Processed (or sus) Food Replacements

[Anonymous]

S/O from this thread on the power of processed foods and sugar:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/1213724.page

What do you NOT trust and what are you cooking, prepping, replacing with. That's why I put this in the food forum.

I make my own crackers and bread. I **think??** my unbleached flour is OK but I don't know how to do better with that.

Tofu is very processed but I love it. Just got some tips from a friend about making my own from dried soybeans. It will still be a process, but will be my process. Worth it?

Would love any other thoughts, no matter how obvious or complex.

[Anonymous]

I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

Oh girl, I am fat and prediabetic and I’ve always shopped at Whole Foods. That won’t protect you lol.

[Anonymous]

I do all my own baking as well. Try to find organic flour, or at least flour that isn’t “enriched.”

I don’t think making your own tofu is worth it. Plus the Japanese eat a ton of it and they love to 110.

If you’re cooking at home from scratch you’re 99% of the way there.

[Anonymous]

Stop eating crackers and bread in the first place and you won't have to worry about wheat. 90% of wheat in the US is gmo too. Hard pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

Oh girl, I am fat and prediabetic and I’ve always shopped at Whole Foods. That won’t protect you lol.

Girl, then you are doing it wrong. I'm thin, fit, no health issues and shop only at Whole Foods too.

[Anonymous]

I prefer making bread, tortillas. I like to get flour from places that mill or grow their own grains. I love tofu, butlers soy curls. I avoid palm and coconut oil. Avoid all animal products. Prefer to rehydrate dried beans rather than use canned. I’ve made my own soy milk, but I prefer to buy Trader Joe’s or west soy, my homemade just doesn’t work when making homemade yogurt. I use date syrup instead of sugar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

Oh girl, I am fat and prediabetic and I’ve always shopped at Whole Foods. That won’t protect you lol.

Girl, then you are doing it wrong. I'm thin, fit, no health issues and shop only at Whole Foods too.

Yeah obviously, I am just saying food being from Whole Foods doesn’t protect you from overeating.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone make their own peanut butter? I buy a very good natural peanut butter that is nothing but peanuts, but it comes in plastic jars which I’m not thrilled about. Considering making my own and wondering about that endeavor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

Oh girl, I am fat and prediabetic and I’ve always shopped at Whole Foods. That won’t protect you lol.

Girl, then you are doing it wrong. I'm thin, fit, no health issues and shop only at Whole Foods too.

Yeah obviously, I am just saying food being from Whole Foods doesn’t protect you from overeating.

Also Whole Foods sells plenty of ultra processed food products that aren’t really food, too. There are plenty of fat unhealthy vegans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

Oh girl, I am fat and prediabetic and I’ve always shopped at Whole Foods. That won’t protect you lol.

Sigh. No, as you might have guessed from my explanation, I am careful about what I buy, even at Whole Foods. That chain reduces my workload on the processing end. Not the sugar or cholesterol end. I still have to read ingredients careful and plan ahead in terms of sugar and carb content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone make their own peanut butter? I buy a very good natural peanut butter that is nothing but peanuts, but it comes in plastic jars which I’m not thrilled about. Considering making my own and wondering about that endeavor?

Aren't most nut butters just the nut? Also a WF shopper, and the almond butter I buy is 100% organic almonds in glass jars. Maisie Jane, or some such brand.

No store will protect you from yourself, but I really appreciate that WF does a lot of the work for you. You have less junk to wade through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do all my own baking as well. Try to find organic flour, or at least flour that isn’t “enriched.”

I don’t think making your own tofu is worth it. Plus the Japanese eat a ton of it and they love to 110.

If you’re cooking at home from scratch you’re 99% of the way there.

Thanks! I make my crackers from oat - should have mentioned that- I get steel cut and then combine with processed. I think that's ok. I food process them all to bits.

I will try to find flour that is not enriched but I am aware that it sounds like our flour is still "different" which is too bad.

Noted on the tofu! I think I agree. Will look on here for other things that are better worth my while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I shop at Whole Foods, which eliminates some guesswork, because even though technically "bread" is a processed food, a sourdough boule from the WF bakery has fewer ingredients and is less processed than a sandwich loaf (from WF or elsewhere). The canned salmon is in PBA-free cans. The deli meats are often minimally nitrated, and I buy in moderation. Their packaged foods are usually not ultra-processed, just regular processed, so occasionaly I buy some.

No. The fight is with the humans who live with me. My spouse will go to any supermarket and buy whatever's on sale and looks good, without checking the ingredients, and the kids obviously eat all the snacks he brings home. He has high blood pressure and is prediabetic, and we just found out that our oldest is prediabetic as well (also he's UNDERweight). I don't understand how he doesn't care for his family's health better. Food changes are so easy to make if you have the money, and we definitely have the money.

Oh girl, I am fat and prediabetic and I’ve always shopped at Whole Foods. That won’t protect you lol.

Girl, then you are doing it wrong. I'm thin, fit, no health issues and shop only at Whole Foods too.

Yeah obviously, I am just saying food being from Whole Foods doesn’t protect you from overeating.

Also Whole Foods sells plenty of ultra processed food products that aren’t really food, too. There are plenty of fat unhealthy vegans.

I ran into this issue when I had to cut dairy for breastfeeding. WF has so many vegan/dairy free options and half of them are full of junk. I just didn't bother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I prefer making bread, tortillas. I like to get flour from places that mill or grow their own grains. I love tofu, butlers soy curls. I avoid palm and coconut oil. Avoid all animal products. Prefer to rehydrate dried beans rather than use canned. I’ve made my own soy milk, but I prefer to buy Trader Joe’s or west soy, my homemade just doesn’t work when making homemade yogurt. I use date syrup instead of sugar.

Good list. I'm working on being organized enough to soak beans rather than open cans. How long can you keep soaked beans in the fridge before you have to do something?