Food additives and labelling: what's really in your "healthy" food?

“Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognise as food.” Michael Pollan.

It’s a quote I hear often - and for good reason.

🏷️ The Confusing World of Food Labels

One thing I find myself rabbiting on about (a lot!) is how confusing the food industry can be when it comes to marketing and labelling.

If I decide to head to a fast-food chain and order a triple cheeseburger with fries and a fizzy drink, I would know exactly what I’m doing.

Same goes for a night out featuring several glasses of wine. These aren’t surprise unhealthy choices - they’re conscious ones.

But what about when you’re trying to make a healthy choice?

That’s where things get tricky.

🌯 The “Healthy” Trap

All too often, you can be browsing the supermarket shelves, doing your best to pick the “better” option - the wrap with green packaging, the energy bar covered in pictures of nuts and seeds, the oat milk with the eye-catching slogan.

It all looks so wholesome… until you look at the back of the packet and find it’s packed with sugar, additives, and a chemistry set’s worth of extras.

This is why reading labels matters. Even everyday foods can be far from what they appear.

🧂 Common Additives to Watch For

Many packaged foods contain hidden additives such as:

• Added sugars

• Preservatives

• Emulsifiers

• Anti-caking agents

• Bulking agents

• Flavour enhancers (like MSG)

• GMOs

• Added salt

• Artificial colourings

• Thickeners

• Stabilisers

Quick Tip: Ingredients are always listed in order of quantity - from most to least.

If sugar or salt is near the top, it’s a red flag.

💡 Why Are They There?

These additives are used to give foods longer shelf life, better texture, more appeal.

These ingredients make food look and taste more appealing, sometimes even addictive, while often reducing nutritional value.

Some additives have been linked to issues such as ADHD, allergies, asthma, cognitive decline, obesity, and other long term health conditions.

Not every additive is harmful, but the overall impact of an ultra-processed diet can take a serious toll on your wellbeing.

🧁 “Low-Fat” or “Free-From” doesn't always equal healthy

Labels like “low-fat”, “sugar-free” or “gluten-free” can sound healthy, but this is often not the case.

When something is removed, something else is usually added to keep the product tasty or textured - often sweeteners, emulsifiers, or thickeners your body doesn’t need.

Always check the ingredients.

📖 The Food Diary Reality Check

When I work with clients, I always insist on a food diary so I can see exact dietary intake.

The first thing I often hear is:

“My diet’s actually pretty good… I don’t know why I’m stuck.”

Then I look at the diary - and it usually contains foods designed to trick us into thinking we’re eating well.

Clever packaging and marketing make it far too easy to be fooled by what looks healthy.

🥗 Eat Real, Feel Real

The good news is: it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Try to prioritise whole foods - the ones that don’t need an ingredients label at all:

• Fresh fruit and veg

• Nuts and seeds

• Whole grains

• Eggs

• Fish

• Lean meats

• Herbs and spices

• Legumes

Start small. Maybe this month you swap sugary cereal for porridge and berries, or two slices of white toast for scrambled eggs on a piece of sourdough.

You don’t need perfection - just awareness. Every mindful choice counts.

🌸 Final Thought

Food is your fuel, and the quality of that fuel affects how your body runs - your energy, focus, mood, motivation, sleep, and long-term health.

So start today. Even one swap can make you feel better from the inside out. 💚

✨ Key Takeaways

• Always read the ingredients.

• Remember: real food doesn’t need a label.

• Watch for sneaky additives in “healthy” snacks.

• Choose progress, not perfection.

If you want help taking a deeper dive into transforming your health and what might be making you feel 'stuck', let’s chat. Book a discovery call with me. 💥