Is it okay if I'm a little disgruntled with all the "Low Carb" advertising?

[#1 DOUG Live Fan]

It's not that I'm upset about people choosing a low carb diet....It's just that suddenly restaurants and food suppliers are all jumping on the bandwagon, and they proudly display their low carb fare. Do you know how difficult it is to shop or eat out when you have a food allergy? You have to read every label to be sure you aren't getting something harmful. Some select companies have labeled their goods clearly in bold with allergy contents saying "Contains: Wheat, Soy, Milk...", but most companies don't do this. Some ingredients are ambiguous, too, which makes it difficult to determine as to whether a food is safe or not.

I guess I just feel a little cheated because they spend all this money advertising, right on the front of their product no less, that their product is "Low Carb!", and they can't even label their ingredients clear enough with allergy contents to help those who are in danger of becoming extremely ill.

Just my humble opinion,

Liz

 

[Hercules10]

Worse, there is no standard that determines "Low Carb". The product could have 50g of it and still proclaim to be low carb because they reduced it from 51g.

 

[newholiday]

I noticed that even my lowfat/ lowsugar jello now says lowcarb/low sugar. I had to doublecheck to make sure it was still the lowfat kind!

 

[disykat]

We have food allergies and I read every label. I'll still do it no matter what dietary claims they make on the front. "new and improved", " lo carb", "high fiber", I don't care, I'm still reading. I guess I don't get what difference it makes. Advertisers will always try for their niche in the market - there aren't enough people with food allergies to merit advertising toward us.

 

[Robinrs]

It's all about money, Liz....

In Atlanta it seems if you don't offer low carb, you're crazy. The boom is crazy here! Try finding one low carb item, you'll just about find an empty shelf.

Smart marketers know that there's a major demand for this now, I guess mostly because it's still the beginning of the year and lots of people are sticking to their resolutions.

The show "Low Carb Revolution" pointed out that certain high carb industries are truly hurting because of this trend, so if they do jump into the frey you can't quite blame them. It's all a matter of money.

Hercules, true low carbers are quite knowledgable and count net carbs like low fat people count fat grams. If they just say it's low carb without the number it won't be successful.

 

[Hercules10]

Originally posted by Robinrs
Hercules, true low carbers are quite knowledgable and count net carbs like low fat people count fat grams. If they just say it's low carb without the number it won't be successful.

Actually for a product to say "Low Fat" it must meet a certain standard so people won't be mislead (or have to count). That was mandated by the FDA back when a "Low Fat" diets were all the rage.

That hasn't happened with "Low carb" yet....yet

 

[Growin'upDisney]

I agree!! I think this has gotten out of hand. It's everywhere. Last night Carls Jr. ran an ad for a "Low Carb Six Dollar Burger" i.e. no bun Looked kind of weird to me and I am disappointed that so many companies have jumped on this "fad". I understand that it works great for some people. But those people who are watching carbs know what is low carb and what isn't. Why tell the rest of us who don't care??

 

[FINFAN]

It's making my life miserable! LOL! basically DH says there REALLY is no excuse now to not lose weight....low carb has made it convenient. I tried it for about 5 days, thought I was gonna pass out! ZERO energy, crabby....I need to lose weight the opd fashioned way...get off of my computer chair and start exercising! I hope to get a lap top ine day so I can DIS while on the treadmill...actually, at the prices of all the low carb items, it just might add up to the cost of a laptop!
I give you Atkins followers credit, I don't know how you do it!

 

[littlegreydonkey]

I was speaking to a diet expert the other day who was saying that it's all going to go horribly wrong - just like when we all started eating low fat foods (many of which were as high in calories) and felt we were therefore justified in eating more of them, that low carb will go the same way. I appreciate that many people do it properly but there's a lot of people who are going to say 'I'm going low carb' eat all the fake food and wonder why the weight's going on, not coming off. Although I admit, I wish we had it where I live, I aim for low carb about 70% of the time and eat what I like the rest of it (which works for me) and would love to be able to go to Subway for a wrap at lunchtime.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Originally posted by newholiday
I noticed that even my lowfat/ lowsugar jello now says lowcarb/low sugar. I had to doublecheck to make sure it was still the lowfat kind!

Jello is fat free. Always has been. Perhaps you are thinking of Jello brand pudding?

 

[disykat]

I was going to comment on the jello thing too. Jello put "nonfat" on it's label to join the low fat craze. They've just changed it to advertise the latest craze - sugar free jello has always been lowcarb.

 

[Manda1219]

I don't care what anyone says, I refuse to believe that the Low Carb thing is healthy. EDITED TO ADD: Not that people who do it in moderation are unhealthy, I'm talking about the people who do it to the extreme.
I get soo annoyed seeing huge banners strung across every restaurant advertising their low-carb menu options...

 

[BHFan25]

Since I'm trying to eat low carb foods, I find it real helpful. Also helps my father who has diabetes. He has to count carbs and NOT sugar. Sorry it is annoying to everyone.

 

[Manda1219]

Originally posted by BHFan25
Since I'm trying to eat low carb foods, I find it real helpful. Also helps my father who has diabetes. He has to count carbs and NOT sugar. Sorry it is annoying to everyone.

Ooo sure! go and make me feel bad!!! LOL
Honestly, the fact that it helps your father IS a good thing, but I'm sure you can understand why we get a little frustated seeing it everywhere...

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

My campus has them all over now as well...as do the fast food restaurants.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Manda1219: Maybe you don't have to be concerned about the carbs you eat, but some of us do. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 6 months ago and "counting carbs" has become a way of life for me now. Carbs are bad for diabetics. I LOVE all the restaurants who are offering low carb choices for people like me!!

 

[Manda1219]

Just to clarify:
I'm not against them offering low carb options at ALL. I'm merely frustrated that it has become the main focus. I've been to many restaurants in the past few months, and 95% of the waiters/waitresses have to show us the low carb menu as the specials. Now, I've already seen the gigantic banner, and since these menus are often on the first page, they're kind of hard to miss. I don't need to be reminded about the options before I eat too!
I'm happy they are accomodating the low carb diet, I just want them to stop shoving it down my throat! (Which is what the OP, as well as my post, is about, NOT about being mad because of the low-carb thing. I'm sorry if you misunderstood my post.)

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

I think it is great that my campus has hopped on the low-carb bandwagon because now students, faculty, as well as visiting parents have healthy options instead of thetypical campus food.

 

[arminnie]

I'm old enough to remember when it was first no sugar, then fat free and now the low carb thing. I refuse to eat fake foods period.

I do not care at all what others choose to eat but oh how I wish they would return the favor. The low carb people are driving me crazy because they TALK about it ALL of the time.

I am very happy for those who have found something that works for them, but why do they think the rest of us want to listen to the recap of what they can and can't eat. Just eat what you are going to eat and be quiet. If someone wants to know more they will ask.

I agree with Manda1219 "I just want them to stop shoving it down my throat!"

I've kept almost 50 pounds off for over 3 years - I am not about to change what is working for me nor do I want to change what is working for you. I never talk about why I am eating what I eat - I don't want to bore people to death.

 

[Jeafl]

I recently saw a huge banner across our Burger King saying they had a new low-carb menu. When I went in to see what it was all about, I found that it was a Whopper without the bun. A regular Whopper was $2.69, and a "low-carb" bunless whopper was $2.79! Thay charge you a dime for NOT giving you a bun! I think they ought to charge you LESS since they're not giving you the bun!