Cutting out processed foods

It may seem hard at first, but it's definitely worth it. Don't try to cut out everything at once or you might give up. Pick the things you depend on least and just don't get them next time you go to the store. If it's snacks that you start with, get some snack size veggies or buy lots of fruit. If it's side dishes, look for some recipes to replace what you normally eat. I still eat a few processed things, but most of what I eat is much cleaner than it used to be, and it has certainly helped me maintain.

what kind of processed food do you already eat?? stop eating it. make your own versions. But what is your current aversion to processed foods? what constitutes a processed food? most food in your home goes through a process.

personally, when i think processed food i tend to think of two things: junk food that comes in bags or wrappers such as candy and chips; and cold cuts. now i love me some junk food. i like peanut m&m's and tostitos. i have some once in a while, but they're not a daily treat, with a few exceptions. as for cold cuts, i tried to eliminate them from my diet, but i couldn't and didn't want to. i limit how much of it i eat, and try for the lower sodium options, but man, do i love me a ham and swiss sammich.

having healthy options in your house, and cooking healthy things makes picking healthy food easier. for instance if you make your own burgers instead of buying the frozen pre-packed ones you can control what kind of ingredients you use and the cut of beef, etc etc. i love making my own burgers.

I don't eat processed foods.....well, except noodles. Its tough to do....you can start with cleaning up 1 meal each day...whatever meal is the hardest (maybe breakfast is hard cuz u like cereal, or maybe lunch is hard cuz u like frozen entrees, etc). I wouldn't go hog wild & expect yourself to perform miracles. Just do 1 meal each day to start with. You're welcome to add me....I make some interesting, yet tasty recipes.

Whey protien supplements are proccesed.

To cut down on "processed junk" the first thing I did (for about 2 years) was completely stop eating anything that contained "high fructose corn syrup" and "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" anything. When you pick up a food with a label or go to a fast food restaurant, check out the label. Read the ingredients. If it contains any of those words, put it back on the shelf and pick up a different one.

Here's a tip: if it's in a grocery store and doesn't have an ingredients label at all, then it most likely doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup or anything hydrogenated.

This is great advice!

I eliminated anything with a high sodium content. That pretty much makes you go with nothing prepackaged. Canned foods would be where I would start and "tv" dinners. yuck!

I eat clean 99% of the time. Please feel free to browse my diary - it's open for all to see. Good luck it's well worth it !

I just recently started to eat a Whole Food and super food diet and cutting back on dairy and meat. I read a few books for ideas and watched some documentaries on netflix about whole food and eat plant based. I then made alteration to how I wanted to fit it into my life style. Reading on plant based eating can be very helpful because they do not eat processed anything. I plan on cutting meat out eventually but, I don't want to sabotage myself by going cold turkey, just because I KNOW HOW I AM.

best of luck, I have been at it for a week and feel the difference already.

Shopping: Add a lot of fresh vegetables first. Then brown rice. Dried beans. Meat that you want, but I have to limit the cheese because cheese is high calorie, high fat and impossible for me to resist.
It is true that you shop the perimeter of the store and only dash down an asile to pick up a specific item.
You can precook the rice and beans, and store them in baggies and freeze, so then if you want a quick meal, just take out a baggie and add fresh vegetables, spices you prefer, and whatever protein to the rice.
I use Herb Ox boullion cubes because I do not like carrying the liquid stock and the other b cubes have MSG which is poison to me.

Just begin working from scratch. For mac and cheese, use any pasta and sprinkle cheddar cheese over the top.

i avoid things that come out of a box, can or bag. things like mac/cheese or lean cuisine dinners can be made quickly and easily. all you have to do is look at the foods you're eating that come out of a box and google "low calorie healthy [insert food here]" and you'll find a TON on the internet.

the only exception is frozen veggies or fruit ... those are usually flash frozen so they're ok however, i still buy fresh.

what i did is cut everything out cold turkey. i wasn't a processed food type of person but i did like my junk food so i just cut that out. it was hard for the first 2wks as i went through my "detox" but i ate healthy snacks as an alternative when i got the craving for the junk... things like fresh berry smoothies etc.

with food, you have to just do it. remember that FOOD DOESN'T HAVE ANY POWER OVER YOU UNTIL YOU GIVE IT POWER.