SOFAS -- New Dietary Acronym

When it comes to your diet, there’s a new acronym in town – SOFAS. Coined by the U.S.D.A., SOFAs stands for Solid Fats and Added Sugars. The first time I saw this term was in Mark Bittman’s op-ed in The New York Times on February 8, 2011. In his article, Bittman discusses the U.S.D.A.’s recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, in which Americans are advised to eat “less food and more fresh foods.” However, Bittman took the U.S.D.A. to task because they couched (forgive the pun) their language so as not to offend food processors, many of whom in his opinion provide food that is a far cry from the real thing.

And so, to take the more positive slant on this, we should follow the U.S.D.A’s recommendation to eat less solid fats and added sugars. However, they may need to be a little more explicit in defining SOFAS to help us find this information when we’re peering over food labels. Most of us have seen trans fats on packaging for prepared foods but not solid fats and added sugars.

In any event, there are now two ways in which SOFAs can inspire you to better health. The first is to reduce your consumption of fats and sugars, and the second is to get up off your sofas and engage in some PA – that’s physical activity for those not in the know about that little acronym.

- Sharron