This reminds me that "processed" is very much in the mind of the beholder.
I don't consider canned tomatoes or canned fish or chicken "processed foods" even though they technically are (minimally processed I would argue, but still processed).
I don't stress at all over whole-processed foods. Frozen or canned veggies and meats... where the only added ingredients are herbs, spices, and salt (I tend to have very low blood sodium levels, so my doctor actually will encourage me to add salt if the blood levels get too low).
Condiments I also don't worry about because I use them in such small amounts, and I'm definitely not going to learn to make my own soy sauce (ketchup maybe... then again maybe not).
I do now make my own yogurt (though some folks considered all pasteurized dairy products from milk to cheese - processed foods).
I make my own jerky, but because of the high salt levels (despite what I said about salt earlier, jerky is an acception) I do consider even my own jerky highly "processed."
Some folks don't consider home-baked goods processed foods, but I do, because nothing like brownies grow on trees.
I consider most flours even whole grain flours highly processed - some people don't.
Processed really is in the eye of the beholder.
Exactly. That's why I don't stress about it too much. I think most things are at least a little processed. I wouldn't even consider taking recognizable food and processing it into your own condiments (like mayo) or making your own jerky with beef to be "processed food" or even canning your own fruit and veggies. But I do consider commercially-manufactured versions with the associated preservatives, stabilizers, enhancers and dyes, whether natural or chemical, to be processed.
Living in the tropics, I'm not that mad at preservatives, stabilizers and pasteurization. EVERYTHING spoils here really quickly, refrigerated or not. I try to make common sense nutritious choices and to make my Frankenfood work for me in a nutritious way. But to be honest, I don't stress too much about whether something is processed or it's not.
Last edited by toastedsmoke; 10-25-2012 at 01:48 AM.
Very true, ladies! That's why I focus on the types of foods and chemicals that make me fat/sick/addicted, as opposed to a sweeping category of food. It just so happens most prepackaged, heavily processed foods have the stuff I'm sensitive to!
Even with my ketchup, dehydrated iced tea, or seaweed, I think my diet is pretty darn clean. It's about eating what promotes my health, not religiously eschewing anything in a wrapper
Last edited by Arctic Mama; 10-25-2012 at 09:25 AM.
Reason: Clarification
I do, mostly because without some of it I wouldn't be able to stick with my diet long-term. I eat less of it than before, but it's still there. Also, there are days when my husband and I are too lazy to stand in the kitchen cooking, and taking some quick dinner solution out of the freezer is a much better option than ordering that pizza or getting those greasy burgers. In most cases, anyway
I like what a lot of people are saying here... I don't get too stressed out about it...
I sort of see "processed" food along a spectrum... from let's say some really good high quality chocolate (maybe completely off limits and considered complete "junk" food to some, but I don't see it that way...) to let's say a Twinkie which I think is about as "processed" as you can get and just not something that I want to eat...
My bigger problem is all the "prepared" food that I eat... I have a much harder time avoiding all the absolutely delicious looking things that are there right in front of me that look amazing and are "ready to eat" at the places where I shop...
I eat plenty of processed/packaged foods. (They are going to have to pry my Cheez-its and frozen waffles out of my cold, dead hands. ) Didn't affect my weight loss, hasn't affected my maintenance.
Yes I love my fiber one bars they get my sweet tooth fixation (plus I get my fiber) hmm yes I eat a lot of tuna yum yum. Idk maybe it's not a huge deal to eat entirely "clean" I get frozen veggies it's way more convenient.
I can't say I have 100% given up processed foods, but they now are a very small part of my eating. The more I study about HOW they are processed and what is actually IN them, the fewer of them I eat.
The only items I've officially cut out of my diet is ice cream and chips because I can not control myself. I had to ween myself off of sugar and candy (didn't have any in July - September), so now I can have a very little and still maintain control. I don't have too many canned items just because of the sodium.
This reminds me that "processed" is very much in the mind of the beholder.
That's so true! Same with the terms "whole foods" or "clean foods". Perception is everything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by sumire
I eat plenty of processed/packaged foods. (They are going to have to pry my Cheez-its and frozen waffles out of my cold, dead hands. ) Didn't affect my weight loss, hasn't affected my maintenance.
Whatever is sustainable is the best eating plan, as far as I'm concerned.
This is pretty much my motto. When I was concentrating on primarily counting calories, I had some Cheez-its and such. I am experimenting now on lowering my carbs and so quit eating these types of processed foods but I may add them back in at some point.
I don't have the time nor the patience to make sure every single thing I eat is 100% perfect. I just can't; I would lose my mind.
I avoid what I call "real" junk. This is legit fast food (i.e. anything from a burger joint that's not a salad, grilled chicken sandwich, or some other healthier/lower cal alternative), heavy desserts, candy, cookies, cakes, chips, frozen meals that aren't of the "lean cuisine" type, ya know, things that we all know are absolutely terrible for you.
Now, that doesn't mean I never have this stuff, but I can usually control my portions. I have one cookie, or a small sized candy bar, or just one or two scoops of ice cream. Or I get low-cal, portioned-out versions of snack food, like just recently I bought a 100 calorie pack of mini brownies, some low-cal granola bars, frozen yogurt and popsicles. Stuff that's might not be 100% healthy, but it's low-cal and won't kill my budget.
I'm not someone who binges or mindlessly snacks, and snack food doesn't really "trigger" me, so I can probably get away with a lot more of this stuff than some people can. My triggers are the big-time no-nos: heavy fast food, heavy desserts, and all the obvious garbage-type foods that I mentioned before. My lifestyle change was eliminating the real garbage.
Yep! Just because it's packaged, doesn't mean it is total junk. And convenience is huge for me. I lost all the weight and have maintained for a year eating whole foods, as well as packaged foods in crunch times.
I don't have any problem with processed foods in theory, but have given up most of them for the simple fact that serving size is small and calorie and carb count is high. I maintain on about 1500 calories a day and I like to be full. Can't do that on sugary cereal and crackers. If I'm going to splurge, then it's going to be something special, not graham crackers.
What a great question. I enjoyed reading all of the responses as well. Like some have already said I see 'processed' foods as existing on a spectrum from chain grocery fresh fruit and veg to kraft dinner. LOL Can you get much more processed?
I try to eat whole foods or as close to whole most of the time. I do purchase my fruit and veg from local farmers at a farmers market. In the winter I eat mainly apples, carrots, onions, cabbage - you get the picture. These are also organic whenever possible. I do buy some things like bananas because they will never be local here. At least not yet. With the greenhouse effect who knows?
I also buy meat from the farmer at this market. I do not eat pork. Some of the most processed foods I eat are vegetarian, just like ground, faux chicken patties and the such. Remnants of my vegetarian days. I have a goal to make my own black bean burgers etc. Like others mentioned (kaplods et al) I grow weary of food prep.
I also snack on pop chips, kale chips, cottage cheese and baby bel lights.
So I try but will never give up my coffee, beer or pop chips.
