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

[mom2grace]

We stopped HFCS in January, except for my Coke and Dr Pepper. I finally gave those up a few weeks ago. What I've noticed is that I no longer crave a Coke mid-afternoon like I used to (every single day, I would want one - and more often than not, I would give in). I'm hoping someday I will not even want the cane sugar/sucrose sodas - and you give me hope.

I continued to crave coke for several months, and would have sips of DH's. I went hard core on the izze's, but they are expensive! Then goose island makes a cane sugar root beer that I could get at Costco........and slowly all of that went away.

I also really liked the carbonation, and drank La Croix water for years. I did that as I quit coke, but now don't even need that!

Take it slow.......have a drink when you need one.......my 2 experiences with Dr. Pepper making me crazy and Coke making me literally ILL helped a lot!

You can do it! But, I don't know how anyone quits smoking!

 

[floridafam]

We are starting to get rid of anything with HFCS.

I believe Honey Combs are HFCS free. We did find some Nature's Own bread without HFCS.

I really need to stop drinking Coke as I think that would help me feel better but I can't seem to stop. I'm sure I'll keep trying.

My DH drinks vitamin water on occasion and it has "crystalline sugar' or something like that that was mentioned earlier in this thread and I guess that is just another name for HFCS.

 

[mom2grace]

It sounds like you're doing all the right things! I bet you'll see a big difference in your cholesterol and blood pressure at your next physical. I'm mildly overweight because of challenges with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), but I work out daily and eat a healthy diet...and my heartrate, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels now show it. And franky, after fighting the "PCOS pounds" for so many years, I'm happy with my body. Will I be wearing a bikini anytime soon - NOPE - but that's alright in my book! I feel great and can lap WDW without getting tired! And girl...137 pounds at 5'6" sounds pretty darn skinny to me! LOL!!

I really do the right things, but I don't look like I did when I was 18!! And I know I probably won't ever get there, and it probably wouldn't be healthy anyway! At this point, I want to have strong bones as I age, and not be carrying extra weight. My kids are only 4 & 6, so I have a long way to go with them! I do not obsess about eating, and have chocolate every day.

I do have several friends who are super slim, but I just figure they must never eat and that would be no fun!

 

[DisneyJan]

Do you guys find decent hot dog or hamburger buns? The ones at Trader Joes were really heavy and not at all soft, didn't even seem appealing to me, and my kids sure wouldn't eat them.

Aunt Millie's Deluxe Whole Grain Hamburger Buns do not have HFCS and they are soft.

Does anyone know where to get whole grain bagels? I get them at Trader Joe's but they do not always have them in stock.

 

[elgerber]

Aunt Millie's Deluxe Whole Grain Hamburger Buns do not have HFCS and they are soft.

Does anyone know where to get whole grain bagels? I get them at Trader Joe's but they do not always have them in stock.

What stores have you found those at? I think I am at a disadvantage, the only stores near me are chain grocers, Super Target, Super Walmart and Cub. I had to drive a ways to even get to Trader Joes.

 

[DisneyJan]

What stores have you found those at? I think I am at a disadvantage, the only stores near me are chain grocers, Super Target, Super Walmart and Cub. I had to drive a ways to even get to Trader Joes.

Sams and Meijers.

 

[wowsmom]

I continued to crave coke for several months, and would have sips of DH's. I went hard core on the izze's, but they are expensive! Then goose island makes a cane sugar root beer that I could get at Costco........and slowly all of that went away.

I also really liked the carbonation, and drank La Croix water for years. I did that as I quit coke, but now don't even need that!

Take it slow.......have a drink when you need one.......my 2 experiences with Dr. Pepper making me crazy and Coke making me literally ILL helped a lot!

You can do it! But, I don't know how anyone quits smoking!

Thanks for the encouragement!

In my teens and 20s, I would easily drink 2 or 3 Super Big Gulps every day. Oh, and I was 5'6" and about 120 lbs.

Now I have my kosher Coke at lunchtime only (and maybe once a week, a glass in the afternoon)...so it's better than it used to be. If we eat out, I have water or milk - unless we go to Panera, and then I will have a Jones soda (cane sugar).

I really do think that eventually, I will no longer "need" the sodas, like I do now. Hope it's true!

 

[elgerber]

I just came back from Super Target, and all of the sudden they had several breads without HFCS. Last week they didn't have any. I couldn't believe how many I found, even a white bread (not very soft though). Bakery wheat hamburger buns without it also. Still can't find any hot dog buns.

Also, they had Thomas brand whole grain bagels, without it also, for the person who asked.

 

[wowsmom]

Also, they had Thomas brand whole grain bagels, without it also, for the person who asked.

Hmmm, very interesting. I used to eat these last year and stopped when the HFCS was pointed out to me.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I found some great ones in the refridgerated section, sorta by the cottage cheeses.

It's called the "Alternative Bagel", Sweet Wheat. It's fat free, sugar free (no HFCS). Each bagel has 8 (!) grams of fiber, and they're smallish, so only 110 calories (yes, that's for both halves).

Here's info http://www.westernbagel.com/

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I just bought Boylans Soda. It is so good! It has no nfcs, no preservatives, no artifical colors or dyes, no gluten and no sodium. It is sweetened with cane juice. I bought the vanilla creme and the cola flavor. DH and the kids tried the vanilla and they love it! It is a nice treat. It is a bit expensive but worth every penny IMO.

 

[happycampers]

Thanks for all the info on HFCS everyone. DD13 and I were just in our Target store checking out the food aisles in search of snacks for the kids without HFCS or hydrogenated oils. I was surprised at some of the things that didn't them. (for example: at least one flavor of Doritos and Yogos Rolls, not the bits)

We picked up:
Archer Farms Organic Fruit Strips (had them in the past and knew the kids liked them)
Fruitabu Apple Fruit Twirls (didn't expect to find those)
Back to Nature Honey Graham Sticks
Annie's Bunny Grahams
Quaker Caramel Corn Rice Cakes

There was a brand of fruit snack (not strip/roll fruit) called Florida's Natural, I believe which sounded good. One of the ingredients was carnauba wax, though. Some of the other ones didn't have HFCS either, which surprised me, but they too have the wax. Carnauba wax just doesn't sound like a food ingredient to me. Anyone have info on that one? (Sorry if I missed it, but I'm still slowly working my way through all the previous posts.)

I'll need to try some of those breads that have been recommended.

Thanks for all the tips. I'm gonna be reading labels a lot more.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I forgot to add in case (sorry if this is a repeat) that Stop and SHop has a brand now Nature's Promise that is all organic and the foods that I have tried were really good. Their jellies taste so good and no hfcs either.

 

[ohiominnie]

Carnauba wax just doesn't sound like a food ingredient to me. Anyone have info on that one?

Probably more than you wanted to know:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnauba_wax

 

[nairv]

i love dannon activia yogurts and i noticed that they have "fructose syrup" as an ingredient...anyone know what this is? is it another way of saying HFCS?

jams: for anyone shopping at price chopper (northeast) their central market brand of jams is excellent and HFCS free

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I buy either Horizons Organic, or Stony Brook Farms Organic. They come in the larger tubs, so variety is limited. I've just started buying the vanilla (plain is just too sour for my taste). DD5 loves the flavor, and we mix Uncle Sam cereal into the yogurt and she loves it. (great source of fiber and flax).

 

[happycampers]

Did anyone see that independent documentary film on PBS last night? I believe the name was King Corn. I didn't see the beginning, but what I did see was very interesting. Two men rented an acre in Iowa and farmed a corn crop on it and documented the whole process and had interviews with other farmers and other people in the agriculture industry.

Eye Opener: They called someone (don't know who or where) and got the "recipe"/formula to make HFCS, and made it in the kitchen. One of the ingredients in this process was SULFURIC ACID! (The package had corrosive label warnings and all.)

Check out www.pbs.org/independentlens/kingcorn/

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I really want to see the movie. I've heard it's excellent. I'm thinking about buying it on Amazon.

If I do that, I'd be happy to mail it to someone else on this list, as long as they'd do the same (mail it to another list person). Maybe we could make sure anyone who's interested gets a chance to see this.

 

[bookgirl]

I buy either Horizons Organic, or Stony Brook Farms Organic. They come in the larger tubs, so variety is limited. I've just started buying the vanilla (plain is just too sour for my taste). DD5 loves the flavor, and we mix Uncle Sam cereal into the yogurt and she loves it. (great source of fiber and flax).

My mom thinks I'm out of my mind. I put cereal in my yogurt and eat it. Granted, it's not always granola type, usually either Kashi Go Lean or Grape Nuts, but I really like cereal in yogurt. Usually Vanilla for me as well. The plain is too much like sourcream or something. Ick, not breakfasty at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

mmm, cereal in yogurt. done it since i was a child. grape nuts is a fave!

"glucose syrup" is another name for HFCS, but I don't know about fructose syrup. hmm.

wow, while trying to find "fructose syrup", I saw a mention that UK studies are theorizing that HFCS is what is causing the increase in cases of gout. We have a friend with gout, and he is the "Coke fanatic" I've mentioned here before who verified the change from sugar in the 80s...oh boy, he's NOT going to like this.