Alison Wheeler
Health Nut & Blogger

Processed foods might be easy to use and convenient for a busy mom, but there are many reasons you should consider keeping processed foods out of your family’s pantry. The ingredients they may contain often cause health issues later in life for yourself and your children. We might not all be nutrition majors but here are a couple of reasons to keep this food out of your family’s diet.

Dyes

Processed food may contain artificial ingredients such as dyes. These dyes and coloring chemicals have been linked to a variety of medical ailments such as hyperactivity, increased hormone levels, cancer and learning difficulties. Dyes can be found in foods such as ready-made snacks, pastries, drinks and gelatin. To ensure a healthy future for your family, it’s important to make efforts to avoid these dyes, as possible, by buying natural foods instead.

Trans Fat and Hydrogenated Oil

At one time people were unaware of the dangers of trans fat and partially hydrogenated oils within foods. However, some moms might not know that trans fats have been implicated in numerous diseases that affect the heart and circulation. Hydrogenated oil and trans fat can cause clogged blood vessels and can lead to heart disease and heart attacks. This type of additive is found in most processed foods such as microwave meals, chips, pastries and sauces. Eliminate them by making healthier selections. Sliced apples can be dried to make for a crunchy snack, or look for tortilla chips without salt or added oils.

Sugar

Although sugar from natural sources and is OK in a healthy amount, many processed foods contain white refined sugar, which has been bleached and converted from its natural state. This type of sugar is just empty calories and does not serve any nutritional value. This sugar is then converted into fat in your children’s’ bodies and leads to obesity at a young age. Monitor your child’s sugar intake and try using natural sugar whenever possible. Although sugars occur naturally in fruits and vegetables, they are healthy alternatives to processed snack foods. Easy to peel tangerines, for example, are sure to please the kids and adults in any household.

Sweeteners

In a bid to avoid refined sugars, a lot of processed foods now contain sweeteners, many of which are processed with chemicals. When combined and placed in processed foods, they can have negative effects and can act like free radicals to destroy healthy tissue and start the growth of tumors and cancer. Instead of artificially sweetened drinks, try water served with strawberries or a squirt of lemon juice as a pleasing refreshment.

Preservatives

Preservatives in processed foods also contribute to health issues. Preservatives are added to processed food to prolong the shelf life at home and in the grocery store and to keep it from spoiling. Remember that when you and your family ingest these preservatives, your organs have to breakdown these chemicals to get rid of them.

Keeping a healthy pantry may not happen overnight, but it can be integrated into your life over time. Step by step, try to replace processed foods with healthy alternatives in your home. Shop the outer isles of the grocery store to find fresh meats, fruits and vegetables, and remember, a gradual change is better than no change at all. Try your best to eat healthier and you might just feel better too!

This post was originally posted several years ago on the now-defunct Mom’s Choice Matters blog.

About Alison Wheeler

Alison is a health nut and blogger who freelances for DegreeJungle.com, a company that helps students, parents and go-getters learn more about their choices in getting a degree online.

View all posts by Alison Wheeler here.