Don’t Eat In the Car
If you picked up an afternoon snack at the gas station on your way home from work, odds are it was pretty processed. By not eating while you drive you can cut out two of the biggest sources of processed items: fast food joints and convenience stores.
If you know you’ll need a pick me up on your way home from work, consider packing something from home in the morning, like half a sandwich or some nuts and dried fruit.
Think Locally
Locally-sourced ingredients tend to be less processed (unless you have a huge industrial food economy in your town). Paying a visit to the farmers’ market, buying bread from a local bakery, and eating out at a local restaurant that uses fresh ingredients, rather than a chain, are all good ways to support your local economy and find food that’s fresher and tastier, all while minimizing your share of processed ingredients.
Don’t Overdo It
If you can cut processed foods out of your diet most of the time, that’s a serious step! But don’t hold yourself to unrealistic standards. If you absolutely love a certain kind of preservative packed potato chip but for the most part eat super healthy meals full of fruits, veggies, grains, and protein, it’s okay to indulge every once in a while.
It’s better to have that occasional foray into processed food nostalgia than to not bother with whole foods because it’s too hard to give up those treats!
How do you cut processed foods out of your diet? Share your tips with us in the comments section!
Sources:
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-healthy-whole-foods
- https://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/10_ways_to_eat_clean?page=7
- https://www.takepart.com/photos/avoid-processed-food
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20090323/7-rules-for-eating