If you try your hardest to avoid “ultra processed foods”….

[ReeseWitherfork]

There’s an article on the BBC website about “ultra processed foods” and it’s got me wondering if I can make some easy swaps on things. I am sure there are some people out there who’ve explored this before. I cook from scratch, eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, but I’m wondering if I need to start looking at things like a bread maker (we’re a fan of a sandwiches my house!)…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65754290

Has anyone found non-UPF sausages anywhere, or similar alternatives?

The Aldi 100% peanut butters have become a staple here, both the smooth and the crunchy are good. They also make a 100% almond butter but I find that isn't smooth enough for my liking.

On bread, any Bertinet bakery loaf (available from Waitrose) is only flour, water, yeast, salt and seeds. They’re delicious and freeze well.

Echo the Pip & whatever peanut butter -we like it here. Although we do like the Meridian one too. My aunt buys me homemade marmalade from her local WI and we don't actually have any other spreads except Marmite for me once or twice a year and the odd bit of jam for DH!

I just can't get too worked up about the occasional sauce/condiment or even some ham/salami etc. Especially as the vast bulk of our meals are cooked from scratch and I don't, as a rule, use a lot in the way of pre-made sauces - a bit of soy sauce or sriracha occasionally is about it.

But we do eat a lot of bread - all of us have bread at least once a day - and that was stressing me out. So I bought a bread maker. So far so good although we only got it shortly before half term so aren't fully into the routine of it. I definitely need to get into the habit of buying bigger bags of flour - the one that's in that the moment is 2/3 white and 1/3 wholewheat as I didn't have enough white flour. I suspect me, DH and DS will like it but DD will be another story as she's fussy.

The other thing I'm trying to be more mindful of is chicken nuggets/ fishfingers etc. I do a pretty good crumbed chicken breast myself so we have that sometimes (or rather, DD does) or I buy the Waitrose ones that I think are definitely processed but not sure they're UHP.

I really like the Whole Earth drizzler peanut butter, although it stops drizzling after 2/3rds of the jar!
But my favourite is Yumello - not sure if you can buy it in shops but I ordered direct and it is delicious. Made in the UK, no palm oil.

Pretty sure Sun Pat doesn't have palm oil.

I do not eat any upf. The only processed food that I eat is cheese and I buy that direct from the farm so it is as natural as possible. It’s easy for me except when joining in on a social event where the kitchen gets all its food from Brake Bros. then asking for steak cooked only in olive oil (not seed oil) and veg unadulterated by some festering gloop, you’d think I was asking for manna.
I have to keep inflammation low for a health condition and eating ‘clean’ is the best way.

Sunpat peanut butter is 95% peanuts and not too bad, call it processed not UPF.

Aldi do 100% peanut butter crunchy and smooth as PP mentioned, I do like their almond butter. And they are cheap.

I think people in the US have a fairly crappy choice compared with us Brits.

Remember, perfection is not the aim.

This is impressive. What have you noticed in terms of health benefits?

I am terrible about this. We have three pre-school children and it is a constant struggle.

The one thing I've found really helps is making naan bread in the breadmaker. It can be anything from an instant pizza base to a wrap or rolls, cooks quickly and is mostly natural yoghurt so I get some protein in to the kids as well.

Naan bread in beeadmaker.... recipe please!!!

I've found this one reliable, but don't often bother with the melted butter. I just chuck in a bit more yoghurt and a slug of olive oil.

It really helps to make it in the morning and then put in the fridge for the day. Much easier to prod into approximate shape work with.

https://breaddad.com/bread-machine-naan-easy-indian-bread-recipe/

I've done this, I haven't tried to eliminate all upfs but we have cut down and we've focussed especially on emulsifiers as my DS has a health problem which may be linked to emulsifiers. He has got lots better but obviously can't say if that would have happened anyway.

I've replaced sliced bread with sourdough, I've not managed to get rid of breakfast cereal completely but we have a lot more porridge, yogurt, fruit etc.

Thank you. Will give it a try!

With the exception of olive oil, all in the list contain saturated fat. We have been told for years to avoid these as they cause heart attacks!

Can anyone advise on breakfast cereals?

Is there anything other than porridge that is not a UPF?

So far I think: Dorset Cereals Museli and Shredded Wheat might be ok, Weetabix is UPF - which I wasn’t expecting.

There is an American food blogger called Lisa Leake, her Facebook is 100 days of real food, lots of good ideas (if a bit American!) for getting children into healthier eating, packed lunches etc

Manilife peanut butter is wonderful…

I have just watched the documentary
Found it really depressing
Lots of focus on the problems
Not much on the solutions

Any alternatives to stock cubes or stock pot? Yes, I know I could make stock from scratch, but is that the only alternative?

@7Worfs can I ask your source for concerns re sunflower oil? I thought it was nova 2. Thanks in advance

Op my advice would be to read or listen to Ultra processed people and join a Facebook group about quitting upf. I've done it with a newborn in tow. Lost 6 pounds in 3 weeks. I think I was previously Britain's most prolific consumer of sweetener!

@Orangeradiorabbit Dr coys vegetable bouillon

@bowlingalleyblues sainsburys gluten free cornflakes are fine

I've just brought this book to read as I have been thinking a lot about cutting it all right down too

Good question! I've never successfully done stock from scratch and when I make soup without be cubes it's a bit pants.