Processed foods in grocery stores aisles can be good for you? Really?…YES
These days popular nutrition “gurus” often make healthy eating harder that it needs to be. Sound healthy eating must be easy so we can all do it. In this post I’ll address two common “rules” that may have you avoiding healthy foods that can improve your health and vitality.
The first “rule” that you hear “experts” spout over and over is: “You should only buy foods from the perimeter of the grocery store.” This myth has been around for years. While there are definitely healthy foods on the perimeter, food placement in the store doesn’t make it healthier. Where I shop, bakery pies and cakes, high fat meats and beer are on the outside aisles. Not exactly the recipe for a healthy life style.
It reminds me of another common misconception: “Don’t anything white“. The color of a food doesn’t make it bad. I know people who stopped eating onions and cauliflower because they are white after their health care provider gave that advice.
There are many times nutrition advice is too simplified to make good sense.
The basic rules still apply - fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good choices, regardless of their color.
The other “rule” that has people confused when they shop is: “Don’t eat processed foods“. Processed foods have a bad connotation but when asked what it means people have different definitions:
- foods that come in a bag or box
- anything in the snack food aisle
- commercially prepared foods
- foods with ingredients you don’t have at home
Processing food is the act of deliberately changing food to make it available for us to eat.
Processing food includes something as simple as cutting and cooking it. Freezing or canning foods to increase its shelf life is a form of processing. Some foods are more highly processed and combine ingredients to make new products, such as potato chips and cookies.
Simply put, most foods are processed but that says very little about its nutritional value. Instead of thinking “processed”, think “nutritional value”. Does this food contain a lot of healthy nutrients? Is it nutritious? Also look to see if the product has added fat, sodium, and sugar.
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are all nutritious. Eating frozen or canned fruits (especially in its own juice) and vegetables (no salt added available) and are healthy options. They are convenient and don’t spoil. Having them on hand increases the chance of eating a healthy balanced diet.
Here are more of my favorite “processed” foods found in the inner aisles of the grocery store:
By the way, just because you can’t pronounce something on the ingredient list doesn’t make it unhealthy. Try not to worry. Our food supply is generally safe. Enjoy!
For more on healthy eating download my free guide, “How to Eat when you have Diabetes & Still Enjoy your Favorite Foods!”
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