Eat the Rainbow Winter: Produce Myth #1- Are All Processed Foods Bad for You?
By Julie Lanford MPH, RD, CSO, LDN Cancer Dietitian
This week, we’ll be addressing a common myth about healthy eating!
MYTH: All processed foods are bad.
FACT: Processed and convenience foods are a great way to get more nutrition into your day!
Processed foods are a big topic these days. I always hear people say that we should never eat processed foods. The thing is, there is no official definition of a processed food. Some people call anything pre-packaged processed, others only mean foods with a lot of additives. To me, a processed food is anything not found in its natural state.
Watermelons don’t grow pre-cut and in a convenient, ready-to-eat package so I’d say that is some “processing”. Oreos, while delicious, aren’t exactly something I could forage for in the woods so again, I’d called that processed, and to a greater extent than the watermelon.
So, are processed foods bad? Absolutely not. Are they more convenient? Definitely. For me, the more convenient a vegetable is, the more likely I am to eat it. To be totally honest, some days I struggle to get vegetables on the table- life is hectic and busy. Processed food options make it a lot easier.
The frozen, steam-in-bag veggies are some of my absolute favorites. So are the pre-mixed salad bags- check out the “recipe” below for some ideas about how to make them your own!
At the end of the day, the healthiest fruit or vegetable is the one you actually eat!! If processed foods make it easier for you to get the nutrients you need, then they are a great option.
PRODUCE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: CABBAGE
Cabbage is part of the cruciferous vegetable family (along with broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc.), and has some great health benefits!
This group of vegetables is known for their cancer-preventing properties, and many studies have linked increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables to decreased incidence of several types of cancer.
Cabbage and its cruciferous friends are high in fiber, folate, vitamin C, and compounds called glucosinolates.
Glucosinolates are compounds that have been shown to prevent cancer by increasing carcinogen elimination from the body and increasing the production of tumor-fighting proteins.
HOW TO MAKE IT DELICIOUS!
Raw, steamed, or roasted – cabbage can be eaten in a variety of different ways! It often gets a bad reputation for being bitter and smelly, but if prepared correctly it is delicious! Try out this Roasted Cabbage recipe for the easiest way to prepare it, just a few slices, brushing with oil, and into the oven until it’s crispy!