Does anyone here still enjoy processed foods?

I've noticed a lot of people on this site are like totally anti-processed food. I don't really get it. Isn't everything ok in moderation?

I still enjoy them - but I'm more discriminating as to how much I eat and whether I enjoy them enough to warrant the extra calories, fat and sodium.  And there are some alternatives that I've found I enjoy more.

I eat them once in a while. Actually probably once a week, or even twice! But I very much enjoy eating foods that I make and know exactly whats in them. You are correct though, everything is ok in moderation :)

Love em!  Yes, I know they're not great for you...

Reality is that I have kids, a job where I can 't recall the last time I only worked 40 hours (NOT my choice!) and I also just enjoy them!

Agreed - everything in moderation, but I have at least one or two things that are processed everyday (I'd likely a lot more if I stopped and counted). 

I try to limit myself to 1 processed item for day, for example crackers or granola bars or 100 cal packs. Sometimes I have 2 but I try to avoid it. Really I eat them because I have them and I don't want to throw em away. I won't buy them though.

Yep - I still eat and enjoy some processed foods - sometimes even the ones that are REALLY processed. I generally avoid them because I think I can cook better-tasting food, frequently for less money and better nutrition, but every now and then I want a can of spaghetti-os, not spaghetti, and sometimes I'll act on that. There are things that I used to eat frequently that I just don't enjoy anymore, so I don't eat those, but I'm pretty sure there are some items I'll never lose my taste for.

 

I'm enjoying crystal light right now.  I frequently enjoy Luna Bars to the point that I always have a couple handy just in case.  I regularly eat frozen and packed foods (chicken burritos and vege lasagna) from Trader Joe's.

I generally skip the chips (not always, I'm not that good), crackers (I tend to eat the whole box), sodas, ice cream (Hagan Daaz is mighty good occasionally), licorice, candy (dark chocolate is an exception).  Twinkies haven't appealed to me for 20 years just because my taste buds matured somewhat.  Top Ramen does occasionally make it's way into my life.  Whole wheat bread is a more frequent visitor.

Original Post by smwhipple:

I'm enjoying crystal light right now.  I frequently enjoy Luna Bars to the point that I always have a couple handy just in case.  I regularly eat frozen and packed foods (chicken burritos and vege lasagna) from Trader Joe's.

I generally skip the chips (not always, I'm not that good), crackers (I tend to eat the whole box), sodas, ice cream (Hagan Daaz is mighty good occasionally), licorice, candy (dark chocolate is an exception).  Twinkies haven't appealed to me for 20 years just because my taste buds matured somewhat.  Top Ramen does occasionally make it's way into my life.  Whole wheat bread is a more frequent visitor.

 Whew - thank-you for not being perfect.  It helped me to feel better!  Yes, I know that sounds self-centred, but sometimes I feel bad for occasionally enjoying some 'treats' from time to time.  I really enjoy my processed-cheese and cracker snacks.  I used to enjoy them as a kid and recently discovered that they only have 100 calories, and I find them strangely satisfying.  I think it's because the processed cheese glows in the dark...  Likewise, I can't open a full-sized bag of chips or box of crackers.  No self-control...

lol, yes, almost everything i e at is porcessed from the box/freezer, wahtever.  i still get my dairy, also processed now that i think about it, fruits, veggies, but lots of processed foods, its convenient.

Me! I can't help it. I'm in college. Ramen factors in quite a bit. I just count it all.

I would cook more if I had more time/ money. Since I don't, processed foods are convenient for me.

Yup, everything is fine in moderation... But if you're eating a lot of processed food, is that still moderation...?

For me, it's just about preference. I eat some processed food - chocolate, icecream etc - but I do avoid it when I can... For example I will try to splurge on the best real icecream and chocolate I can afford, even if it means I don't get to eat them as often. I try to make all my main meals from unprocessed foods and save the junk for a snack or treat if I feel like it.

I don't like the idea of eating additives and chemicals, and I generally believe that the more processed a food is, the more you process out the nutrients and goodies within the food.

I also like eating unprocessed foods because of the effect on the environment processing also has - corn monocultures to produce corn syrup, factories to build the products and create chemicals to go in the products, extra packaging - it all adds up.

Another reason is cost. It works out way cheaper for me to buy real food and cook it myself than it does for me to buy pre-cooked, pre-packaged stuff.

I don't bother with processed vs unprocessed unless something seems really scary.  Chemicals tend not to scare me though.    Eating super-healthy drops my blood pressure too low and I get all faint.

Original Post by tealparadise:

I don't bother with processed vs unprocessed unless something seems really scary.  Chemicals tend not to scare me though.    Eating super-healthy drops my blood pressure too low and I get all faint.

I'd mention this to your doctor...it could be a lack of sodium or missing a particular nutrient, especially if your previous version of healthy meant low fat or low carb.

Original Post by smwhipple:

Original Post by tealparadise:

I don't bother with processed vs unprocessed unless something seems really scary.  Chemicals tend not to scare me though.    Eating super-healthy drops my blood pressure too low and I get all faint.

I'd mention this to your doctor...it could be a lack of sodium or missing a particular nutrient, especially if your previous version of healthy meant low fat or low carb.

Um, it's obviously not super healthy if it makes you faint? Low fat, low carb, low calorie or low anything does not necessarily mean healthy.

I eat pretty healthy and I don't restrict any food groups, always get a decent amount of fat and calories without eating much processed food.

From a health perspective, I would like to cut out almost all processed food. From a reality perspective, sometimes I do not care. When I'm busy working and have 15 minutes at home to eat lunch, I'm all for a lean cuisine or other frozen meal. It's not the healthiest thing I could eat, but it's fast, hot and the pizza is delicious.

When life isn't 100 mph, I'll take the time to cook, and buy almost everything fresh, but when life is hectic my only real goal is not to eat junk food.

Original Post by merylwhite1:

Yup, everything is fine in moderation... But if you're eating a lot of processed food, is that still moderation...?

 Figuring out what constitutes 'moderation' is the problem.

Original Post by thatfatgirl:

I've noticed a lot of people on this site are like totally anti-processed food. I don't really get it. Isn't everything ok in moderation?

 

Personally, I don't enjoy most heavily processed foods, and that's principally why I don't eat them...  I wouldn't eat a 'cheese string', for example, if you paid me.   Not because it's especially unhealthy but simply because it's nasty. 

Everything is OK in moderation, yes, and a 'balanced diet' means exactly that.... a balance of a lot of different foods.   However, when you're on a reduced-calorie diet in order to lose weight you can find that if it tips too far into the realm of 'processed food' you can end up feeling rather empty and dissatisfied with those calories because processed foods don't offer much in the way of nutrition.  Whereas if you choose mostly wholefoods and use processed foods very occasionally, you can feel much happier and healthier on less.

Probably most of what I eat is processed.  I'm not a cook (hate it), so most of what I eat comes from a box or a can or frozen dinner.  I do eat fruit and an occasional salad, and I drink low sodium V8 juice.  At the end of the day, when I pull up the analysis report, I'm within the recommended guidelines, except for sodium.  I also measure or weigh everything I eat, down to the celery in albacore salad.

Original Post by smwhipple:

Original Post by tealparadise:

I don't bother with processed vs unprocessed unless something seems really scary.  Chemicals tend not to scare me though.    Eating super-healthy drops my blood pressure too low and I get all faint.

I'd mention this to your doctor...it could be a lack of sodium or missing a particular nutrient, especially if your previous version of healthy meant low fat or low carb.

 unless you're 20/10, docs don't notice low blood pressure. Mine is 90/40-110/60, and they never bat an eye. My sisters is rarely over 90/40 and sometimes lower.

I have asked about it and they always say its good. I tell them I get dizzy when I stand up, they say stand up slower.

this has happened with at least 3 docs.

Doctors suck. There's no pill for LBP so what's the incentive?

I am not a candy fan. Never crave it....Actually, I eat snicker's marathon protein bars a lot, which is high in protein w/ vitamins added but nothing else really good to say. Oh well.

I don't do soda, chips, white bread or rice, ice cream (nonfat, no sugar added from TCBY does the trick for me some days) Those things don't even appeal to me. I don't like how I feel after eating them.

So heavily processed- no. But I don't think a person who still enjoys them sometimes is weak willed or anything. But there are still a decent # of things in my cabinets with HFCS. I am working on eliminating that the best I can. Its hard though.

Original Post by crazydiamondchrysalis:

Original Post by smwhipple:

Original Post by tealparadise:

I don't bother with processed vs unprocessed unless something seems really scary.  Chemicals tend not to scare me though.    Eating super-healthy drops my blood pressure too low and I get all faint.

I'd mention this to your doctor...it could be a lack of sodium or missing a particular nutrient, especially if your previous version of healthy meant low fat or low carb.

 unless you're 20/10, docs don't notice low blood pressure. Mine is 90/40-110/60, and they never bat an eye. My sisters is rarely over 90/40 and sometimes lower.

I have asked about it and they always say its good. I tell them I get dizzy when I stand up, they say stand up slower.

this has happened with at least 3 docs.

Doctors suck. There's no pill for LBP so what's the incentive?

 90-110/60-70 is my normal blood pressure.  I've asked about it and the docs always say it's fine too.  I don't get dizzy or faint though, but unless you're near dead or the BP is through the roof, most docs do ignore it.