Did anyone watch "What are we feeding our kids?" on BBC1

[MarchXX]

Here's link.

i astounded that there has been little to no research of the effect of UPSs on our brains and bodies. The results on Chris (after one month) were dire indeed.

Chris's brain scans before and after were shocking but not surprising as UPF food manufacturers spend multi££££millions on research to find the perfect bliss point to skewer and keep new addicted consumers eating their products again and again.

I was interested in the huge increase in our consumption of UPF foods since 1980 but would have liked to see the difference from 1970 or 1960 because when I was a child growing up (in 60s) there was virtually no UPF foods in our home, all meals were cooked using fresh meat/fish, eggs, veg and fruit with some dried/tinned goods and no ready meals/takeaways. Eating out (or takeaways) was a very rare treat indeed and snacking between meals was frowned upon and not encouraged.

The representative from the food industry was, not surprisingly, reticent about their role in the deteriorating health of our nation's population. Nestle's success in infiltrating remote communities with their UPF-packed supermarket-boats and creating new addicted consumers (and an obesity epidemic) was an eye-opener but not at all surprising seeing as their role in exploiting breastfeeding mothers in third world countries is well known, too.

Anyway, did anyone watch it. What did you think?

From what I've read and applying common sense it appears that many items can be either processed or ultra processed depending on the ingredients, though I'm a bit worried about stuff that might not make it onto the label.

I read somewhere that stuff used in the processing doesn't have to be if a low enough residue remains so that it's not technically in ingredient. Can't remember where I saw that though.

*an ingredient

Hi @MarchXX I did watch this programme and was horrified but not surprised by the findings.

I do eat a fairly healthy diet myself, and so does my 20 year old ds. I brought him up with weaning using fresh foods and going on from there mostly eating what we would eat (cooking from scratch). That's not to say he would never eat any UPFs. He went to the usual children's parties and ate whatever was provided, but it has never been a large part of his diet.

Now as an adult he chooses to eat mostly fresh food, very little in the way of UPFs. I also eat very much fresh food and feel very well as a result. If I eat many UPFs I start to feel unwell, sluggish and not great.

I think the message about UPFs should be far more widely spread, as so many people eat a load of unhealthy stuff, yet think it's totally normal.

The result is large numbers of patients in hospital with side effects from these unhealthy diets, including many with type 2 diabetes (huge increase over the last 30 years or so) and other associated medical problems.

Quote: Everything has to be listed in the ingredient in the UK doesn’t it @BewareTheBeardedDragon?

Yes, it does. Hence my surprise at frozen chips being just potatoes & oil - can that be right? Are they ultra processed?

Processing aids - substances used in the processing that don't need to be listed as additives. Here is a uk link explaining our laws re. This and then an American link which is a bit more informative about what they are and what they do.

www.froghop.co.uk/what-needs-to-be-included-on-food-labels/

www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/06/processing-aids-whats-not-on-the-label-and-why/

@ButterflyOfFreedom it totally depends. Chips can be just made from raw potato and some oil. Definitely the better ones.
But they can also be made by adding water, salt and binding agents... the crappy ones.
I would say, start reading the ingredients on food packages. You'll be surprised! And cheaper does not always mean nasty either!

See, I find these kinds of statements from food professionals slightly worrying, re. Processing aids and why they aren't required to be listed even though trace amounts may remain present and in some cases can cause health issues (sulphur dioxide wash on grapes can affect asthma sufferers for eg)

shelflifeadvice.com/content/whats-our-food-maybe-processing-aids-maybe-not

Re - oven chips. The cheaper ones often have several additives beside potatoes and sunflower oil. Many contain gluten which is why I check (coeliac). As with many foods, those with the fewest ingredients and least processed are more expensive, eg McCain 'naked' oven chips.

I don't know whether it's mentioned elsewhere but real Greek yogurt (not Greek style) is not ultra processed. It is like cheese- processed but ok.

Using the classification

Unprocessed or minimally processed
Oils, fats, sat and sugar
Processed eg cheese or plain yogurt , bacon
Ultra processed -all the rest.

educhange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NOVA-Classification-Reference-Sheet.pdf

@ButterflyOfFreedom

Quote: Everything has to be listed in the ingredient in the UK doesn’t it *@BewareTheBeardedDragon*?

Yes, it does. Hence my surprise at frozen chips being just potatoes & oil - can that be right? Are they ultra processed?

I don't see how they can be UPFs, you could make them yourself using same ingredients in your kitchen.

After watching the programme is it eye-opening to wander round a supermarket and see just how many ultra processed 'foods' there are. All deliberately engineered to light a fire of desire in our brains that can't be controlled. Then when we eat them we struggle to stop, and that is a successfully designed product for the food companies.

Pringles is a good example. When you look at the long list of ingredients and learn about the complex industrial process to create them it is no wonder they have the tag line "once you pop you can't stop!". Are they even food?

Normal crisps contain a couple of ingredients (potato thinly sliced and oil) plus salt.

@namesnamesnamesnames

This really upsets me. I want the best for my children and understand a little bit about nutrition. We can't afford to feed the family with the best fresh food. We try, but it's very difficult, especially with allergies in the mix. Even a small punnet of blueberries is £2, which are gone in one day. If I buy enough fruit, with variety, to snack on for the week that's £15. For dry snacks, nuts are great and natural but we cannot have them in the house. So the only other option is things like cereal bars, crisps etc.

We mainly buy frozen blueberries, they are a lot cheaper. We also bake apples, which is fairly reasonable. And buy fresh fruit from farm shops, where it is cheaper, in the summer. If any of that helps.

Is Greek yoghurt really ultra processed?! I certainly don't find it impossible to stop eating but do love it with my berries.. Can I defrost frozen blueberries and eat them thawed out or are they seriously mushy?

It doesn’t have to be expensive though, oily fish can be smoked salmon or tinned pilchards. Apples are extortionate imo so I buy Bananas instead or dried fruit in Aldi etc.

I eat more veg than anything, mostly frozen except for potato’s.

You eat less if it’s unprocessed because it takes longer to get hungry again, you don’t need to snack.

That's definitely true Fluffy loud, I've been just eating three good meals the last few weeks and I don't feel the need for a snack at all.

@HeyGirlHeyBoy

Is Greek yoghurt really ultra processed?! I certainly don't find it impossible to stop eating but do love it with my berries.. Can I defrost frozen blueberries and eat them thawed out or are they seriously mushy?

Greek yoghurt isn't ultra processed. I've swapped my DS's normal fruity yoghurts, that had an ingredient list as long as your arm (including guar gum ) to Greek yoghurt with honey.

I've been reading The Diet Myth book recommended upthread, which is also eye opening. Apparently most farmed fish is pumped full of antibiotics

Whoever was wondering about snacks - what about homemade flapjack with dried fruit? When I've been skint I make flapjack - oats are cheap - but reduce the amount of sugar.

@HeyGirlHeyBoy

Is Greek yoghurt really ultra processed?! I certainly don't find it impossible to stop eating but do love it with my berries.. Can I defrost frozen blueberries and eat them thawed out or are they seriously mushy?

Defrosted berries would be fine with yoghurt; they do give off a lot of juice when thawing. Blueberries soften a bit but are I think tastier with yoghurt than raw; raspberries do go mushy.

I use frozen blueberries in my porridge and they don’t lose shape. Thy taste really fresh.

Thanks all. You're cooking them tho FluffyCloud, so a bit different but I am surprised they don't mush. I love them in porridge so might try.

@HeyGirlHeyBoy

Is Greek yoghurt really ultra processed?! I certainly don't find it impossible to stop eating but do love it with my berries.. Can I defrost frozen blueberries and eat them thawed out or are they seriously mushy?

Greek yoghurt is not ultra processed and good for the gut. Defrosted frozen fruit will go mushy, but then you get a lovely juice which mixes well with the yoghurt- I prefer that than fresh

If you want them a bit sweeter - defrost them all in a pan or microwave and then add a little honey - makes a lovely compote that my DDs like. I tend to make a whole bag and portion into little glasses with Greek yoghurt for them

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