Just Another Reason to Skip Processed Food
I debated about posting this photo for quite some time. Not because of the general point of it, but just because it has the word shit in it. Although it comes out of my mouth from time to time I try to be a respectful of others. But at the end of the day this is my corner of the web and I guess if people don’t like my photos or my language they have the right to leave my site.
But seriously, I can’t be the only one out there who thinks chemicals are crap. Who else thinks that? It wasn’t always like that for me. In 2013 I started eating low carb in an honest effort to battle my PCOS. Between lowering my carbs and watching the glycemic index I realized that all of these things in fat-free and low-fat foods maybe just are so good for me after all. I started to dig some more and realized many of them are triggers for migraine, inflammation, and tons of gut problems …all of which I have issues with. So, I started to eliminate much of it from my diet.
I won’t lie, I am not perfect. I do try to follow the 80/20 principle of eating awesome 80% of the time and allowing myself that cheat meals 20% of the time. So, there are times here and there when I break down and eat some overly processed crap. I can’t help it. I have a thing for those tiny McDonald’s cheeseburgers with extra mustard and those Meximelts from Taco Bell. I even enjoy a frozen pizza or Salisbury steak from time to time. It’s comfort. I know it’s not good for me but sometimes I just want it.
I’ve come a long way in my processed food eating. There once was a time in my life when I was having frozen boxed meals and canned items every day.
I’ve also realized that the longer I go without eating that stuff the less I have cravings for them. Except for those damn cheeseburgers. I’m telling you they are evil. And before anyone starts with the “but you can make your own awesome cheeseburger at home with fresh beef.” Yes, I know. And, I do.
And…I can count on one hand how many times a year I eat at McDonald’s. I’m not stressing about how infrequent I eat my processed foods of choice.
However, I might be a little more selective about what I pick out of the freezer section. While trolling through the latest news today to figure out what I should write about for my so-called freelance job I came across something pretty gross. How many of you have seen the news about Hot Pockets? Now, raise your hand if you are someone who consumes Hot Pockets? I have to raise my hand here. I’ve been known to eat Lean Pockets, but it’s been years since I have let any pass through these lips. And now, I doubt I’ll ever eat one again.
Hot Pockets is under fire today for voluntarily recalling two varieties of Hot Pockets according to CNN Health. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled 8.7 million pounds of “unwholesome meat products” which included boxes of beef carcasses, beef blood, beef hearts, and veal bones, among other things. The USDA stated that Rancho Feeding Company “processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection.”
mmmmmmm yummy. Who is hungry for lunch?
I do agree: low sugar, fat free etc. all are triggers for me too. I stay away, totally. We haven’t had a “soda” in our house in 25 years! and McDonalds: well, once a year at most and only because there is no choice on the Jersey Turnpike!
Stay healthy!
I wish I could get better about the soda. My husband is a soda junkie but at least he’ll pick diet so he isn’t drinking his calories. I drink less than one a week and one 12oz bottle lasts me a couple days because the fizz bugs me. I’m really interested in investing in a Soda Stream but I am still debating about it.
Yeah, Hot Pockets are a good example of sh…er, crap. LOL (Of course, I say this as I sit here drinking a Diet Coke. **SIGH**)
When I got sick with ulcerative colitis, I knew I needed to make dietary changes to stay as healthy as possible. That meant cutting out many processed foods. Now, I didn’t cut them all out, just WAY down. I actually go through the aisles now and think “gross. look at all this crap. I can’t believe I once put it into my body.”
While I try to steer away from processed foods, I do think that sometimes we “waste” a lot. Bones, for example are usually wasted, but there is research showing the benefits of bone broth.
I try to make as much from scratch as possible, but I am definitely not perfect. I will say that I can tell that I have consumed more sodium when I prepare stuff by the box because my fingers will swell often times.
I am just like this. I do my best and when I do eat out of a box, my fingers swell like whoa. Its scary sometimes.