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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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InTheStars · 06/06/2023 11:20

hyggeb · 06/06/2023 10:23

Why is bottled milk better? because it's fresher?

I could imagine it's because it's in a glass bottle rather than a plastic container.

7Worfs · 06/06/2023 11:20

AlfietheSchnauzer · 06/06/2023 11:14

Glass bottles?!?! How on earth does the receptacle the milk is placed in, decipher whether that's a UPF or not?!
I think you're confusing what makes someone pretentious with what makes something a UPF. Hmm

This isn’t AIBU, so maybe post on topic instead of coming in to just tear into posters?

The glass bottles milk isn’t about processing, but it usually is local farms, fresher, more environmentally friendly as glass bottles are reused. I was just typing out the changes I’ve made to our household.

colachive · 06/06/2023 11:22

M&S do a clean vegetable stock in a bag but it’s £2.40! Handy tho. If you have time you can make your own and freeze a vat of it.

prescribingmum · 06/06/2023 11:22

@tothelefttotheleft you lose some but it is lesser of evils for me. Not having them pre-prepped for weekday meals means I end up snacking on less healthy food. We also rely heavily on frozen veg which maintain nutrients for longer.

inverness123 · 06/06/2023 11:23

Oh, thanks, that’s just what I need - I make chapatis often too and always find the rolling annoying.

ElvenDreamer · 06/06/2023 11:23

@paulmccartneysbagel I make my own yogurt, it's fine now I'm in a rhythm with it, and I don't use a fancy yogurt maker, just a large pan. I can give you my method if you want but with the disclaimer that I use non pasteurized milk, so am unsure if it would work with pasturized.

For those who find bread making a faff, I found a great book a number of years ago called 5 Minute Bread, the premise being that you spend no longer than 5 mins prep, (including washing up!). It works really well. Lots of people saying bread makers make bread too dense, we just use the mixer and the oven here. Mum swears by a bread maker but I know she's experimented lots with mixture quantities to get it perfect, I have a feeling she finds adding a but more water makes the difference.

ElvenDreamer · 06/06/2023 11:23

*bit more water

7Worfs · 06/06/2023 11:24

Frozen fruits and vegetables are apparently very good nutrition-wise, as they are picked at their prime and flash frozen, as opposed to picked unripened and spent weeks in transport.

paulmccartneysbagel · 06/06/2023 11:25

Caspianberg · 06/06/2023 09:23

@paulmccartneysbagel - I just buy the large 750g of full fat Greek yogurt. Then decant with fruit compot/ granola/ seeds/ cocoa/ honey/ maple syrup/ fresh fruit depending on season and preference.
My Ds likes with warmed frozen blueberries and honey

Thank you, I think I will start doing this.

Loveallotments · 06/06/2023 11:27

I had no idea that sunflower oil was ultra processed. I'm ditching it, in favour of olive oil. Bread is difficult, I know it's processed but the price of sourdough bread puts me off. I once tried making my own sourdough but honestly can't be bothered with all the hassle.

I will be making my own mayonnaise from now on, and my own vinaigrette.

The Panorama programme, and the book 'Ultra Processed People ' were real eye openers.

shazshaz · 06/06/2023 11:28

Thank you @7worfs @Peridot1 . Weetabix has extremely similar ingredients to the sourdough bread recommended at the beginning of the thread so I got confused when it was mentioned as a UPF. Its all a bit of a minefield.

paulmccartneysbagel · 06/06/2023 11:28

Thank you @ElvenDreamer I think it is probably more realistic of me to just buy large pots of plain yogurt!

Boriswentcamping · 06/06/2023 11:30

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/pesto/

For the poster above asking for pesto recipes.

We use our magimix and batch make this Jamie Oliver pesto. I portion it up and freeze it. It freezes really well and you can defrost it gently in a milk pan then stir it into pasta for a quick weekday freezer meal. The kids really like it and won't touch jarred pesto now!

InTheStars · 06/06/2023 11:31

7Worfs · 06/06/2023 11:20

This isn’t AIBU, so maybe post on topic instead of coming in to just tear into posters?

The glass bottles milk isn’t about processing, but it usually is local farms, fresher, more environmentally friendly as glass bottles are reused. I was just typing out the changes I’ve made to our household.

And also because some of the chemicals from the plastic find their way into the food. So nothing to do with processing.

Boriswentcamping · 06/06/2023 11:33

Also Waitrose chicken stock in the plastic pouches - near the dried herbs and spices is great for rissotto if you don't have time to make your own stock. No upf that I can see and also no salt so you can season as you like! Expensive but worth it as a treat. My holy grail is an organic gravy. kallo used to do sachets of it but I can't seem to get it any more. I cringe at what is in the bisto but am not very good at making my own

Flossflower · 06/06/2023 11:34

Snoopsnoggysnog · 06/06/2023 03:44

That advice is now out of date

It is not out of date according to the NHS website. I might stick with that advice.

Flossflower · 06/06/2023 11:38

7Worfs · 06/06/2023 11:20

This isn’t AIBU, so maybe post on topic instead of coming in to just tear into posters?

The glass bottles milk isn’t about processing, but it usually is local farms, fresher, more environmentally friendly as glass bottles are reused. I was just typing out the changes I’ve made to our household.

I would get milk from the milkman in glass bottles but he comes in the early hours of the morning and wake the whole street up.

EvenmoreDisorganised · 06/06/2023 11:40

Oh that's a shame, our milkman is very stealthy and we never hear him.

7Worfs · 06/06/2023 11:43

There are two milk suppliers coming to our street, they both use electric vehicles so not much noise.
I sometimes hear clinking though!

Flossflower · 06/06/2023 11:44

Cold pressed oils should be a bit better

Stravaig · 06/06/2023 11:53

There was a long thread on this a few weeks back, lots more information and inspiration there too.

UnaOfStormhold · 06/06/2023 11:58

@CornedBeef451 Meridian richer roast peanut butter is something else - you have to stir it together due to the lack of palm oil (storing it on its side before opening makes this easier) but it has the most amazing flavour. Addictive though...

We have a board that only gets used for cutting bread and I save the crumbs - make sure they're dry and then whizz up for a quick and easy no-UPF breadcrumb coating.

I feel condiments aren't a major issue because we eat so little of them. Plus while mustard is a natural emulsifier and I don't believe it's considered harmful.

@newtowelsplease we use frozen fruit to make our own fruit yoghurt - becase it's frozen it cheaper and breaks down easily into the yoghurt with a quick stir. You can either defrost in the microwave for immediate use or put some berries and natural yoghurt in a pot for lunchboxes - the fruit defrosts while keeping the yoghurt cool. Generally I don't find there's any need to sweeten. I find it's best to use greek yoghurt so it doesn't get too runny with the liquid from the fruit. I think crisps made from slices of potato (rather than reconstituted potato) aren't too bad from a processing point of view, just the veg oil to consider which is a relatively low %.

@SpaceOP pretty much any naan bread recipe will work in the bread machine - just put the dough on the pizza programme, roll out and then cook in a very lightly oiled frying pan. We make a lovely Paul Hollywood recipe with mango chutney and curry powder - not remotely authentic but very good indeed!

@Whoarethegrownups We make our own wraps - it is a bit of a faff but they taste so much better that we wouldn't go back now. I have been thinking about investing in a tortilla press to make it easier. Here's the recipe we use. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tortillas

@ReeseWitherfork an important question with any "is this healthy" is what would you eat instead? Sugar is not in itself UPF and it's generally going to be healthier eating something made at home with sugar than a UPF low-sugar alternative. That said, it's a very refined carb and can easily lead you to consume excess calories. It can send your blood sugar spiking which can cause cravings and is generally not great for your health, to try to eat it in sensible quantities at the end of a meal rather than as a standalone snack, and make sure you're getting fibre and protein with it where possible. Have a listen to the zoe podcast which has quite a lot of advice on managing blood sugar and avoiding ultra processed food. I think pasta is generally fine though be careful of filled tortellini which can be UPF.

Margrethe · 06/06/2023 12:38

What oils are people using to make mayonnaise? I find olive oil too strong a flavour, but I’m trying to avoid seed oils.

EvenmoreDisorganised · 06/06/2023 12:53

I use light olive oil with a bit of extra virgin but not much as I don't like the flavour. Same with the refined rapeseed oil, I made a batch with that once and it was inedible.

Stravaig · 06/06/2023 12:59

@Margrethe I've used Filippo Berio Mild & Light successfully in the past.

I switched to the wee jars of organic mayonnaise from Tesco/Sainburys, but they've vanished from the shelves (where I am). I'm being very stingy with the last jar which is probably out of date anyway.

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