Tips To Ditch Processed Foods
Doesn’t it just seem that sometimes we are on an endless hamster wheel of life? Rushing out the door to school and work and then home just to rush out again to everyone’s activities.
It’s no wonder that the processed food industry was estimated to be valued at 2 billion USD in 2022! There is no argument that it is faster and easier to grab a granola bar out of the box rather than spend the time making your own. But with anything that comes cheap, easy or free; there is a cost somewhere. Unfortunately, with processed foods, the cost will eventually surface in your health or the health of your children.
The food found on our grocery stores shelves today are much different than those our grandparents would have consumed. Food manufacturers have found incredible ways to extend shelf life and cut costs but using low quality or manipulated ingredients.
Preparing foods from scratch in your home is the best way to have control over the ingredients your family is consuming. And I’m here to show you that it does not have to be time consuming! With a little preparation, you can start feeling good about what you are putting into your body.
Here are my top tips for making the transition to a less processed life. Let’s baby step you in that direction!
Clear your pantry. Start by taking everything out, clean the shelves and take a close look at what you have in there. Pitch anything that is old, or wouldn’t pass the test of the new you. Yup, time to toss the cocoa puffs. Keep things like, whole oats, quinoa, whole grain flours, rice, dried fruit and nuts.
Shop the outside of the store. Stock up fruits, vegetables, hummus, yogurts etc. Try to challenge yourself to buy the least from the inside aisles.
Prep that food you just bought! By having chopped veggies and washed fruit on hand and ready to eat, you will be more likely to pull that out for an afterschool snack rather than reach for the fishy crackers.
Don’t beat yourself up. If your kiddos have their favourite store bought foods, maybe cut back to buying only one or two products instead of the five you would normally buy. You can also swap them out for a version that has better quality ingredients but know that better processed food is still processed food.
Set aside time in your week to plan. Those who are most successful in change always have a plan. Even if you deviate from it, at least you have one to fall back on. I recommend making a Pintrest board that you can browse and collect recipes and even categorize them for easy finding. Then write down the ones your kids love in a notebook for easy kitchen reference.
Set aside time to cook. There is no shortcut here. Making wholesome food at home does require time. I’m not one to meal prep ahead of time. I’ll be honest, I tried it for a while and I just didn’t like it. I found that I was resentful that my entire Sunday was chewed up in the kitchen. And then I had to make dinner! Now, I make a plan for what recipe we will have each night and I always have one or two nights that are simple; breakfast for dinner or a pasta night. I spend my time on Sundays grocery shopping and making a few snacks like muffins or breads and that’s it! I save the cooking for the night of.
That’s all it takes. Some conscious thought behind what you are buying and why and having a plan to see you through the week. Was this helpful? Let me know!
Holly
