Reducing/Eliminating Processed Foods--are any ok?

[Anonymous]

Which processed foods are either not a problem or less problematic and which are the worst? We both work FT so I can't go crazy and be making everything from scratch. We don't eat micro meals, or canned veggies etc but do have store bought yogurt, jams, canned beans sometimes, cereal, peanut butter, bread, etc. and some snack foods (pretzels, dried fruits).

I guess I'm just wondering how far one should go in eliminating processed foods.

[Anonymous]

I go by the ingredients list. If there are pretty healthy, recognizable and non-chemical ingredients and less than 25% calories from non-transfat, it gets the green light. That said, I rarely buy any processed food which is why I can't distinguish one thing from the next in my freezer full of freezer bags and pyrex

[Anonymous]

This is just one criteria that I live by:

Five ingredients or less


So, the plain yogurt in my fridge right now contains organic milk +lactobacillus. Bread = whole wheat, water, malt, yeast, canola oil, sea salt. Trader joes "triscuits" = whole wheat, sunflower oil, salt.


There are other good rules of thumb regarding added flavorings, amount of salty, etc. but the </= 5 rule is a good start. If its > 5, I just put it back on the shelf

[Anonymous]

Everything you said before sometimes is okay. Everything after is pure junk.

[Anonymous]

BPA evidently causes obesity in girls:

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/12/bpa-linked-to-obesity-in-young-girls/

[Anonymous]

All food is processed. Milk and yogurt and cheese and bread are among the most processed. What is your concern?