Healthy Bits · Nutrition & wellness
Processed foods
"Processed" covers a lot of ground. Frozen vegetables, canned beans, plain yogurt and bagged spinach are all processed, and they're wonderful time-savers. The ones worth watching are ultra-processed foods: packaged snacks, sodas, sweetened cereals and convenience meals made mostly from refined starches, added sugars, oils and additives. Research links diets high in ultra-processed foods with poorer health outcomes, likely in part because they crowd out fiber-rich whole foods.
No food is "bad," and there's room for treats. I encourage the 90/10 spirit: mostly whole foods, with room for joy.
A simple check: if the ingredient list is short and you recognize everything on it, you're in good shape.
Try this: swap one packaged snack this week for a whole-food version, like popcorn you pop yourself or fruit with nuts.
- labels
- processed foods
- snacks
- sugar
Healthy Bits are for general education and aren’t medical advice. Check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing, take medication, or are managing a health condition.