Bread: is it healthy or not? If ultra-processed food lists are to be believed, you might think store-bought bread is a no-no for your health, since it often contains fillers, preservatives, emulsifiers, and more.
Canned foods have long suffered a stigma. They're too high in sodium, people say, and some (like creamy chowders and bisques) are loaded with saturated fat.
When made with whole grains like oats as their first ingredient (and with added sweeteners kept to a minimum), granola bars have plenty to offer in the health department.
Sugar-sweetened beverages like canned cocktails fall squarely into the ultra-processed category. Fortunately, when you're craving a sweet, fizzy drink, you do have options for something with less sugar—and zero alcohol.
While some brands of breakfast cereals have classic harbingers of ultra-processing (like crazy-high amounts of sugar and boatloads of preservatives), others start your morning on a healthy note
Many frozen meals justifiably get their ultra-processed reputation for their high content of sodium and other preservatives. But not every frozen meal on the market is a bad choice for your health.
Sure, when loaded with salt and amped up with added sugars, flavored jerkies are definitely ultra-processed. That said, dried meat can be a healthy, high-protein snack.
Oats are one of the healthiest foods on earth. Reaping their benefits is all about the way you prepare them. Skip the packaged oatmeals loaded with sugar and preservatives and opt for one that supplies ample fiber and protein (and doesn't go overboard on sugar).