One type of food that doctors and public health officials have in their sights at the moment is processed food. Processed foods are simply foods that have been changed from their original state. This covers things that have been cooked, mixed, chopped, dried, and even pasteurised, which is basically everything.
Of course, it can’t all be bad. Experts are specifically worried about the health impact of packaged processed foods – the kind you buy at the supermarket. These tend not only to be processed in the ways we’ve already mentioned but have flavourings, salt, sugar, and other unhealthy things added to them.
This article covers some foods which most people buy pre-made, but which are surprisingly easy to make at home.
The health effects of processed foods
Eating some pre-made and processed foods entails some health risks, including:
- Consuming too many calories: Additives such as sugar, fat, and salt in processed foods can make them taste better, but they also make it hard to know the amount of these harmful ingredients that you are consuming every day. You cannot see or even always taste them in processed foods. Similarly, they also result in foods containing a lot more calories than you might think.
- Increased cancer risk: The least healthy types of processed foods are called ultra-processed foods. These tend to have a lot of additives, are often unrecognisable from their ingredients’ original states, and are designed to be eaten straight away or with minimal preparation. Studies have linked the consumption of these foods with the risk of cancer.
- Fewer nutrients: Some intense ways of processing food can remove nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
Processed foods that are healthier to make at home
We all know that home-cooked food is healthier than store-bought. You probably already do this with things like sauces and stir-fries, but what about pasta or burger patties? Many people still rely on packaged versions of these. However, with just a few extra appliances from brands like Kitchenaid on your countertop, they are really easy to make at home.
- Pasta: Packaged “fresh” pasta from the supermarket is usually highly processed. There are lots of additives to give it a long shelf life, and it often undergoes heat sterilisation, destroying the nutrients.
Making pasta at home means you know exactly what’s going into it. It’s not as messy as you might think either, and you can add flavours to the pasta mix to create something new and unique.
- Burgers: Buy pre-made patties and you are likely getting the worst, fattiest cuts of meat and a generous portion of nonnutritive rusk, along with who knows what additives.
Meanwhile, mincing your own meat at home will result in something much cleaner, usually cheaper, and you can season it to your own taste.
- Bread: Cheap, bleached flour mixed with a good dollop of sugar and then frozen is what produces today’s light, flavourless supermarket loaves.
It is far cheaper, tastier, and more nutritious to make your own.
Making your own food often saves you money, results in a tastier product, and is much better for your health. These are just three suggestions to get you started, but there are many more you could try.
Sebastian is an accomplished author with a passion for storytelling. His works span various genres, from thrilling mysteries to heartfelt romance novels. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for character development, Sebastian weaves engaging narratives that captivate readers and transport them to new worlds.