Note to Self on Ingredients

My rule of thumb going forward is to not eat any food items where the listed ingredients make up more than 50% of the text on the packaging.

I was handed a Party Mix food item on a recent flight and decided to read the ingredients. I was shocked to see the list - not just the content, but the length. Especially when I compare it to a healthy bag of carrots, where the ingredients simply state:

• Organic carrots

Here's what was listed on the Party Mix package

• Pretzel Sticks (Enriched Flour {Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin and Folic Acid}, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Corn Syrup, Yeast, and Baking Soda)
• Cheddar Chipotle Bagel Chips (Enriched Flour {Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin and Folic Acid}, Soybean Oil, Salt, Corn Syrup, Salt, Whey, Dextrose, Monosodium Glutamate, Reduced Lactose Whey, Cheddar Cheese {Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes}, Maltodextrin, Buttermilk, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Onion, Nonfat Milk, Garlic, Disodium Phosphate, Autolyzed Yeast, Blue Cheese {Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes}, Annatto, Artificial Color {Extractives of Paprika, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, Extractives of Turmeric}, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate),
• Honey Roasted Sesame Sticks (Unbleached Wheat Flour {Contains Malted Barley Flour as a Natural Enzyme Additive}, Soybean Oil, Sesame Seeds, Honey Coating {Sucrose, Wheat Starch, Honey}, Bulgur Wheat, Tack Blend {Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum}, Salt, Beet Powder, Turmeric)

The package now resides in the trash.