Processed Foods.

S_U_M_M_E_R

I am really working on being a "clean eater" but I am still a little confused on what that means. I have been given a challenge to give up "all processed foods for two weeks". So what exactly IS processed foods? For example are flaxseed wraps processed? I buy organic ones so the ingredients are all REAL food such as: organic sprouted wheat, filtered water, organic sesame seeds, organic soybeans, organic sprouted barley, etc. . .(everything else listed is stuff we have heard of as such and nothing weird or chemical). So is that considered "clean eating" and not processed? But it has to be "processed" to be made. Or does "non processed mean it has to come from the ground, a tree or had a mother? I do understand the obvious (chips, cookies, etc) that's processed. But again, does "non-processed" mean it comes from the ground, had a mother, or a tree ONLY?

Firefox7275

My personal (and imperfect) definition of processed is anything that looks or behaves nothing like it did when it came off the animal or plant, you couldn't even make a close guess at what it used to be or what is in it, has more than perhaps two ingredients. I permit minor processing in my mental definition, so jumbo oats that have just been flattened, whole almonds that have been toasted, *maybe* something that has been lightly ground (but NOT ground to dust with a machine like modern wheat flour) or plain cooked (lump of meat or fish). The most traditional of preparation methods I guess?

Of course flaxseed wraps are processed, there is no wrap tree. Those ingredients have all been ground, sprouted, cooked, mucked about with so some of the chewing and digesting has been done for you by a machine. If you are giving up all processed foods for two weeks then you should give up the wraps and instead eat, say, a salad including the fish and vegetables you intended on putting in the wrap, some whole seeds and some whole beans. Challenges tend to be strict, that is the point.

Having said all that don't confuse the word processed with the word unhealthy, there is overlap but they are not necessarily interchangeable terms.

3dogsrunning

The reason you are so confused is there is no real meaning. "Clean eating" and what constitutes processed mean different things to different people.


A great article on the topic
http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/

bethvandenberg

processed foods to me are the ones that are made for convince. If it has HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) or hydo oils I don't buy it. I look for as natural as it would be if I made it at home.

S_U_M_M_E_R

The reason you are so confused is there is no real meaning. "Clean eating" and what constitutes processed mean different things to different people.


A great article on the topic
http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/

Thanks for the article. I had been trying to find some and couldn't find any good ones, which is why I asked here. I am going to read it now.

ninerbuff

My personal (and imperfect) definition of processed is anything that looks or behaves nothing like it did when it came off the animal or plant, you couldn't even make a close guess at what it used to be or what is in it, has more than perhaps two ingredients. I permit minor processing in my mental definition, so jumbo oats that have just been flattened, whole almonds that have been toasted, *maybe* something that has been lightly ground (but NOT ground to dust with a machine like modern wheat flour) or plain cooked (lump of meat or fish). The most traditional of preparation methods I guess?

Of course flaxseed wraps are processed, there is no wrap tree. Those ingredients have all been ground, sprouted, cooked, mucked about with so some of the chewing and digesting has been done for you by a machine. If you are giving up all processed foods for two weeks then you should give up the wraps and instead eat, say, a salad including the fish and vegetables you intended on putting in the wrap, some whole seeds and some whole beans. Challenges tend to be strict, that is the point.

Having said all that don't confuse the word processed with the word unhealthy, there is overlap but they are not necessarily interchangeable terms.

I doubt that there is practically ANY food that hasn't gone through some sort of "processing". Even organic foods went through some sort of cleaning, prepping process before it got into your hands.
Maybe being your own supplier of all foods you take in would qualify for unprocessed foods if you grew your own with no pesticides, raised your own meat, etc.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

S_U_M_M_E_R

My personal (and imperfect) definition of processed is anything that looks or behaves nothing like it did when it came off the animal or plant, you couldn't even make a close guess at what it used to be or what is in it, has more than perhaps two ingredients. I permit minor processing in my mental definition, so jumbo oats that have just been flattened, whole almonds that have been toasted, *maybe* something that has been lightly ground (but NOT ground to dust with a machine like modern wheat flour) or plain cooked (lump of meat or fish). The most traditional of preparation methods I guess?

Of course flaxseed wraps are processed, there is no wrap tree. Those ingredients have all been ground, sprouted, cooked, mucked about with so some of the chewing and digesting has been done for you by a machine. If you are giving up all processed foods for two weeks then you should give up the wraps and instead eat, say, a salad including the fish and vegetables you intended on putting in the wrap, some whole seeds and some whole beans. Challenges tend to be strict, that is the point.

Having said all that don't confuse the word processed with the word unhealthy, there is overlap but they are not necessarily interchangeable terms.

I doubt that there is practically ANY food that hasn't gone through some sort of "processing". Even organic foods went through some sort of cleaning, prepping process before it got into your hands.
Maybe being your own supplier of all foods you take in would qualify for unprocessed foods if you grew your own with no pesticides, raised your own meat, etc.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Yes, all food has gone through "some processing" but organic foods are said to have no pesticides. I buy my meats as humanely raised (no stress) no antibiotics and vegetable feed or grass fed. However, we have a category we consider "processed" and "not processed". I am trying to distinguish the difference.

neanderthin

My personal (and imperfect) definition of processed is anything that looks or behaves nothing like it did when it came off the animal or plant, you couldn't even make a close guess at what it used to be or what is in it, has more than perhaps two ingredients. I permit minor processing in my mental definition, so jumbo oats that have just been flattened, whole almonds that have been toasted, *maybe* something that has been lightly ground (but NOT ground to dust with a machine like modern wheat flour) or plain cooked (lump of meat or fish). The most traditional of preparation methods I guess?

Of course flaxseed wraps are processed, there is no wrap tree. Those ingredients have all been ground, sprouted, cooked, mucked about with so some of the chewing and digesting has been done for you by a machine. If you are giving up all processed foods for two weeks then you should give up the wraps and instead eat, say, a salad including the fish and vegetables you intended on putting in the wrap, some whole seeds and some whole beans. Challenges tend to be strict, that is the point.

Having said all that don't confuse the word processed with the word unhealthy, there is overlap but they are not necessarily interchangeable terms.

I doubt that there is practically ANY food that hasn't gone through some sort of "processing". Even organic foods went through some sort of cleaning, prepping process before it got into your hands.
Maybe being your own supplier of all foods you take in would qualify for unprocessed foods if you grew your own with no pesticides, raised your own meat, etc.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Yes, all food has gone through "some processing" but organic foods are said to have no pesticides. I buy my meats as humanely raised (no stress) no antibiotics and vegetable feed or grass fed. However, we have a category we consider "processed" and "not processed". I am trying to distinguish the difference.

Here's some literature on organic pesticides.

http://www.ontarioprofessionals.com/organic.htm

S_U_M_M_E_R

My personal (and imperfect) definition of processed is anything that looks or behaves nothing like it did when it came off the animal or plant, you couldn't even make a close guess at what it used to be or what is in it, has more than perhaps two ingredients. I permit minor processing in my mental definition, so jumbo oats that have just been flattened, whole almonds that have been toasted, *maybe* something that has been lightly ground (but NOT ground to dust with a machine like modern wheat flour) or plain cooked (lump of meat or fish). The most traditional of preparation methods I guess?

Of course flaxseed wraps are processed, there is no wrap tree. Those ingredients have all been ground, sprouted, cooked, mucked about with so some of the chewing and digesting has been done for you by a machine. If you are giving up all processed foods for two weeks then you should give up the wraps and instead eat, say, a salad including the fish and vegetables you intended on putting in the wrap, some whole seeds and some whole beans. Challenges tend to be strict, that is the point.

Having said all that don't confuse the word processed with the word unhealthy, there is overlap but they are not necessarily interchangeable terms.

I doubt that there is practically ANY food that hasn't gone through some sort of "processing". Even organic foods went through some sort of cleaning, prepping process before it got into your hands.
Maybe being your own supplier of all foods you take in would qualify for unprocessed foods if you grew your own with no pesticides, raised your own meat, etc.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Yes, all food has gone through "some processing" but organic foods are said to have no pesticides. I buy my meats as humanely raised (no stress) no antibiotics and vegetable feed or grass fed. However, we have a category we consider "processed" and "not processed". I am trying to distinguish the difference.

Here's some literature on organic pesticides.

http://www.ontarioprofessionals.com/organic.htm

Eww! Good read, thank you for sharing it. Maybe I should just start growing my own food, lol.