This is the second part of a multiple-part series on educated consumerism. To read the first post in this series, click here.
Now that you know the basics of where to begin and how you can help shift the tide, it's important to stay ahead of the curve. Brands are changing overnight, and if you forget to take a closer look every now and again, you'll be surprised to learn that the company you love is no longer what it once claimed to be.
Here are some tips to help get you started :)
1. Don't Be Duped!
The second you see a commercial for a skincare or food-related product, stop buying it. Think about it: how often do you see a commercial for a product that is actually good for you? I really began paying attention to this after seeing a Kashi commercial about 9 years ago. Kashi was the only cereal I ate for years for its clean ingredients and company values. After seeing the commercial, however, a red flag arose in my mind. To my surprise, a google search revealed the sale of Kashi to Kellogg and—not to my surprise—when I went to review the ingredients, they certainly contained new GMOs and other not-so-good-for-you items. This was the first time I truly understood that I have to stay on top of brands, even those I love, as companies are changing faster than we realize. Tip: Organic brands owned by corporations often have little say in how their parent company makes decisions, often resulting in a loss of their original values. Here's an informative infographic to give you an idea of just how many organic brands are corporation-owned.
2. Look Beyond Labels
3. Know Your Ingredients.
Know the top 10 NON-GMO foods to avoid, the Dirty Dozen, the Clean 15, the most toxic ingredients, etc. Do a Google search to help educate yourself and learn to trust your common sense. If an ingredient or message feels odd to you, trust your gut! Tip: For a list of ingredients to watch out for, check out our free e-book.
4. Love is Not Blind!
Don't get carried away by beautiful ads, pretty packaging, or hefty prices. What looks great or expensive isn't always great for you! Remember larger companies spend a lot on psychological research as it's their job to market and sell their products to us. It's our job as consumers to decide where we place our trust. If a product is truly good for us, and a company believes in what they are doing, why would they need to spend millions on research and advertising to convince us to trust them? Show these companies that you're an educated consumer and don't fall for their marketing ploys! Tip: Why would an organic company not support GMO-labeling if they have nothing to hide?
