Processed Food.It’s getting a bad rap. It’s almost becoming a bad word. And yet Americans spend more grocery money on it than any other food item (source). So what gives? Everybody seems to be concerned about health these days, so why are processed foods still filling our cupboards and making up 70% of our diet (source)?
A Backstory
I studied Nutritional Science in college and part of my degree focused on food science, and specifically the components of food processing. The major take away from these classes was this:
Money doesn’t grow on trees, it grows in packaging and boxes.
What do I mean?
Well, take an apple, for instance. An apple can only yield so much money when sold to a consumer. Any ol’ apple farmer can sell his apple crop. Some apples may be more expensive than others due to type or how it was grown (i.e. conventional v. organic, etc.), but other than that, there isn’t much difference. An apple can’t be branded and it isn’t really marketable. Farmer Bob can’t patent the apple and make way more money than farmer Joe.
But, let’s say Industry Fred purchases Farmer Joe’s apples…all of them. Farmer Joe sells them at a lower price because Industry Fred is buying them all. Industry Fred then uses some wheat, corn and soy (subsidized by the government so it’s extra cheap!) to make an apple and grain snack bar. He puts it in fancy packaging and creates really catchy commercials about them on TV. He’s able to sell this product for way more than it cost him to make.
It’s capitalism. It isn’t wrong, but it gets to be a problem for our health when our food system is market driven. (BTW, I am not an economist and how no solutions for this.)
Do Processed Foods Have Any Benefit?
One could argue foods have been processed for a really long time. Fermentation is one example of an ancient and beneficial type of food processing. The act of fermentation increases enzymes and probiotics in food. It’s super great for our bodies and it’s tasty too!
After WWII and the space race, highly processed foods as we know them today (canned, frozen, dehydrated, packaged foods full of chemicals and additives) skyrocketed in popularity. These foods have enabled people to get out of the kitchen. With more free time, women have been able to pursue other interests outside of the home and positively contribute to society in new ways. Processed foods are inexpensive and often filling. These foods have given extra time to a lot of people, jobs to a lot of people and fed mouths with a lot of bang for the buck. They’ve also made the food industry wealthy and uber powerful in our country (I wouldn’t say that’s a benefit, though).
These benefits have come at great cost.
How Are Processed Foods Detrimental To Our Health?
Let’s be clear. I am not talking about minimally processed foods like wine, fermented foods ,etc. I am talking about highly processed foods–foods that you can’t make in your kitchen at home. These processed foods are usually a bunch of extremely inexpensive ingredients with lots of additives thrown together to make an appetizing, marketable and memorable food. This is great for business, but what about the one who eats it? Vitamins and enzymes are destroyed in the processing of foods. These foods are lacking in the nutrients our bodies need to thrive and they are often full of toxic ingredients. I believe processed foods are extremely harmful to our health and are the cause of MANY illnesses.
Highly processed foods are full of:
Coloring Agents (for more on why food coloring is bad, go here)
Preservatives
Pesticides
Trans-fats
Sodium-chloride (Is salt really bad for you? Here is the difference between sea salt and commercial salt)
GMOs (go here and here)
Unhealthy Vegetable Oils (check out the ugly truth about vegetable oils here )
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (go here to read about PUFAs)
How To Avoid Unhealthy Processed Foods
Avoid the packed foods high in sodium
Stay away from canned foods high in fat and sodium
Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. That’s where you will find the freshest, most whole foods available
Make time to plan your meals and prepare them
Eat foods with ingredients you can pronounce
Choose whole grains instead of refined flour ingredients
Eat more foods that don’t come with labels, packages, or advertising
Avoid fast food…avoid it like the plague
Say no to sugar breakfast cereals
Packaged cakes and cookies are a no-no
Frozen veggies and fruits are ok. Be sure to read the ingredients and purchase the ones with no added sugars, fats or flavorings.
So, why are processed foods filling our cupboards?
I hate to reduce it to this, but it comes down to money. The food industry has tons of money, therefore they have a lot of power. This power speaks through advertising, government policies, what is on the shelf at the grocery store. All of this influences our purchases. (Example, McDonald’s advertising to kids, therefore kids want cheeseburgers) It also comes down to time. People are super busy these days and don’t have the time to cook. Processed foods are inexpensive, convenient and filling. And finally, it boils down to taste. Processed foods are full of fat, sugar and salt and gosh darnit they are tasty and addicting. Money may be tight in a household and the tempation to buy processed foods alluring, however, with some planning and commitment processed foods can be avoided.
For healthy snacks and real food resources, go here.
For an interesting talk on how processed foods took over the American diet, check out Diane Rehm’s interview on NPR. I just love her! PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
When I was a sophomore in college at Liberty University, I started drinking coffee for the first time. Before then, I would occasionally drink the fancy drinks like consisting of solely sugary frappucinos. But once the reality of college set in, the research papers, intense finals, and hours of homework taking place in the middle of the night, I adapted my taste buds to the beautiful thing that is COFFEE. I’ve come a long way and can drink it any way you give it to me now, with the exception of black, because let’s be honest…I’ve got nothing to prove.
With that being said, when we bought our house, the very first thing I got finished as far as home projects go, was our brand spanking new COFFEE STATION! I got my inspiration via Pinterest (because who is creative on their own anymore?) and made this dream a reality.
My friend Chelsea and I painted the wall behind it a nice mocha accent color, and my handy-man father-in-law installed an outlet behind the cabinet. After that we were ready to put everything together!
My sweet grandmother got us the Keurig as our housewarming gift and I started picking up all the other pieces of the station a little bit at a time!
The wire shelf, the underneath baskets, and the decor came from the wonderful world of Hobby Lobby. The table came from Home Goods, and the canisters were found at IKEA! I absolutely LOVE how it turned out, and it was definitely worth the investment because we use it Every. Single. Day. I love how it completes our kitchen and acts as a nice transition area between the breakfast area and the living room. Perfect for easy access to coffee in the morning, and a nice cup of tea for lounging on the couch at night! If you’re thinking of creating a coffee station in your home, I highly recommend it! It’s probably going to be in every home of ours from now on. Mmmm….coffee
I love love love roasted pumpkin seeds, so I’m super excited to share these Rachael Ray roasted pumpkin seed recipes with you!
Ingredients
1 cup cleaned, raw whole pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Brin 4 cups of water, plus the seeds and tablespoon salt, to a boil in a small saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Drain, then pat dry with paper towels.
Toss the seeds with the olive oil and remaining salt. Spread into a single layer onto a greased and foil-lined baking sheet.
Roast 10-12 minutes or until golden. Toss with seasonings (listed below) and roast for 5 more minutes.
This is a vintage snowflake needlepoint plastic canvas Christmas ornament. It has red & gold metallic yarn in the middle. It has a gold color snowflake shaped sequin in the center. It has a slight stain on the back that is showing slightly on the front. It measures 4" in diameter.
This is a vintage snowflake needlepoint plastic canvas Christmas ornament. It has red & gold metallic yarn in the middle. It has a gold color snowflake shaped sequin in the center. It has a slight stain on the back that is showing slightly on the front. It measures 4" in diameter.
I am perfectly willing to admit that plastic canvas has never been on my list of crafts I enjoy. But this table runner is enough to cause a bit of a change of heart.
Simple circles done in any colour will make a wonderful pop of colour and visual interest. You can make them to fit any table you have.
