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

319 replies

ReeseWitherfork · 05/06/2023 12:22

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

Three slices of ham folded on white bread with slices of cheese and bread surrounding it

Could ultra-processed foods be harmful for us?

Panorama investigates the links between UK's food safety advisors and the ultra-processed food industry.

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

OP posts:
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Blossomed · 06/06/2023 06:52

Just realised that I’ve probably asked too many questions on OP’s thread and probably should have started another one! Sorry! 🙈

Caspianberg · 06/06/2023 07:00

@ReeseWitherfork - I don’t make my own nuggets ( Ds doesn’t eat meat really anyway).
But in a rush Toddler food here is something like scrambled or boiled eggs and toast, with Greek yogurt and fruit after. Simple, little prep, fairly cheap and most eat.

I also freeze a lot to save time. Such as bolognaise will be sow cooked with lots of veg, then freeze into some family size, and a some just toddler size portions. Then if I need in a rush to feed him it’s a quick defrost and pasta.
I also make mini apple purée muffins and freeze, just take out for snacks on the go as and when.

ReeseWitherfork · 06/06/2023 07:02

Really want to find a way to stop other people shoveling my kids full of crap under the pretense of 'oh they can have a treat once in a while'. Yes, of course they can, but you're now the 5th person to say it this week now
I have this problem too. And it really limits my options on busy days because I know they’ve had their quota elsewhere.

@Blossomed don’t worry, ask away!!

Does anyone know what the deal with pasta is? Lots of talk about bread and my brain is used to lumping those two together.

OP posts:
ReeseWitherfork · 06/06/2023 07:04

@Caspianberg eggs and toast is a great one actually, all three of mine will eat that, so I’ll try and get in the habit of doing that when they need a fast meal as opposed to chucking beige food in the oven (which tbf is only once a fortnight or so anyway). Thanks!

(Just need to get to the bottom of this bread issue!)

OP posts:
hyggeb · 06/06/2023 07:10

I've not seen the programme but one thing I don't understand is surely in the 70s/80s we ate far more UPF with the likes of microwaves/ready meals, smash, puddings like angel delight, every kid I know had crisps & penguin/club in their lunch box. Cereal for breakfast, school dinners were often things like Findus pancakes etc & again lots of frozen nuggets/fish fingers for dinner.

I assumed we are healthier today.

Nomorebloodsplease · 06/06/2023 07:12

Anyone got any good recipes for hummus and bread in a instapot

SoooBloodyTired · 06/06/2023 07:13

OP with young kids I don’t think you should put pressure on yourself to cut everything out immediately. Just think that anything you change towards this is positive and more than you were doing before, and see it as a gradual thing rather than trying to go 100% straight away. If bread is the struggle, just leave bread and focus on easier changes for now, then maybe start baking bread down the line when other things have become second nature. Every little reduction in UPFs is a good thing, and it’s not like you’re failing if you haven’t achieved a complete overhaul of your diets. It’s brilliant that you’re so conscientious about this, and all the kids with parents who are working on cutting UPFs are really lucky! My family is waaayyy away from anything on this thread and it has given me a bit of a push, but I know it’s not realistic to make massive changes all in one go. I will start working on it though!

Franticbutterfly · 06/06/2023 07:17

I stopped eating upf a couple of months ago when I got diagnosed as a diabetic. In a short time of not eating them, i just didn't want it anymore and now if I do taste something that is UP, it tastes like chemicals to me. After a while it's much easier than you think it would be.

Bearpawk · 06/06/2023 07:18

Here's what I'll eat today:
Breakfast - Greek yoghurt with chia seeds and frozen cherries
Lunch - salad with tuna mixed with bit of Greek yog instead of Mayo, lentils and chickpeas mixed in as well as usual salad bits. Olive oil and lemon, no Mayo.
Snack - mixed nuts
Dinner - piece of fish, baked potato with butter and greens.
Dinner pudding - 2 squares dark choc.

On a weekend I will eat bread but go for a brand like Bertinet or Jason's, so less processed. We'll also have a takeaway on a weekend which will definitely be UPF.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 06/06/2023 07:32

I make my own bread and have swapped spread for actual butter.

The thing I struggle with is condiments - ketchup, mustard, mayo. And the kids! They love an oven pizza.

stillherenow · 06/06/2023 07:32

Well dd had porridge and I just had scrambled egg on a piece of homemade bread for breakfast - this is something I always mean to do but often am too lazy, so this thread has given me the kick I needed!

looks like plain microwave rice is fine - yay - and I’m looking forward to going back to butter.

need to make an effort to remove beige food from our diet esp now dd is no longer little!

DelilahBucket · 06/06/2023 07:38

We eat very little UPF these days. For those who are looking for bread without making their own, M&S bread is better than most for ingredients you can read and know what they are, unless you go to a bakery every other day. I can't eat the preservative called Calcium Propionate that is put in most bread products, and it's why your Warburton's etc doesn't go mouldy for a fortnight. M&S is one of the few places that doesn't use it in MOST of their products. I did find it in something once. Their wraps don't contain it but they do use palm oil in them.

fortyfifty · 06/06/2023 07:40

I've been looking at labels for years and trying to buy foods which contain no or the least chemical ingredients. For us it started when DD2 seemed to react to 5 days per week school dinners.

Also we noticed she reacted to preservatives in cordials - at a young age they only had these when we went on holiday or for special treats, so could easily see the effects. Certain preservatives would make her face red and she'd develop a cough. So, we became accustomed to shopping for as natural ingredients as possible but I'm still learning and still confused about the right oils to use and why. I thought rapeseed oil was okay 😫

I'm fortunate that DH and I don't have much of a commute to work and both cook but I worry how my Dad's are going to manage to avoid upfs when they are shopping and cooking for themselves and obviously would like it if everyone in the country has more time, ability and inclination to cook or otherwise enough money to make an informed choice. I can't imagine our current government will do anything. They ignored the recommendations when the obesity report came out.

With regards cost though, I've sometimes found the basic range has less going on in the ingredients. Premium supermarket products is often just packaging and hype, and less wholesome ingredients.

Sandwich wraps have to be one of the worst things people are feeding their children as they've been sold as the healthy option over bread and kids are often having them for lunch and dinner.

We've had a bread maker for many years. It's not a faff at all.

Pancakes are a good alternative to bread or cereal for breakfast. I either make the 3 ingredient ones out of mashed banana, egg and flour or make crepe mixture and put it in one of those squeezey pancake bottles, so you can use it for a few mornings.Granola is easy to make in an air fryer.

Caspianberg · 06/06/2023 07:46

@ReeseWitherfork - often the fresh bread in supermarket or bakery’s is better. Less preservatives which is why it doesn’t last long. You would have to look at ingredients when you shop but it’s probably the best way to have bread, but slightly better version without going homemade.

for example - sainsburys, this seems ok. Few ingredients and no preservatives
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/bread-from-our-bakery2/sainsburys-artisan-rye-sourdough-boule-taste-the-difference-400g

Sainsbury's online Grocery Shopping and Fresh Food Delivery

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/bread-from-our-bakery2/sainsburys-artisan-rye-sourdough-boule-taste-the-difference-400g

TheUnsettling · 06/06/2023 07:47

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LouLou198 · 06/06/2023 07:48

@FawnDrench that's really helpful, thank you. I hadn't even considered carbonated drinks.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 06/06/2023 08:01

What’s wrong with whole earth peanut butter? It only has 3 ingredients (peanuts, sustainable palm oil and salt)

chelseabunny · 06/06/2023 08:12

Lottle · 06/06/2023 06:03

@chelseabunny Quitting Ultra Processed Foods

Thanks @Lottle

Peridot1 · 06/06/2023 08:14

@Snoopsnoggysnog - it will be the palm oil. Sustainable or not it’s not great. M&S Crunchy Peanut Butter is just peanuts.

For those of you worried about Weetabix - I’ve just had a look at the ingredients and other than Malted Barley Extract it is just wheat and it’s fortified with vitamins. I think I would feel comfortable having it. It’s definitely better than some of the other breakfast cereal options.

I don’t think it’s necessarily achievable to go 100% UPF free but as others have said gradually reducing the amount we consume is a win.

For chicken nuggets I make DS (who is 21 but with the tastes of a toddler) breaded chicken. I just cut a chicken breast in two but you could do goujons/strips. I just dip in egg and then a mix of breadcrumbs and grated parmesan. I often make up a few at a time and freeze them. To cook I fry in a little olive oil to crisp the outside and then put in the oven.

Gettingbysomehow · 06/06/2023 08:14

Last year I had blood tests done and they were horrific. My inflammation markers were sky high, I was pre diabetic, I was high risk for gout and very overweight. I work in the NHS and know what happens to people with bloods like this. I've spent the last 6 months making all my own food on a vegetarian wholefood diet and no processed foods, have lost 2 stone not dieting. I feel great and my latest blood results came back yesterday completely normal. I was only killing myself. Now I feel like I've had a 2nd chance at 60.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 06/06/2023 08:14

Any ideas for alternatives or easy recipes for harissa paste, pesto, ketchup, mayo? These are definitely things I struggle to do without.

paulmccartneysbagel · 06/06/2023 08:14

I try to eat plant based as much as possible but no longer eat the vegan butters or fake meats as they are so processed.

I am looking into getting a bread maker but also need to invest in a decent bread knife as my current one is crap!

lampformyfeet · 06/06/2023 08:19

I make my own mayo- it lasts for 2 weeks in the fridge. I found a hand blender recipe online which takes a minute.
I make my own bread. Sourdough is easy once you get the hang of it and has a higher protein content.
homemade quiche is quite good for lunches

lampformyfeet · 06/06/2023 08:21

Aldi have peanut butter which is just nuts and nothing else. You have to add the salt yourself

Peridot1 · 06/06/2023 08:21

@hyggeb - I think that’s where it all started really - back in the 70s. And since then the whole thing has exploded. I was brought up on a lot of what you describe except for microwave ready meals as we didn’t get a microwave until the late 80s. But I do think that overall we ate less of things like that. And I think some of the additives used now maybe didn’t exist then. The whole low fat market hadn’t taken off with all of its added crap. Massive big bags of crisps didn’t exist. The margarine industry hadn’t found quite so many ways to convince us that ingesting crap oils was better for us than butter.