Ever hear of Wawa? It’s one of those places that I thought was everywhere, only to realize pretty late in life is only in my immediate area (it’s actually embarrassing how often that happens to me). Wawa is a convenience store/gas station with really delicious food. Their sandwiches are made to order, and they’re really, really good. They have breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, fabulous coffee… you know, lots of stuff you’d find at a convenience store. It’s also really clean and smells great. Just a good vibe all around at Wawa.
Today I went there (really, just to take a break in the day) and thought, oh, I’ll just get a Paleo-friendly pulled pork and mashed potato bowl. It was, predictably, quite yummy. Because I was curious, when I got back to work I decided to Google the ingredients. It had a few preservatives, but overall, not too bad. But then I kept reading various ingredients listings on their website.
They have these really good sandwiches around November/Thanksgiving-time called Gobblers. It’s not like they seem healthful…they have turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy… I mean, they’re obviously a splurge, calorie-wise. But while researching today, I started to see just how bad they really are. Allow me to share the ingredients in Wawa’s “Hot Turkey.” Not the sandwich, mind you…just the meat.
HOT TURKEY INGREDIENTS:
SEASONED ROASTED TURKEY BREAST STRIPS CARAMEL COLOR ADDED (COOKED TURKEY BREAST, TURKEY BROTH, SALT, TURKEY FLAVOR (TURKEY BROTH, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, TOCOPHEROL, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID) SODIUM PHOSPHATE, MODIFIED POTATO STARCH, SEASONING (FLAVOR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SALT, SUGAR, YEAST EXTRACT, ASCORBIC ACID), CARAGEENAN, CARAMEL COLOR), WATER, 2% OR LESS OF MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CHICKEN FAT, SEASONING (MALTODEXTRIN, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, SALT, CHICKEN FAT, DRIED CHICKEN BROTH, FLAVORING, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF DRIED CHICKEN, DRIED TURKEY BROTH, SUGAR), BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, CHICKEN FLAVOR (YEAST EXTRACT, CHICKEN POWDER, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, L-METHIONINE), BUTTER (CREAM, SALT), SEASONING (AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, CALCIUM LACTATE, LACTIC ACID), SEASONING (CHICKEN BROTH, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHICKEN FAT, SALT, SILICON DIOXIDE), CHICKEN FAT FLAVOR (CHICKEN FAT, FLAVORS, CHICKEN BROTH), SOYBEAN OIL, SALT, DEHYDRATED ONIONS, YEAST EXTRACT, SUGAR, SEASONING (HYDROLYZED SOY AND CORN PROTEIN, SALT), SEASONING (MALTODEXTRIN, SUNFLOWER OIL, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, CANOLA OIL, FLAVORING, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT), SEASONING (MALTODEXTRIN, NONFAT DRY MILK, SALT, BUTTER (CREAM, ANNATTO), ENZYME MODIFIED MILK FAT, ASCORBIC ACID, CALCIUM LACTATE, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, FLAVORING, LACTIC ACID, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SODIUM CASEINATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE), SPICES, NATURAL FLAVORING, DATEM, DISODIUM INOSINATE AND DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, CARAMEL COLOR..
I mean… it’s horrifying. It makes me never want to eat out at a restaurant ever again. You think you’re safe, ordering something like “turkey.” You think you are, but then for whatever reasoning you’re ingesting all these unpronounceable chemicals and additives. They add TURKEY FLAVOR to TURKEY. Shouldn’t turkey already taste like turkey? What is happening to this world?
I think I mentioned before how impressed I was that Turkey Hill released an all-natural ice cream with just four ingredients – milk, cream, sugar and cocoa. I just saw a commercial the other day for a cookie company bragging the same thing, with cookies that had a few simple ingredients and no preservatives. But aren’t we missing the point here? Shouldn’t the simple, all natural things be the norm and not the novelty?
Ugh, sorry for the rant. Sorry that these past few posts have been rant-y/whiny. I’m just so cognizant of food ingredients now. And clearly, my safest course of action is to just buy my own food and make my own lunch and trust no restaurant or convenience store. I guess I’m frustrated that I have to do that. I should be able to order turkey and know that I’m eating… turkey. Just meat, pure and simple.
Ute update: AF due tomorrow. Ever do that thing where you try to “outrun” your period? I swear, driving home from work today I looked at the clock and thought, oh, it’s 5:30, she doesn’t have much time to get here. As though if she’s late, that means I’m somehow pregnant. As if there’s a giant hourglass somewhere keeping time and if she doesn’t arrive before time runs out, that’s somehow a ‘win’ for me. Ah, the infertile mind.
I don’t feel pregnant. I had a really promising itchy nip episode on Saturday night that sent my hopes into a tailspin, but other than that… just cramps and moodiness and general feeling of “so not pregnant.” Blah. Sorry to be such a downer. Between the turkey and the impending AF along with all her superbitch hormones, it’s been a rough coupla days.