Why You Should Be Eating Less Processed Foods For Health And Money

Processed foods are all around us, but can it really be a coincidence that the rise in processed food uptake has matched the rise of unhealthy lifestyles, food intolerances, and obesity?

We aren’t saying they’re entirely the problem, but we don’t think they’re the solution either.

In fact, processed foods are one thing you should probably be eating less of. Whatever you’re trying to do to be healthier right now, or trying to save money for the future, getting rid of some of the overly processed foods in your diet is a great first step. Why? Well, let us explain.

Why You Should Eat Less Processed Foods

1. Less Unknown Ingredients

Most people like to know what they’re eating, and will question everything if served up something in a restaurant that they don’t recognise. But for some reason, this attitude doesn’t extend to processed foods, where we seem quite happy to eat whatever is in the packet, even if we don’t recognise the ingredients on the back. Sure, these ingredients are regulated and have been designated as food-safe (i.e. ok to eat) but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily healthy, and it doesn’t mean you should eat them all the time.

2. Fresh Is Best

When it comes to food, fresh and natural is pretty much always the best choice you can make. There are a few exceptions, and we’ll cover them later, but by and large choosing fresh foods that act naturally is going to be better for you. By acting naturally, we mean that the fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy, that you choose to purchase have a natural shelf-life, meaning, they aren’t full of preservatives, and that they’re as close to the original as you can get.

3. Save Money

The other reason you should eat less processed foods is to save money. In most cases, processed foods sell us on convenience. We’re often time-poor, and processed foods allow us the luxury of getting things we want, like nice meals, without all the work. This is fine, but for families on a budget, these convenience foods are often much more expensive, and you can save considerably without too much effort on your part. Think critically about the foods you purchase processed that you could probably make at home, like pasta sauce and meal bases, which often have hidden nasties you aren’t expecting.

What Processed Foods Are Ok?

Now, we aren’t saying all processed food is evil, because that’s definitely not true. Some of our favourite food items wouldn’t exist without processing, which means they’re fine to eat. Here are some you should be adding to your shopping trolley.

1. Canned Beans

While you can easily make your own beans by purchasing them dry and cooking them up in a pot or slow cooker, canned beans are not such a bad alternative. Providing you don’t pick varieties that are too high in salt, choose no added salt if possible, canned beans are nutritious and downright convenient.

2. Frozen Fruit and Veg

Many people mistakenly blast frozen vegetables and fruit, but the truth is that frozen produce, picked and frozen at its nutritional peak, is actually pretty damn good. In fact, in most cases, it’s just as good as fresh food, relatively cheap, and allows you to eat produce that might not be in season. It’s also a good motivator to eat more fruit and vegetables.

3. Wholewheat Bread and Pasta

Carbs and gluten products do get a pretty bad rap these days, but most of that is just bad press. Wholewheat and wholegrain breads and pastas are usually pretty good just as long as they’re eaten in moderation. They’re filling, and make a good base for meals.

4. Yoghurt

Most of us know that yoghurt is healthy and good for digestion, but the market is absolutely flooded with flavoured yoghurts that aren’t really so good. Even varieties containing fruits and marketed as healthy are often high in sugar, and best avoided. However, plain yoghurt, flavoured with your own cut fruit, is perfectly healthy and full of healthy nutrients.

5. Nuts and Nut Butters

Nuts and nut butters are a very calorie dense food, which means they should always be eaten mindfully and in moderation. However, providing that you choose low sugar and salt varieties, this kind of processed food is really fine, and not worth beating yourself up over.

6. Milk

Milk is processed to make it safe to eat, so it’s definitely one of the ‘good guys’ of the processed food world. We couldn’t drink milk unless it was processed, and processed milk can be fortified with nutritional extras to make it even better for us. Definitely ok!

How do you feel about processed foods?