Processed Foods, Part 2

Americans eat a lot of processed foods, and the rest of the world is not far behind. Highly processed foods make up over half (50-60%!) of the calories we eat, and these tend to have more sodium, sugar, and unhealthful fats than less-processed foods. That means they increase our risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic disorders (leading to lower quality of life, expensive meds, & shortened life expectancy). Top sources of highly processed foods include breakfast cereal, instant soup, frozen meals, and sodas.

Just One Thing to do: After revisiting my previous “Just One Thing to do”, make a shopping list to replace these processed culprits. Try oatmeal and Cheerios in place of sweetened cereal; low sodium chicken vegetable soup in place of instant chicken noodle; frozen chicken tenderloins and vegetables in place of frozen dinners; popcorn instead of chips, and sparkling water in place of sweet soda.