Ways to Avoid Processed Food in your Diet

People are aware that regular intake of processed foods is not good for the health. Processed foods are also the culprit behind weight problems and obesity for which many people are suffering. Processed food manufacturers have only one goal and that is to sell their product, make it big in the market and gain a huge amount of profit. After all, that is what business is all about in the first place. Consumers on the other hand purchase these products unknowingly setting aside good moral decisions.

Processed food companies create products that do not cost much to produce and have long shelf lives. It seems that the value of healthy eating is taken for granted as more additives are being used to create foods in the market. Genetically engineered ingredients are a common example. The problem is; even if consumers can read the labels, the ingredients are not labelled as such.

You will never see a carton of milk or a bag of chips bearing the label of genetically engineered ingredients. Instead, you will see ingredients that may seem safe and healthy. What you do not know is how these individual ingredients had been processed in order to be preserved and stay long in the grocery shelves.

The best way to protect your self, your family and love ones from the processed food companies financial agenda is to take control of your food supply at home. Here are some tips:

One of the best decisions that you can make with regards to serving food for you and your family is to go organic. Search for sources of organic meat products. Grass fed meat and poultry are free from hormones, antibiotics and E. Coli. Talk to the farmer who provide these products and ask about healthy options.

Purchase grass finished meat in bulk. If you buy in bulk, you will save a lot of money. This is a more practical choice than buying in groceries, health stores and supermarkets.

Plant your own vegetables and grow them in the summer. You can cook and freeze them so that you will have enough supply in the winter. You can grow herbs, squash, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and other vegetables. Summer is the best time to do this. Once you have harvested them, you can make healthy dishes such as salsa, vegetable casseroles and other vegetable recipes and then you can freeze them.

You can also choose to raise your own chicken for eggs and even meat. Buy them from farms or ranches where they were raised naturally and allowed to range freely. You will see the big difference in the quality of their eggs especially on their egg yolks versus the ones available in the supermarket. Free range eggs are far richer in beta carotene and omega-3 fatty acids. The yolks are noticeably bright orange and not yellow.

You can also join organic food buying clubs in your area. You can search in the internet where you can find these clubs such as the United Naturals.

For other healthier options, you can buy raw milk, cheese and cream from grass fed dairy cattle. Find a local health stores that sells these products. If you cannot find a source for these products, choose organic products instead. Some of these organic brands are Organic Valley and Natural by Nature.

By taking charge of your food supply at home, you can stay away from unhealthy processed food products.

By : Tim Staines