Why is it so hard for me to cut out processed food?

3. Addicting ingredients like high fructose corn syrup that give you highs and lows, just like crack

Yep, lost my family and house because I'm addicted to HFCS. Started selling my body for it.

Hmmm....you too huh? It's an epidemic.

I don't agree with "blame your parents" in the sense that you should make excuses for yourself. But I agree with it to the extent that people have been brought up differently.

My mum never got fast food or ordered in or bought a pre-made meal - ever. We had a microwave but never used it. Now that I live on my own, I don't own one. I don't buy ready-made meals and I have never tasted any of those pop-in-the-microwave-dinners. The best way is to not arrange for it at all.

A good start is basically to buy natural foods and always have them in your house, even if they are frozen. So that when you come home, the only way is to prepare something. I have lean minced pork in my fridge, I throw it in the frying pan with some chopped onions, cherry tomatoes, peppers, an egg and some salt and pepper. It takes no time at all. It's probably around the time it would take for a ready made meal to defrost.

It's really about planning and discipline, as dieting in general.

I was raised on processed food too so I was unhealthy right out of the gate. I hated to cook and didn't have much skill.

Now every Sunday I pick a few meals [eating paleo right now] and I make them in advance. I put them in two-cup glass freezer containers and freeze them for grab and go stuff. I also crockpot. How easy is that and it makes about six meals that you can freeze.

Now I can't even look at microwave meals at the grocery store. The stuff I make tastes so good that the packaged stuff tastes like plastic and salt in comparison. I'm currently eating spaghetti squash and meatballs or a butternut lasagna. So delish.

Good luck to you, I know you can do it, you just need a plan. I eat badly when I skip my Sunday prep.

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We had a microwave but never used it. Now that I live on my own, I don't own one.

Ok, I have a question for the 'i've never had a microwave' folks. Do you eat leftovers? Do you just...cook them on the stove again? I don't cook in the microwave but I sure as heck reheat things there.

I generally cook stuff rather than buying processed foods, but sometimes it is convenient. I mean, I don't make my own cheese from scratch or anything. If I'm buying something in a package, I just try to look for minimal ingredients and as close to real food as possible...

Last night I cooked chicken thighs in the oven. Just put them on a cookie sheet in the oven for 25 minutes. During that 25 minutes I sat on my *kitten* and watched Cheers on Netflix. When they were done, I put them on a plate and ate them.

Yep. Cooking can be complicated or it can be really, really easy.

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Because tons of time, science and money are poured into making processed food addictive. A great, enlightening article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Cutting out processed foods would mean no more crackers, cereal, cheese, ice cream for me.....

Yeah, I could go dreid beans instead of canned (but canned is so convienent), and fresh milled peanut butter instead of jarred (but I like that it's so smooth!)


Would your own homemade 'processed' foods count?
'Cause canned peaches are still canned peaches....

Or are we talking stuff like frozen ready to eat meals?

Definitely hard when it's what you've eaten your whole life.

Because I tend to be ultra cheap I see it for the money it takes, it's more cost effective to make my own food than it is to buy pre-made or processed.

As an example:
I buy two over-medium eggs, 1 cups of chunk hashbrowns, 2 slices of bacon and two slices of toast for about $3.75. A carton of 12 eggs is $2.50, 10 lbs of potatoes is about $6.00 (I use 1/2 lb when I make hashbrowns, a small/med potato), a pack of bacon is around $4-5.00 (16 slices per pack) and a loaf of whole wheat bread is $2.25 (and I don't know for sure but usually has 12 slices that I eat). So if I calculate the price from each food bought and cooked by me it comes to about $1.73 instead of that $3.75 that it costs to have it already prepared for me. That's a $2.02 difference! And you get all the same stuff you just have to make it yourself

Other way to make it easier to cook really flavorful foods, experiment with your food tastes too! You will be more excited to eat home cooked if it's fun to make, delicious to eat and satisfying.

It's difficult for a lot of people. It has many addicting qualities. Our bodies are meant to store fat for when "famine comes." However, in today's day and age, there is no famine. Our bodies naturally seek out products with the most calories and fat. That's why it is so difficult. You just have to use willpower, suck it up, and get used to it. All things can be enjoyed in moderation.

ive been eating it pretty much all my life. I guess everything starts at home and that is true. if my parents made healthy choices then when I got older I would have done the same but the way we ate is how I am eating now. of course ive cut back a lot but I am still early in my journey and its hard to give up those quick microwave dinners, lunch meats and other processed foods. I do know how to cook but Ive never cooked anything that was healthy. I guess with time ill get better with it but is anyone else in the same boat as me? it'd be nice to hear how you changed your ba eating habits.

To answer you actual question on why is it so hard to cut junk food. Its because when you eat these fatty foods they remain in your blood stream longer so you want it all the time. Its going to take a while for you body to understand that its not going to get this food all the time. Then the cravings go down.

Cutting out processed foods would mean no more crackers, cereal, cheese, ice cream for me.....

Yeah, I could go dreid beans instead of canned (but canned is so convienent), and fresh milled peanut butter instead of jarred (but I like that it's so smooth!)


Would your own homemade 'processed' foods count?
'Cause canned peaches are still canned peaches....

Or are we talking stuff like frozen ready to eat meals?

I hear you. You can go over the top with defining "processed foods". I think there is a level of reasonableness that each of us find on our own. Some people love using dry beans. I just buy a can of beans. But, I wouldn't consider that processed. As I said earlier. Processed foods are twinkies and Doritos and Pepsi. That's my definition.

I'm pretty much in this same boat...plus ice cream.

Processed foods was never really a large part of my life; my mom cooked everyday when my siblings and I were growing up so, with the exception of some potato chips or a hotdog and lunch meat here or there, we ate home cooked meals practically everyday. Processed/pre-packaged foods came about later in my adult years as a matter of convenience. However when I considered how many calories and how little food come in pre-packaged meals, I figured I came out on top cooking for myself. I get more food for less calories. When a healthy LIFESTYLE came into play a few years ago, then I began focusing on what I was putting in my body. I just decided that if I want to live long and live strong, then eating a lot of "junk" food wouldn;t help me in that process. I still have one of those days every now and again when I just want something that I know is full of calories, sugar, fat, carbs, you name it, and I indulge. But more often than not, I'm eating whole foods, fruits, veggies, lean protein, etc. Not entirely "clean" eating, but healthy eating all the same.

All in all, it's your mind set that has to change initially. Your body/habits can only follow where your mind leads it. It's a process, so think about making the changes needed as often as you can, and try little changes bit by bit. Eventually you'll get to the place you want to be.