

So, I wonder if we EVER are going to get the real facts about how many jobs that are going to get created LOCALLY. Also, which ones are the local ones, the lower paying ones right? I see the workers in their bright shirts at some of the meetings. It seems that no matter what, their supervisors and the top leaders here will be the mainland people.

Now, I don’t doubt my sources, but the actual percentages are out there, I’m sure. C’mon let’s get some of that transparency-and not just when it’s convenient.

I am noticing the irony of the tough talking politicians and their anger saying WE are building this no matter what. It will take World War III right? We’ll build even if we don’t get the money right? We are plowing through, are we? Well easy when we’re playing with other people’s money and their children’s cash as well.

What I feel is ironic is that with all this angry bold talk, we still have to bring in SO many people from the mainland to build this darn thing. We can’t even run it with a local guy, we have to pull in a guy from as far away as possible (who went down in flames there, by the way) to run this project.

They won’t ever confirm this so I am going to say what I heard. Maybe that’s what it will take to get the truth out. I was told on Thursday that of the whole Kiewit office building, of all the people brought in from the mainland to help run this thing in their offices, ALL are from the mainland except one, who moved back partially because of their local roots.

And I was told about 7 months ago that Bank of Hawaii had set up ‘lots’ of accounts for the many workers that have moved here to build the Rail.

So, I wonder if we EVER are going to get the real facts about how many jobs that are going to get created LOCALLY. Also, which ones are the local ones, the lower paying ones right? I see the workers in their bright shirts at some of the meetings. It seems that no matter what, their supervisors and the top leaders here will be the mainland people.

Now, I don’t doubt my sources, but the actual percentages are out there, I’m sure. C’mon let’s get some of that transparency-and not just when it’s convenient.

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Tags: Bank of Hawaii, Kiewit, mainland, Pushers, Rail, transparency, World War III

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The Rail, I see two sides

April 14th, 2012
· by admin · Filed Under: Children/Families · Hawaii · Oahu's Rail Debacle · Politics · Uncategorized

If the public EVER finds out about the hidden details of the project the overwhelming majority will oppose, like some polls indicate now. There seem to be two distinct sides.

1. Intelligent, visionary citizens who care a lot about Oahu and what it will be like for their children and grandchildren. They can see what a mess this is and will be for generations. They aren’t fooled by the propaganda that has sadly been funded by us. They are asking great questions and smart courageous leaders are digging up the answers and more questions and saying “We aren’t gonna take it!”

2. There are many great citizens that seem to have different values. Values that allow them to just sacrifice the aina for a job, for votes, for the greed of their company perhaps. It’s not just the very wealthy (owners of the companies and union presidents for example.) It’s the rank and file union victim, I mean worker, who feels that the state owes him/her a living in the specific job category they are trained in. They will be crying the loudest if this thing falls through. They can’t see the obvious idea of learning a new skill, career, starting their own business. They believe the hype and propaganda that the leaders are spewing because it aligns with their values-I need a job-the state owes me a job.

No matter what side, I NEVER hear anyone saying, “boy I will ride that rail every day.” I can (perhaps) see a successful mega-project (miraculously) done on time, and costing somewhere near what they say it will-and then finding out that the people that screamed how badly we needed it won’t ride it and their just aren’t enough citizens to actually ride it ever. Then, our children will pay for it.

Picture the kids 20 years from now asking, “Grandpa, didn’t they know that it was a bad idea at the time?” Picture the even larger divide between the haves and the have-nots as taxes devour the incomes of those normal hard working people, many of whom thought the Rail was going to be the gravy train.

If the public EVER finds out about the hidden details of the project the overwhelming majority will oppose, like some polls indicate now. There seem to be two distinct sides.

1. Intelligent, visionary citizens who care a lot about Oahu and what it will be like for their children and grandchildren. They can see what a mess this is and will be for generations. They aren’t fooled by the propaganda that has sadly been funded by taxpayer dollars-us. They are asking great questions and smart courageous leaders are digging up the answers and more questions and saying “We aren’t gonna take it!”

2. There are many great citizens that seem to have different values. Values that allow them to just sacrifice the aina for a job, for votes, for the greed of their company perhaps. It’s not just the very wealthy (owners of the companies and union presidents for example.) It’s the rank and file union victim, I mean worker, who feels that the state owes him/her a living in the specific job category they are trained in. They will be crying the loudest if this thing falls through. They can’t see the obvious idea of learning a new skill, career, starting their own business. They believe the hype and propaganda that the leaders are spewing because it aligns with their values-I need a job-the state owes me a job.

No matter what side, I NEVER hear anyone saying, “boy I will ride that rail every day.” I can (perhaps) see a successful mega-project (miraculously) done on time, and costing somewhere near what they say it will-and then finding out that the people that screamed how badly we needed it won’t ride it and their just aren’t enough citizens to actually ride it ever. Then, our children will pay for it.

Picture the kids 20 years from now asking, “Grandpa, didn’t they know that it was a bad idea at the time?” Picture the even larger divide between the haves and the have-nots as taxes devour the incomes of those normal hard working people, many of whom thought the Rail was going to be the gravy train.

If you happen to share my vision, or at least are open to finding out more of the questions we are asking-contact me.

If Ben Cayetano wins in August, we have a chance to undo some of the millions of dollars of waste that are already being allocated. It is definitely an uphill battle against unions, big developers and their money. But there is an amazing cross-section of leaders that are standing up for Ben, putting aside past party differences. As I do not like to be given a lable, these guys are willing to catch some flack from party members to do the right thing. We need help-the opposition has been putting out the propaganda for years, and it will be a hard fight.

Aloha, Rick Emmerich

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Tags: Aloha, Ben Cayetano, Oahu, propaganda, Rail, Rick Emmerich

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Health Food Shockers found by Liv Green Hawaii

April 10th, 2012
· by admin · Filed Under: Alternative Medicine · Children/Families · Happiness · Hawaii · Heart Health · Liv International · Wealth

Health-Food Shockers

by Kristina Grish

Published in Natural Health, Dec/Jan 2012 edition

If there’s one thing the food industry is good at, it’s nutritional sleight of hand. And while you

might expect coy packaging and hidden unhealthy ingredients from the usual processed food

suspects, quite a few of your favorite “healthy” foods can be deceiving, too. “Even the savviest

shoppers get duped,” says Beth Reardon, M.S., R.D., director of integrative nutrition at Duke

Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C. To be sure you’re eating foods that will pay you back in

health beneﬁts, you need to know what types seem healthier than they really are. Then you can

toss the legitimately good-for-you stuff into your shopping cart and enjoy.

Sneaky stuff: multigrain breads, crackers, wafﬂes, cereals

Real deal: Yes, the term “multigrain” means the product is made with more than one type of

grain. “But that doesn’t mean any of those grains are whole grains or contain much ﬁber,” says

Reardon. All or some of them may be reﬁned or the whole grains might just be sprinkled on top

for show.

Healthy hints: If you’re going to reach for multigrain foods, make sure to read the nutrition

facts label carefully and look for a whole-grain ﬂour (e.g., whole oat, whole barley or whole

brown rice) as the ﬁrst ingredient. What you most want to avoid is “wheat ﬂour,” which implies a

reﬁning process that removes dietary ﬁber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants once found in the

whole grain, and therefore nixes the heart, digestive and blood sugarrelated health beneﬁts of

eating it.

Sneaky stuff: packaged kombucha and keﬁrs

Real deal: Live beneﬁcial bacteria and yeast, plus a sugar source, are used to make these drinks.

They are full of beneﬁcial microorganisms and can be rich in vitamins and minerals. But in an

effort to mask their naturally bitter tastes, some go into sugar overdrive. On average, each

serving of most kombucha contains about 8 grams of sugar, and most keﬁrs have lactose bases so

the yeast and bacteria in the keﬁr grains can feed off the milk’s natural sugars. When you add

even more sugar, agave nectar or fruit ﬂavorings, the drinks’ health beneﬁts suffer.

Healthy hints: Opt for kombucha brands with less than 3 grams of sugar per serving. If you’re

buying a dairy-based keﬁr, try not to exceed 10 grams (the amount of sugar is higher because of

the lactose). Los Angeles-based dietitian Ashley Koff, R.D., suggests tempering your kombucha

intake with cultured (fermented) vegetables and recommends coconut-water keﬁrs to best target

digestive issues. “They’re typically lower in added sugar, provide a rich source of electrolytes

and potassium, may not create mucus, and are usually nonallergenic,” she says.

Sneaky stuff: store-bought vegetable juices

Real deal: One glass can equal two full servings of vegetables— nothing wrong with that, right?

Not so fast. While these juices contain some veggies, many are heavy on starchy ones like beets

and carrots, and lose points for fruit concentrates, sugar and salt, which are added for ﬂavor.

Plus, if it isn’t organic, you’re swigging a concentrated source of potentially pesticide-laden

produce.Healthy hints: Make your own juice using a blender to keep as much ﬁber intact as possible.

Combine a head of kale with 1 lemon, 1∕8 cup freshly chopped ginger, 1 beet or apple and 4 to 6

stalks of celery (all should be organic). If you do go for bottled juice, look for the same quality

ingredients you’d choose at home: organic vegetables, fruits and spices—with no fruit ﬂavors,

vegetable colorings, added sugar sources or unnecessary extras like high-fructose corn syrup or

zinc oxide. Also, one serving shouldn’t exceed 15 grams of total carbs.

Sneaky stuff: bottled green tea

Real deal: “Not only do many bottled green teas have chemical additives, sugars and corn syrup,

but the polyphenols in green tea are very fragile when exposed to heat, light and time,” says

Reardon. “When green tea is packaged in clear bottles, the beneﬁts can degrade very quickly

unless it’s been in a light- and temperature-controlled environment.” And while you or your

grocer may store it properly, there’s no accounting for transportation conditions or the guy who

left it on a loading dock in the sun.

Healthy hints: To take the best advantage of green tea’s cancerﬁghting, heart health-promoting,

metabolism-boosting antioxidants, experts agree it’s best to brew it yourself. When you do so, be

sure to drink it within 36 hours for primo beneﬁts. Steep with lemon or orange slices to further

preserve the cancerﬁghting polyphenols (adding citrus to your tea boosts ﬂavor and frees up

more antioxidant compounds for the body to absorb after digestion). Add sparkling water and

ginger, then chill for a refreshing treat. Reardon says it’s ﬁne to buy sugarfree options in clear,

preferably glass, bottles—but think of these as caffeinated beverages that don’t deliver as many

health beneﬁts.

Sneaky stuff: gluten-free snacks

Real deal: “A lot of us don’t realize that gluten-free treats are still treats—they aren’t health

foods,” says Reardon. While organic, gluten-free breads and grains are an essential part of a

healthy diet, gluten-free crackers, cookies and mufﬁns aren’t necessarily good for you. This kind

of gluten-free grub is often made from reﬁned potato or rice ﬂours that aren’t enriched and often

have added fat, sugar and artiﬁcial ﬂavorings, making it very important to check the ingredients

before buying (just like you do with any snack food).

Healthy hints: Skip the junk food and opt for gluten-free grains that also contain ﬁber,

phytonutrients and B vitamins (like steel-cut oats, quinoa and brown rice). Better yet, think of the

snack as an opportunity to increase your plant base by, say, choosing a dish of hummus and pea

pods or other naturally gluten-free vegetables and legumes.

Sneaky stuff: store-bought smoothies

Real deal: These products often contain juices, syrups and purées that are loaded with calories

and lack the nutrients of whole fruit. Plus, if it’s not organic, it could be full of pesticides. Many

packaged smoothies are also made with unnecessary extra sugar, Reardon says, and include

synthetic proteins and vitamins.

Healthy hints: Choose organic options with no more than 15 grams of carbs and at least 7 grams

of protein per serving. And before you toss one in your cart, remind yourself how easy it is to

whip one up at home. Koff likes blending Sambazon Açaí packs (plain) with hemp milk and half

a banana to sweeten. Or toss Reardon’s favorite smoothie ingredients into your blender: 1∕2 cup

each of fresh kale, beet greens and baby spinach; 3∕4 cup mixed frozen organic berries; 1∕2 cup frozen dark cherries; 1 to 2 tablespoons ground ﬂaxseed; 1 scoop brown rice protein; 1∕2

banana; 6 ice cubes; and 8 ounces plain organic Greek yogurt.

Sneaky stuff: vegetable pastas, sticks and chips

Real deal: These seemingly healthy carbs are often colored with beet or spinach juice, made

primarily of wheat or rice ﬂour and have virtually no vegetable content. Though some vegetable

chips claim that one serving of them can count as a serving of vegetables, the fried varieties add,

on average, 9 grams of fat and 125 more calories than a serving of most fresh vegetables, says

Susan Hayman, R.D., a Louisville, Ky.-based dietitian.

Healthy hints: If you’re craving crunch, snack on freeze-dried vegetables like wasabi peas or on

raw crudités. Or make your own veggie chips or sticks by drizzling thin slices of fresh vegetables

with olive oil and baking them at 375° F for 15 to 20 minutes. For a pasta alternative, stick to

whole-wheat options. “It triples the amount of dietary ﬁber you get in most vegetable pasta,”

says Hayman.

Sneaky stuff: dried fruits

Real deal: When fruit is dried, we still beneﬁt from its ﬁber. But because the drying process

removes a lot of water, the parched produce becomes a concentrated source of sugar. Added

sugar or juice (common with fruits that are naturally more tart, such as cranberries) can equal

even more calories in a smaller portion size as well. Dried fruit can be hard to digest, too; many

brands add sulfur as a preserving agent, which can cause bloating and gas.

Healthy hints: Opt for “no sugar added” varieties, or reach for pitted prunes and organic raisins,

apples, apricots, tart cherries and mangos, which are often dried without sugar since they don’t

usually need it to reinforce their natural sweetness. (Organic options are not coated in sulfur.)

And keep in mind that one dried apricot (two pieces) still equals one apricot, even though it’s

much smaller; portion out a reasonable serving so you don’t go overboard.

Sneaky stuff: agave nectar

Real deal: Though this sugar alternative may be lower on the glycemic index than, say, white

sugar or honey, agave contains more fructose—a type of sugar found in fruit that the body

doesn’t digest as easily as fruit. If consumed in high quantities, it may be stored more easily as

fat in the body.

Healthy hints: Because agave is sweeter than table sugar, you can use less. When choosing any

sugar, go organic, and as often as you can, try to “borrow” sweetness from natural sources like

sweet potatoes and berries in a recipe. In lieu of agave, Reardon likes blending 1∕2 gram of

stevia with 1∕4 teaspoon cane sugar—or using Sun Crystals, which mixes them for you.

Reprinted, Originally by Kristina Grish