You’ve probably heard that processed food is bad for you.
But as it turns out, we’ve been using this term all wrong.
It’s ultra-processed food that we need to worry about.
According to experts, food processing lies along a pretty diverse spectrum.
It starts with the basics: your unprocessed foods (i.e.
veggies), your minimally processed foods (i.e.
meat or yogurt), and your processed ingredients (i.e.
sugar, oil, or vinegar).
While some processed foods can be healthy foods, ultra-processed foods are definitely not.
Ultra-processed foods are the “formulation” of multiple processed ingredients.
So, what are these exactly?
Think sodas, cheesy chips,chicken nuggets, and instant soups.
You don’t have to give them up to lose weight.
Just use real ingredients you’re able to find in your kitchen to make them.
Still not convinced you should hop on the homemade bandwagon?
Check out these20 Benefits of Ditching Processed Foods.
Bread
Eat This!
as she has reportedly bragged, she’s in for a rude awakening.
Packaged bread can have 4+ grams of sugar per slice.
Need your white bread fix?
Make it at home!viaHalf Baked Harvest.
Cookies
Eat This!
Let’s compare ingredients, shall we?
Mrs. Fields uses emulsifiers like soybean lecithin and xanthan gum.
Which would you rather eat now?
See where Mrs. Fields lies on our exclusive report,The Most Popular Cookies in AmericaRanked!.
Make it at home!viaChelsea’s Messy Apron.
Salty Snacks
Eat This!
But something quite addicting.
Instead, you’re eating ultra-processed junk.
Make it at home!viaBaked By Rachel.
Frozen Meals
6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Eat This!
But many of them are healthy-eating enemies in disguise.
Like this Lean Cuisine, many frozen prepared entrees pack a surprising amount of sugar7 grams!
Make it at home!via Cooking Classy.
Soda
Drink This!
And sugar isn’t even the worst part about some of these fizzy drinks.Mountain Dewhas flame retardant in it.
Don’t fret, just whip up this homemade soda.
Make it at home!viaSkinny M’s.
Pizza
Image courtesy ofSimply Quinoa.
Eat This!
Make it at home!viaSimply Quinoa.
Breakfast Cereals
Eat This!
It’s time to cut these artificially-colored, sugar-filled cereals to the curb.
Make it at home!viaSally’s Baking Addiction.
Salad Dressing
Eat This!
Don’t be turned off by the higher-calorie olive oil either, you might not even need it all.
Sauces
Eat This!
As for Newman’s Own?
Get more ideas with what to do with cauliflower, in these17 Genius Ideas for Cooking With Cauliflower.
Make it at home!viaPinch of Yum.
Sweet Snacks
Eat This!
Make your own at home, it’s super easy.
Make it at home!viaJust a Taste.
Ice Cream
Eat This!
We’re pretty sure you could’t find either of those sugar sources growing naturally on a tree.
Make it at home!viaThe Endless Meal.
French Fries
Eat This!
The only reason these homemade fries have close to 11 ingredients is because of the spices.
Make it at home!viaGimme Some Oven.
Ready-To-Eat Burgers
Eat This!
Water, textured soy protein, soy flour, caramel color, soy protein concentrate, and soy lecithin.
Is this a beef burger or an amalgam of deconstructed soybeans?
You’re better off whipping up your own (normal sized) burger at home.
Make it at home!viaEat This, Not That!.
Instant Soups
Eat This!
Dips & Spreads
Eat This!
This imposter is made mostly of skim milk (what!?
), oil, water, and tomatoes.
Oh, and less than 2 percent real avocado!
So how do they obtain a guacamole-style dip?
And that green color you see?
It’s a combination of blue, red, and yellow food dyes.
Stick with the realavocadosto reap their abdominal-fat-blasting properties.
Make it at home!viaSimply Recipes.
