Moved from the Budget Board: anyone else eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup

[bumbershoot]

I just read my Cheerios label and it does no list HFCS, but it does list corn starch??? Same thing or not?

diz

They aren't the same thing. Even "corn syrup" seems to be different than "high fructose corn syrup".

But if there's an overall corn issue/allergy, then cornstarch is a problem.

 

[Mono~rail]

After reading a little bit of this thread once it was started, I researched HFCS for myself, and I was really creeped out that we had been eating that junk. I didn't throw anything out, but I stopped buying foods that listed it as an ingredient. I was really happy to see that we didn't have very much with it to begin with.

I had been buying the Nature's Own bread anyway before I did the research just because we liked it.

It was probably about a month and a half ago that we stopped eating it. A few days ago, dh told me he needs a new belt because his is too big. The ONLY thing he has changed in his diet is eliminating HFCS. I think he was skeptical, but now he is a believer.

It wasn't a difficult transition at all. Dh went to the store today to pick up some BBQ sauce, and he said they all had HFCS listed except for the Kroger brand so that is what he bought.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I just learned that Crystalline Fructose is most likely the same thing as HFCS. So one more ingredient to be on the look out for.

I'm glad to hear that the Kroger BBQ sauce is safe. I was going to check out Whole Foods for one, but I have a Kroger 1 mile from me.

I'm glad to hear about weight loss from this simple elimination.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I am not very computer savy, so I don't know how to do this or even if it can be done, but, since there are so many of us interested in trying to cut back or eliminate HFCS, is there a way we can make list when we find a food that does not have it as an ingredient? If enough people find a couple of items and add it to the list, it will save us all a lot of time reading labels.

I just read my Cheerios label and it does no list HFCS, but it does list corn starch??? Same thing or not?

diz

I'm keeping a list at http://www.stophfcs.com/list.html

I see the poster below you listed a bunch of stuff and I will get those new items onto my updated list.

Bought some terrific Swedish jams at IKEA that were just fruit, sugar and pectin.

 

[Mono~rail]

Bought some terrific Swedish jams at IKEA that were just fruit, sugar and pectin.

Thanks for that! One of my dds likes pb&j sandwiches. My mom makes homemade jams and jellies so I've been using that. We have an IKEA in Houston so next time we go I'll pick up some of their jams.

Here's a short list of HFCS free foods I've found:

Kroger Apple Dapples
Post Honey Bunches of Oats
Great Value fruit and cream instant oatmeal
Kroger coctail sauce
Kroger BBQ sauce
Betty Crocker cake icing

ETA: My dd14 said she likes the Kroger apple dapples better than the "real" apple jacks. I can't remember if the Apple Jacks had HFCS or not. The Apple Dapples were on sale so I went with those. I enjoy bran flakes, but I've had to give them up because I couldn't find any that are HFCS free. Anyone know of any?

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Thanks Mono~rail for the list. I've added it to the website.

Has anyone figured out stuffing yet? I used to by stove top, but that has HFCS in it. I'm almost tempted to make my own stuffing from "safe" bread, but I'm clueless on how to do this? Any suggestions?

 

[java]

Stuffing is easy- Rip up your bread. In a pan melt a stick of butter- saute up some scallions. Add a cracked and slightly beaten egg to your bread- Spices-I do Sage/Margaram/Thyme and pepper and salt. Add the butter. Then add chicken stock until you get the wetness factor you like(we like it mushy)
DONE! You can even add some apples for the holidays if you like(I would dice them up skinless and saute them in the pan with the scallions.

Also a trick to test your stuffing taste- take a spoonfull of it and fry it up in a pan with a little butter- Taste!- that wil tell you if you need more salt or more spices.

You can do it it is soooo easy!

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Can you mix your breads? For example, right now I have a whole wheat and a sour dough?

Thanks for the instructions. I think I'll be able to do this!

 

[Mono~rail]

I have some more that aren't on your list, kinglouis.

Kroger peanut butter
Nestle Coffe-mate flavored coffee creamers
Great Value apple juice boxes
Minute Maid Pineapple Orange Banana juice
Kroger Snackin' Cheese (cheese in a squirt can) dd14 eats this
Kraft Jet Puff marshmallows
A-1 Steak sauce
Martha White muffin mix
Betty Crocker cake mixes
Kroger mac-n-cheese

ETA: I make some of our bread homemade. Our fav is the Outback Steakhouse Bushmans Honey Brown bread. I can give the recipe if others are interested.

I've seen Rachael Ray use muffins for her stuffing.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can mix your breads.

Just make sure they are stale.

There are SO many ways to make stuffing/dressing...

 

[Iott Family]

I have some more that aren't on your list, kinglouis.

Kroger peanut butter
Nestle Coffe-mate flavored coffee creamers
Great Value apple juice boxes
Minute Maid Pineapple Orange Banana juice
Kroger Snackin' Cheese (cheese in a squirt can) dd14 eats this
Kraft Jet Puff marshmallows
A-1 Steak sauce
Martha White muffin mix
Betty Crocker cake mixes
Kroger mac-n-cheese

ETA: I make some of our bread homemade. Our fav is the Outback Steakhouse Bushmans Honey Brown bread. I can give the recipe if others are interested.

I've seen Rachael Ray use muffins for her stuffing.

I would love this recipe for the bread as well as any other recipe. I do have a bread machine but its been collecting dust so any recipes with directions that are dumbed down would be soooo appreciated. My DH was diagnosed 16 months ago with type2 diabetes so its been a long journey to healthier choices. I am following this thread with enthusiam!

Cari

 

[powellrj]

I don't have it in front of me, but I found stuffing mix without HFCS. It was a private label brand that was on sale for $1.00. I have found that if you get the original or traditional flavors of things they tend not to have HFCS in them. The original BBQ sauce is HFCS free, but the ones that are flavored aren't. The same with pasta sauces. The traditional ones are OK, but the ones with the extras have HFCS.

It really has become easier than I thought it would be.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I would love this recipe for the bread as well as any other recipe. I do have a bread machine but its been collecting dust so any recipes with directions that are dumbed down would be soooo appreciated.
Cari

Me too! And I second on the dumbed down part!

(Thx Mono-Rail for the additional items you listed)

 

[Mono~rail]

We have been gone all day, but I will post the bread recipe first thing in the morning. It is as easy as saying your ABC's to make. It won't be the cute little tiny loaves (which can be made; it just takes a bit more work).

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I'm keeping a list at http://www.stophfcs.com/list.html

Thank you for this list. I am very much interested in getting rid of the HFCS from our diet. How sad that when I took stock of our pantry, most of it did have the HFCS. That will change.

I have a question about the corn syrup alone. If it has just corn syrup or just sugarIt is okay, it is when there is that plus glucose, fruitose,or dextrose we should stay away?

 

[Princess_Michelle]

Trader Joes has stuffing without HFCS!!

 

[wowsmom]

Can you mix your breads? For example, right now I have a whole wheat and a sour dough?

Thanks for the instructions. I think I'll be able to do this!

I always make my stuffing with a mixture of whole wheat and sourdough breads.

 

[Mono~rail]

I have a question about the corn syrup alone. If it has just corn syrup or just sugarIt is okay, it is when there is that plus glucose, fruitose,or dextrose we should stay away?

High fructose corn syrup will be listed in the ingredients and it will look exactly like that. It is not the same as corn syrup, sugar, glucose, fructose, or dextrose. Those are all sugars, and they are fine. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

Here are some articles to help you understand what the problem with HFCS is.

http://www.westonaprice.org/motherlinda/cornsyrup.html

http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/18/FDGS24VKMH1.DTL

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Thanks! I will be reading all the articles in just a bit.

My youngest will thank you too when he realizes that we can keep the Princess Cereal. It corn syrup & dextrose in the marshmallows and sugar & corn syrup in the oat part.
My boys are totally on board for this and spent the morning going over ingredients and tossed a few things already.
Now, to just my DH to go along with the flow. There doesn't seem to be anything he needs to have to snack on that has the HFCS, so we should be okay.


Have you noticed a sharp increase in your grocery bill or does it even itself out because you aren't eating as much as before?

 

[kfeuer]

Have you noticed a sharp increase in your grocery bill or does it even itself out because you aren't eating as much as before?

I haven't seen any increase. I've shopped alot at Trader Joes lately and their prices are very reasonable.