Ok..I know I am supposed to stay away from them but am not quite sure everything thats included..
I know soem obvious ones would be high sodium frozen meals..
But what about plain frozen veggies, or oatmeal packets, low fat cheese? Deli meat...
Just not sure what all is included..
To some degree this is a matter of definition, and a personal decision as to where to draw the line. Some people may avoid canned vegetables (because of added salt) and others may not. Luncheon meats are sometimes "whole" meat, other times they're chopped and fillers added. Usually all deli meats will have added salt.
Unless you're raising you're own meat and growing your own grains, fruits, and vegetables, your food will have been "touched," or processed to some degree by someone else. The question is how much "touching" and "messing with" you're willing to accept.
I think the first question to ask for any given product, is have they added or taken something away from the food's natural state? So for deli meats, most have at least salt added, and others have fillers and preservatives (the dreaded nitrates and nitrites).
Everyone draws the line in a different place, so know what you're eating, but remember that you have to go with what's comfortable for you.
For me, it's about how much extra "stuff" has been added. I don't mind canned or frozen if it's just a touch of salt, but not creams, fillers, bht, etc. I think it is definitely a personal thing that lands somewhere between fresh green beans and doritos depending on the person.
My Cooking Light magazine that I just got this month has an article on different types of food additives. Some of the scary sounding ones are actually pretty reasonable, and some of the reasonable sounding ones are a little scary. I haven't had time to do more than skim the article, but I'm going to take a look now. Haven't checked yet to see if it is available online.
My Cooking Light magazine that I just got this month has an article on different types of food additives. Some of the scary sounding ones are actually pretty reasonable, and some of the reasonable sounding ones are a little scary. I haven't had time to do more than skim the article, but I'm going to take a look now. Haven't checked yet to see if it is available online.
Anne
I got my CL mag a couple days ago and didn't notice this article. I'll have to go back and peruse it again!!
As for the meat question:
Quote:
So what about the meats they slice for you in the deli..Are those "real" meat or are they processed?
it depends on the meat for the most part. Yes, the breast of turkey was probably infused with some brine solution to keep it moist, but it is a better choice than a slice of bologna.
Hmmmp I just got my March Cooking Light this week. What good is a St. Pat's Day meal plan on the 25th???? Grrrr. Okay, rant over.
I answered this on the thread Meg linked, but basically, if you shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store, you'll hit the less processed foods. Of course, in my store that's where the luncheon meats are but also the produce, dairy products, etc. If I didn't eat frozen/canned fruits and veggies, I'd be hard put to get much, living here in the frozen north (sidenote: it has been zero F every day this week - I want spring!!). I grow some veggies and freeze them so that's a help. Same with salmon. My DH catches it, we cut it up and freeze it. But processed foods are on a line, with - as Lisa mentioned - doritos, etc on one end and raw produce on the other. I try to stay as far to the raw end as possible, given what I can get and what life puts in my path.
As to oatmeal packages - they are processed in my book, and nasty tasting to me. I can good regular Quaker Old-Fashioned oats as quickly, and if I have a little more time, steel-cut oats. Both have more fiber, and imho taste way better. Add a little fruit and nuts, and you're set.
Fat-free cheese. I never eat the stuff, to me it has no flavor. I will sometimes use the pre-shredded in a casserole or taco. I'd rather have a small portion of real cheese if I'm eating it plain. I read on another thread that if you want to cut down on cheese, remind yourself it's just flavored fat. Ewwwww.
Deli meat - I like to buy turkey breast they cut for you rather than the prepackaged. It has less additives.
My dad is a gadget master, and for Christmas a couple of years ago he bought me one of those deli meat slicers - one of the big stainless steel ones. It sat in the box for a while but I use it a lot now - it's great for DIY deli meat! I don't do this all the time, but when I'm planning on having sandwiches frequently in a particular week I'll just roast a turkey breast half or a small ham and slice it up really thinly myself. It tastes delicious, because it's the real thing - but I especially love it because of how thin I can get the slices. I don't really care for a lot of meat on a sandwich, and prefer the meat to be thin, thin, thin - the slicer works really well, and I haven't actually bought prepared deli meat in ages.
WaterRat, I totally agree with you on the fat-free cheese - I actually only eat full fat cheese, but just not a lot and not often. I find it's way more satisfying to have real cheese - and sometimes, in the case of parmesan or feta, a little can stretch a long way.
Only $119.99. I know that Linens N' Things carry them, too - most stores that have a decent kitchenware department. It IS pretty cool - it's nice to be able to flavor the meat however you want. I'm also a bit of a freak about meat - I only buy organic and like knowing that the meat I cook and use this way has been prepared by me and doesn't have anything weird in it.
edited to add: you may need to refresh the link once you click on it - I always have a problem loading the Costco website. It sits and sits, but if you click "refresh", it then loads without problem.
I thought i was doing good just to stay away from chips and junk food. and here you guys are slicing your own meat and flavoring it, etc. i'm so curious about my food, you'd think i'd do the same thing. i have to have extra lean or LEAN hamburger meat because i don't like gristle (this is only one of my many funny food things). I don't have time to do all that though. And i thought i was doing good because when i went on vacation i substituted my potatoes or fries, etc with fruit. When i got a steak one time i had a sweet potatoe with it instead of regular or fries. Even with breakfast i got like an egg, whole grain toast and fruit. LOL! Boy do i have a long way to go to eating better. I think i need a candy bar.
It's been a slow evolution for me. I didn't start by adding sliced strawberries to organic, non fat plain yogurt, I started by eating Yoplait light (for example). Over time, I found out that Yoplait is too sweet for me, now I like plain yogurt with fruit added.
Even today, I still have to balance my goals (limit processed foods as much as possible) to my reality (I would much rather by Boca burgers than smush up beans and spices to make my own veggie burgers). I buy whole wheat pasta, I buy bread, I buy whole wheat tortillas, they are convenient for me. On the other hand, I am happy to make my own pasta sauce, I like my version better! I also love to make salad dressing, but that doesn't mean I don't have a few bottles on hand. I also have a few healthy frozen meals in the freezer for those "just in case" moments when I'm starving and have no time to cook.
My goal is just to do the best job I can!
Sounds like you are doing GREAT - sweet potatoes are more nutritious than french fries and a breakfast of eggs, whole grain toast and fruit is perfect (in my opinion). Ultimately, what you do has to fit in with your life, make your own goals. I read this forum with great interest and learn lots of things - some of it I love and incorporate immediately, some of it I love but realize there is just no way I can do it on a day to day basis and some of it I don't want to do at all.
Amy, trust me, you're doing great! A 100% whole foods diet is practially undobable given most people's lives! I don't eat hamburger a lot, but when I do, it's 7%. I usually buy pre-sliced meats from the deli section vs. packaged luncheon meat, and I keep those little plastic containers of fruit and applesauce (unsweetened) around for days when I don't have fresh fruit!
Cutting chips, commerical baked goods, fried foods, fast food, candy and soda will go a long way. Keep up the good work!
Thanks you two for your encouragement. I guess i shouldn't worry too much and just do the best i can. Its really hard to break bad habits and i grew up with the worst. Candy, ice cream, little debbie's, chips, cookies, fast food. . . you name it and that's what we ate. Especially since i'm a picky eater. Mom would cook food but she got what daddy liked and if i didn't like it i didn't have to eat. Well, instead of not eating, I'd get fast food or something. And basically ALL i ever drank was sodas. My husband has been very good about not bringing any junk food into the house that i like. I can't get him to eat better but he don't have to make it hard on me. LOL! Now i still drink sodas but not like i did. Not even one a day now. but i do drink a lot of sweet tea. . .although i don't put a full cup in anymore. Its gone down to like 3/4 of a cup or 1/2 a cup or something. And i don't like plain water so i get the propel water which has some sugar but its not too bad. And i like the taste. And i drink Crystal Light. I'm not very good about buying groceries and knowing where things are and WHAT they are. Its a lot easier to eat better when you have it at your beckin' call. Like when i was on vacation. But i guess baby steps are better than no steps.
What exactly are processed foods
I just got my March Cooking Light this week. What good is a St. Pat's Day meal plan on the 25th???? Grrrr. Okay, rant over. 
but also the produce, dairy products, etc. If I didn't eat frozen/canned fruits and veggies, I'd be hard put to get much, living here in the frozen north (sidenote: it has been zero F every day this week - I want spring!!). I grow some veggies and freeze them so that's a help. Same with salmon. My DH catches it, we cut it up and freeze it. But processed foods are on a line, with - as Lisa mentioned - doritos, etc on one end and raw produce on the other. I try to stay as far to the raw end as possible, given what I can get and what life puts in my path. 
I thought i was doing good just to stay away from chips and junk food. and here you guys are slicing your own meat and flavoring it, etc. i'm so curious about my food, you'd think i'd do the same thing. i have to have extra lean or LEAN hamburger meat because i don't like gristle (this is only one of my many funny food things). I don't have time to do all that though. And i thought i was doing good because when i went on vacation i substituted my potatoes or fries, etc with fruit. When i got a steak one time i had a sweet potatoe with it instead of regular or fries. Even with breakfast i got like an egg, whole grain toast and fruit. LOL! Boy do i have a long way to go to eating better. I think i need a candy bar. 
Candy, ice cream, little debbie's, chips, cookies, fast food. . . you name it and that's what we ate. Especially since i'm a picky eater. Mom would cook food but she got what daddy liked and if i didn't like it i didn't have to eat. Well, instead of not eating, I'd get fast food or something. And basically ALL i ever drank was sodas. My husband has been very good about not bringing any junk food into the house that i like. I can't get him to eat better but he don't have to make it hard on me. LOL! Now i still drink sodas but not like i did. Not even one a day now. but i do drink a lot of sweet tea. . .although i don't put a full cup in anymore. Its gone down to like 3/4 of a cup or 1/2 a cup or something. And i don't like plain water so i get the propel water which has some sugar but its not too bad. And i like the taste. And i drink Crystal Light. I'm not very good about buying groceries and knowing where things are and WHAT they are. Its a lot easier to eat better when you have it at your beckin' call. Like when i was on vacation. But i guess baby steps are better than no steps.