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Are Processed Foods "Bad"?

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  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,070 Member
    The issue with the question, as many have pointed out, is that "processed" can mean a VERY wide variety of things.

    IMO, when I think of processed foods (I seldom use the term when talking about food), I think of things that are very far from their original state, and have had many extra things from preservatives to sweeteners to other things all added in.

    I do think we are better off "generally" eating simple ingredient meals that don't have a lot of "extra" things added in.

    In my personal definition/use of the word "processed" I would say that processed foods are not as good for you as unprocessed foods. But, my definition isn't exactly correct, and unless I define it, someone else won't know what I'm referring to, hence why I try to avoid using that in conversation too often.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    BruinsGal_91 wrote: »
    WinoGelato wrote: »
    J_Fairfax wrote: »
    Fresher tastes better

    I agree, nothing sadder than stale Oreos....

    Stale ginger snaps are even sadder. **glares at husband who didn't put the lid back on the cookie jar last night**

    This is a fair point. Stale Oreos can at least theoretically be saved by slower milk-dunking. Stale ginger snaps not only have a texture issue, but the bite of the ginger seems to disappear so they taste slightly off.

    I hope your hubby was appropriately ashamed.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    happytree923 wrote: »
    That's true, but I'd bet most home kitchens don't have a team of researchers tweaking recipes to make them as palatable as humanly possible. Large-scale food manufacturers do.

    Home cooked unhealthy food is also way less convenient, when's the last time someone you know stopped at the grocery store to get everything they needed to make homemade burgers and fries and then went home and spent an hour making it instead of stopping at McDonald's? So yes, it's possible, but you really need the convenience of fast/packaged foods to make impulsive bad food decisions.

    I prepare all meals but one a week at home for my family.
    I make a meal plan that sometimes includes homemade hamburgers and fries. I make a grocery list throughout the week and we go shopping once. We buy food for a week at a time. It takes maybe an hour to shop for a full cart of food which will be many meals for 3 people. Dinner making daily may be 30 minutes to an hour of cooking time but not preperation time. Burgers and fries at home are a pretty quick meal- maybe 20 minutes forming the patties and heating the grill to finishing cooking. If I slice a potato and put it on a tray in the oven it takes about 15-20 minutes to cook that at the same time. I usually don't make my own buns or condiments/sauces unless it is a special occasion. We buy cheese someone else made- usually a block of cheddar..
    When we go out to eat as a family we decide the day before or early in day day where we will go. I look up nutritional information if possible and prelogging my food choice. We are generally driving 45 minutes, sitting in the drive thru for 15-20 minutes or waiting at a counter or table, possibly eating in the car while doing errands and then driving home another 45 minutes. It is convenient to not pack food, more expensive, not faster than me cooking and far from spontaneous. It does not really taste better than my own cooking. There may be more salt or oil than I would use at home. There are not ingredients that make us overeat for the rest of the day/week from that one meal.

    I understand from the internet that many people are not like me but I don't buy the idea that eating foods that are packaged or made at a restaurant are controlling people's food choices based on ingredients you wouldn't use at home.
  • Katzedernacht
    Katzedernacht Posts: 266 Member
    Well, it's up to you to choose your food. I do eat some processed food, with less and "better" ingredients, I use "__" cos to some it may be unimportant , to some it's not. But I would not ban them forever, just choose the best ones, since they can be tasty hehe.
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    Any food that is no longer in it's original growth state is processed. Cooking is processing food, so is adding spices and marinating. I'm not a dietitian nor nutritionist, but I do know that raw pork is NOT good for you.

    "Processed" is just the latest "bad" food trend.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited May 2018
    First I think its important to say that "processed food" is a very Ill defined subjective term that different use in different ways. So, before I say how I feel know that when I think "processed" food I am thinking of a reductionist approach where a food product is just a combination of a few heavily refined products. For example a food product that takes refined wheat flour as a carb source mixes it with high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener and purified vanilin for flavoring. I do think that when possible it is better to avoid that in favor of whole foods.

    I dont say that because I think there are toxins or chemikillz in processed foods that are dangerous or aren't also in whole foods. I say that because of what is missing from heavily processed foods which tend to be constructed from a limited number of refined ingredients.

    An apple has thousands of component ingredients too lengthy and complex to actually list out or add to a processed foodstuff. Apple Jack's cereal does not contain everything that is in an apple. I think having processed foods in ones diet is fine but that if you ate only processed foods you would likely end up with gaps in your nutrition beyond just the obvious vitamins which often are intentionally added to processed foods.

    Ironically one thing food processing does do well is fortify certain staples like breakfast cereals and milk with things like vitamin D and iron which are typically lacking from most whole foods. So honestly the "best" diet is probably a mixed one where you have your processed breakfast cereal and fortified milk along with some whole fruits, vegetables and proteins.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    I think having processed foods in ones diet is fine but that if you ate only processed foods you would likely end up with gaps in your nutrition beyond just the obvious vitamins which often are intentionally added to processed foods.

    Yeah, agree. Taking your definition of processed foods especially (which is somewhat different from mine), I think this is certainly true. It's also why I tend to think it's important to eat nutrient dense foods rather than thinking it can all be supplied by supplements (inc vitamins). There's more to why the foods are beneficial than the things we've identified, probably. Also why I think a varied diet is a good idea and generally am not big on cutting out food groups.

    That's why the so called "clean" approach or the demonization of processed foods as "bad" is a misunderstanding. The problem with a poor diet is that it's a poor diet, that it's lacking things that SHOULD be in it, not that you eat some particular amount (such as ANY) of some food that might be less beneficial. Often what I see is people who focus on NOT eating what they've demonized or decided is the problem rather than focusing on what would help in constructing a good diet, and then eating whatever else fits in also (in moderation). Thinking that eating a little "processed" food is really going to determine whether your diet is good or not is IMO a silly way of thinking about nutrition, a focus on the wrong things.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    I think having processed foods in ones diet is fine but that if you ate only processed foods you would likely end up with gaps in your nutrition beyond just the obvious vitamins which often are intentionally added to processed foods.

    Yeah, agree. Taking your definition of processed foods especially (which is somewhat different from mine), I think this is certainly true. It's also why I tend to think it's important to eat nutrient dense foods rather than thinking it can all be supplied by supplements (inc vitamins). There's more to why the foods are beneficial than the things we've identified, probably. Also why I think a varied diet is a good idea and generally am not big on cutting out food groups.

    That's why the so called "clean" approach or the demonization of processed foods as "bad" is a misunderstanding. The problem with a poor diet is that it's a poor diet, that it's lacking things that SHOULD be in it, not that you eat some particular amount (such as ANY) of some food that might be less beneficial. Often what I see is people who focus on NOT eating what they've demonized or decided is the problem rather than focusing on what would help in constructing a good diet, and then eating whatever else fits in also (in moderation). Thinking that eating a little "processed" food is really going to determine whether your diet is good or not is IMO a silly way of thinking about nutrition, a focus on the wrong things.

    Yeah exactly. I don't have a problem with processed foods, I just recognize that a diet consisting of only processed foods would likely be not ideal. I think too many people though, as you said, take that way to far and start demonizing processed foods as "full of toxins" or other such nonsense and are so focused on that that they sort of miss the point of getting some balance. Eating nothing but chicken breast and broccoli is likely going to leave some gaps as well after all.
  • Momepro
    Momepro Posts: 1,509 Member
    I don't have a problem against processed foods in general, but I have found that many types are just not as flavorful as more natural counterparts, and they make up for that lack with extra saltiness or sweetness. It's not necessarily bad, but it's not the same, and I usually like more natural better.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    ladyhusker39 wrote: »
    I'm not really big on starting new threads especially in the debate section, but this issue comes up so frequently I thought I'd put it out there for discussion.

    I truly don't understand how processed foods have become to be so demonized by many people. I notice that so often people will post how they're avoiding processed foods as part of their "lifestyle change" (which is something else I don't really get, but is a topic for an other day).

    I've not really see a clear definition of what people mean by "processed food" either. I kind of think it's purposely left ambiguous by the marketing folks...

    I've found that for long term sustainability I need to enjoy the food I eat. I love sweets and a good, high quality alcoholic beverage on occasion. So I make sure I fit those things into my plan. I agree that to be as healthy as I can, I need to eat plenty of nutrient dense foods, but I personally don't get all the negativity about "processed foods".

    I'm grateful to live in a society where I can have access to lots of healthy, nutritious food that's also quick and convenient because someone else has already don't much of the processing for me.

    I'm certain my diet would not be nearly as healthy or varied if I had to mill my own bread, kill my own animals for meat and harvest my own fruits and vegetables.

    Thank goodness for modern food processing techniques. My life is so much better because of it.

    What do you think?

    I think processed/unprocessed food can both be good or bad food choices.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Yeah, there have been many threads/posts where people insist "processed foods" are inherently bad in any amount (or that it's impossible to moderate "processed foods," as if everyone was the same and as if there weren't a huge variety of foods that count as processed. That claim also is the basis for "clean eating" in most of its forms.

    There are many sources of these ideas in the dieting world too, which is where a lot of people seem to get them (the toxins stuff).
  • BioQueen
    BioQueen Posts: 694 Member
    Like many others say, there are no bad foods. That being said, I try to eat less processed foods because they tend to cause me more bloating and general abdominal discomfort compared to natural foods -for me- (as a blanket statement). When I have less bloating etc, I feel better and I am happier in my body. I think there are a lot of reasons for that but it doesn't mean I'm not going to have something with preservatives or something I can't pronounce every now and again.
  • neugebauer52
    neugebauer52 Posts: 1,120 Member
    I am mostly interested in food which grows on trees, grows on or in soil or water, can swim, fly or runs about. Mind, not the human kind.....
  • kds10
    kds10 Posts: 452 Member
    I had a coworker criticize me for using store bought salad dressings she said wow, I am surprised that you just don't make your own. I felt guilty not sure why. I agree there is a level of snobbery when people say I eat clean don't you??

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