Processed Foods

AndyBee

Can you break this down for me? I feel like "processed foods" is a bit of a wide range. Does this mean any food that has been changed from it's original form? Because that is nearly everything.

EDBENAGLIO

i take it as food that has added stuff to make it last longer on the shelf. not sure how you can make chicken last a year. i belive people here mean that. it is like taking ground beef alone last lets say 1 week in fridge and a premade burger lasts 30 days.

Katbaran

I consider processed foods anything that comes in a box, a can, or a pouch or envelope to be processed except for a few things and they really are processed too. The only processed foods I use are dried pasta, canned tomatoes and boxed broths and stocks.

I DO eat frozen veggies, frozen fish occasionally and grocery store milk. I really love my fat free coffee creamer too.

Go for fresh veg and fruit. Meats and fish that are fresh or frozen without breading or pre-cooked. Anything (almost) that is just heat and serve is probably processed. This is by no means a complete or definitive list--its just my take on unprocessed. I hope it helps.

DrBorkBork

If it doesn't have a mama or come out of the earth, it's processed.

Katbaran

>>If it doesn't have a mama or come out of the earth, it's processed. <<

Well said. Better than I did. Thanks.

carolynmittens

yes that is what it means, but no it does not include nearly everything! i eat very little processed foods, and it's really easy. for an example you can just make up a big pot of brown rice, quinoa or some other whole grain, top it with a bunch of steamed veggies like cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc then throw on some kind of homemade sauce on top like an easy tomato sauce or an indian curry (made with coconut milk and spices). i find that whole foods are a lot less boring when you include a wide variety in each meal. make a salad with greens, tomatoes, avocado, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, steamed red peppers, cranberries and grapes - so much flavor and nothing at all processed.

MisdemeanorM

cutting out all processed does mean the extreme - but you can do it to any extent you want. I just try to pick better choices rather than any and everything that is unprocessed. For me, it's not practical or feasable to be 100% not processed. Or even 90 or 75% not processed. But I try to pick better things - like skipping the TV dinners or hostess snacks. Picking the foods with real cream instead of chemicals, etc.

carolynmittens

If it doesn't have a mama or come out of the earth, it's processed.

well don't forget that most meat you'll find in the grocery store is full of chemicals, antibiotics, steroids and preservatives. unless you're buying organic, then it's processed. same thing with veggies, you can find tons of frozen vegetable entrees, or canned or boxed even, and think it's healthy because it's a vegetable, but it could still be processed. processing basically means a food is altered from it's natural state in any way, whether that be chemicals added (as in most meats and prepared meals) or something is taken away, like the fiber in grains to make white flour or rice. you can't go wrong with just buying some organic vegetables and cooking a meal from scratch