Should I Avoid Processed Foods?

First let’s look at what a “processed food” is

Processed food is a food that has been cooked, canned, frozen, packaged or changed in nutritional composition through preserving, fortifying, or preparing in various ways.

Now, if you look at it from that definition – processed foods aren’t so bad, am I right?!

A processed food is more than just the bag of Cheetos or Oreos on the shelf at your grocery store. It’s the fresh veggies and fruits on display at the supermarket, the rice that is sitting in your pantry right now, the meat you are grilling up this summer. If we give it a bit more context, we know it’s not so black and white.

You might be thinking, Natalie, why does this matter?

Because I see people thinking they need to avoid processed foods daily and “eat clean” or “eat whole foods”. Even these foods are processed! Keeping processed foods like frozen fruit and veggies, energy bars, dried fruit, and even frozen meals can help you increase your total nutritional intake, especially through heavier training periods.

Now, there are certainly things to look for in processed foods to maximize nutritional benefits. There are foods that fall into the “ultra-processed” food category. These foods are typically higher in sodium and sugar, and include foods such as candy, soft drinks and chips. Ultra processed foods do not contain enough of the beneficial nutrients that the body requires. So, long story short, avoid these making up a large portion of your daily diet pattern. Everything in moderation still rings true, even with ultra-processed foods.

If you are aware and in-tune with your body, something I work in detail on with each of my clients, you will know what that threshold is (amounts, frequency, etc.) when it comes to ultra-processed foods.