Food Marketing: Myths, Buzzwords, and Fear-Based Messaging

The PedsDocTalk Podcast

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Kids & Family, Parenting

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 9 April 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Buzzwords like “non-GMO” and “all natural” can make a product appear like a good choice but with confusing marketing how do we curb the overwhelm and make good food decisions for our kids? Whether you're navigating snack aisles or Instagram reels, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who wants real, evidence-based guidance on feeding their family well. I’m joined by Dr. Adrian Chavez, who has a Ph.D. in Nutrition and Health Promotion, to discuss: How fear-based marketing and social media myths mislead parents. How to decode buzzwords like "organic" and "non-GMO" and make informed choices without the guilt. Practical, judgment-free tips to build healthy habits for your family—without the overwhelm. To connect with Dr. Adrian Chavez follow him on Instagram @dr.adrian.chavez and check out all his resources at https://dradrianchavez.com/ We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you! Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk. 00:00 – Meet Dr. Adrian Chavez 02:29 – How Adrian Got Into Nutrition (And Unlearning Misinformation) 05:14 – What Sparked His Social Media Mission 07:49 – Education vs. Debunking Online 10:00 – Social Media Fear Tactics and Food Shaming 13:12 – Is the “Healthier” Option Worth It? 16:15 – How to Spot Buzzwords and Misleading Labels 20:41 – The Reality of Organic Food Labels 21:00 – Marketing Tricks That Make Junk Food Look Healthy 24:05 – Why Education Beats Regulation 27:03 – Movement vs. Nutrition in Kids’ Health 29:07 – How Packaging & Characters Influence Kids’ Food Choices 31:56 – What Real Nutrition Education Should Feel Like 34:22 – Are There Hidden Additives in Kids’ Foods? 38:23 – Final Message: Start Small & Stay Consistent 43:05 – Where to Find Dr. Adrian Chavez We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I think a lot of people get lost in this and some of the information on social media because they make it seem like the industrialization and processing of food is this horrible thing that is like destroying our health.
0:13.9	Yes, we are eating too much of these some highly processed foods that are not very nutritious, but our health has improved as we've processed
0:21.6	these foods because, um, and created like new type like introduced GMOs and all of these food
0:28.5	technologies have actually helped to improve our health because of it increased access to food
0:32.5	for everyone. You see a lot of people say, we need to go back to what we were eating 100 years ago.
0:37.1	A lot of people didn't have access to food.
0:39.5	We just didn't have access to it, you know?
0:41.5	And today we have access to everything.
0:45.3	But unfortunately, we have access to both healthy and unhealthy options.
0:50.2	Welcome to the show.
0:51.6	It's me, Dr. Mona, your trusted pediatrician, confidant, and mom friend
0:55.5	here to help you sort through the chaos of parenting, especially when you're just trying
1:00.0	to survive grocery store tantrums and figure out if, quote, organic actually means anything.
1:05.6	You're listening to the Peds Doc Talk podcast where we keep it real, keep it science-based,
1:09.6	and definitely question those all-natural, non-GMO, fear-mongering food labels that somehow make apples feel controversial.
1:17.4	Today's guest is one of my favorite follows on social media, Dr. Adrian Chavez, a PhD
1:22.4	nutritionist, mythbuster, and host of the Nutrition Science podcast. He's the calm voice of reason in a sea of
1:28.7	coconut oil conspiracies, sugar panic and Instagram misinformation. We're breaking down the
1:34.3	truth about food marketing, hidden ingredients in baby and kid foods, and how parents can stop
1:39.7	falling for wellness buzzwords and start focusing on what actually matters for our families.
1:45.1	And before we dive in, a quick favor, if you love this show, hit that follow or subscribe
1:49.8	button and download your favorite episode and leave a quick reading or review.
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