Pondering the Pantry
The Smart Shopper’s Guide
by JAY lEVINSON
When shopping for food, know what you are buying. Don’t be fooled by advertising and buy something you don’t really need or don’t even want! This book helps readers be smart shoppers instead of victims of marketing gimmicks. Obviously, there are too many items on store shelves for this book to be "complete." Rather, the idea is to provide representative product examples to increase awareness and give consumers a better idea of what they are buying and a product’s benefits. There is no such thing as a "best buy." Some shoppers look for quality. Others are motivated by nutrition. Price can be a very strong consideration, but not for everyone. The basic philosophy of this book is not to push readers into any specific direction. Rather, the intent is to make readers aware of what they are buying so they can make intelligent decisions and choose a healthier diet. There are two rules that apply to all consumers: (1) understand the label, both what is written and what is not, and (2) realize that the serving size on the label is probably not the portion size consumers really eat, so adjust the cost and nutrition information accordingly. Jay Levinson has a PhD from New York University. His career has been extremely diverse, working for the US Central Intelligence Agency and then in the forensic division of the Israel Police. For some ten years he ran a food co-op, gaining understanding about food distribution and sales. He has published six books and several hundred articles and has lectured in more than two dozen countries in four languages. The author has visited several dozen food and beverage production companies, both big and small, and interviewed their key personnel.
