Sugar, Sugar--Remembering the Archies

Journal Entry Wednesday, August 26, 2009: Weight = 171.6; Coinage = $1.45, 30 pennies, 1 nickel, 1 dime, 4 quarters; Glass bottles = 11; Ground Score = 3; Recycled shirts = 2.
Jounral Entry Friday, August 28, 2009: Coinage = $1.55; 15 pennies, 3 nickels, 5 dimes, 3 quarters; Glass bottles = 8; Ground Scoes = 3; Best coinage find = 2 quarters and one penny found in a discarded travel case. There is was on the curb, a partially unzipped suitcase, obviously discarded. A quick peek inside revealed the change.

Feature Entry: Remembering the Archies:

Ah sugar, ah honey honey
you are my candy girl
and you got me wanting you
Oh honey honey, sugar sugar..............
You are my candy girl

While checking the drive through at McDonalds, the loudspeaker asked, “How many sugars and cremes with your coffee? I wanted to answer for the driver, “None thank you!” The American Heart Association (AHA) are social marketing experts and they have helped us avoid over consuming the two bad fats: Saturated fat found in fatty meat, ice cream, and butter; and, Trans fat, those immoral fats found in cookies, crackers, French fries, and donuts. Concurrently, they have taught us to eat the good fats like olive oil, legumes, and nuts. These champions help keep our arteries pliable and elastic while the Trans fats harden them.

Now they have added another mantra. In addition to “keep it fat-free,” they now remind us that “It’s the sugar stupid!” It was time AHA, until now you folks have been noticeably timid regarding sugar intake. About your only advice has been to “minimize” our intake of beverages and foods with added sugars.

The MoneyWalker is happy to report the change. Yes, the AHA has declared war on sugar. They now recommend that women should not consume more than 100 calories, about six teaspoons a day, men no more than 8 or 9 packs. To put that number in perspective, 2004 data indicate that Americans consumed 22 teaspoons of sugar daily, essentially 350 calories from sugar along. Most think that we have increased the intake in 2009.

Sugar is everywhere, not just in our coffee. Soft drinks and other sugar sweetened drinks are the main sources. Many whole grain breakfast cereals are high in sugar. Fat-free frozen yogurt is an enemy. Cereal bars are the enemy. Low-fat cookies are the enemy. And watch out for these Trojan horses: honey, brown sugar, raw sugar, tubinado, molasses, corn syrup, and high fructose corn syrup.

How bad is just one 20-ounce non-diet soft drink? A = 100 calories, B = 150 calories, C = 200 calories, D = 250 calories. The answer D, 250 calories in just one innocent soft drink; that is 21 packs of sugar. One Big Gulp wipes out an entire one hour fitness walk.

Folks it’s time to join the MoneyWalker and declare war on sugar. Say no to the Archies and all that sugar.

"More coffee?"
"Yes please!"
"Sugar? Creme?"
"No thank you!"

MoneyWalker