Processed foods

I used to eat a lot of processed foods. Pizza, tator tots, pasta and pasta sauce, ramen noodles, packaged noodle and rice mixes, canned soups, store bought bread, pop, juice, canned tomatoes, salad dressing and condiments like mayonnaise and mustard. I've pretty much cut all those things out now.

Occasionally I still go out to eat and I might have some pasta or bread. Yesterday I had a burger and fries. Most of the time I still try to eat fairly healthy even when I do eat out: Thai food or chicken or fish and steamed veggies.

I feel pretty good about the fact that I'm eating better. I feel physically better and I have the mental satisfaction of meeting a goal. In my last post I made this comment: "Since I'm eating very little processed food lately I don't even feel guilty about the salt (that I added to my food.)" Then I started to wonder, is that true? Yes, I eat a lot less processed foods, but can I say I rarely eat processed food? No, actually, I can't.

Here are some of the processed foods that I still eat: (*foods I eat frequently bolded foods I would consider to be higher in sodium.)
*canned beans, whole and refried
canned beets
*black olives
*yeast free crackers
pretzels
*corn chips
*canned tuna
*olive oil
tahini
*sun butter (sunflower seeds)
the processed foods I eat when I do eat out
rice milk
cereal
Daiya cheese
falafel mix
dried fruit
pumpkin seeds
"veggie meat"

less processed but still processed
frozen veggies
chicken breasts
fish fillets

It's not a bad list, especially considering how much processed food I used to eat and how much the general population, at least in the U.S., eats. But I can improve.

First off, I can eat more raw, fresh veggies. And I can buy low sodium canned beans and/or rinse my whole beans. I can good them from scratch too but I don't think it's realistic that I'd never eat canned beans or beets--it's too easy and quick for meals at work or after work. I can also cut back on the amount of corn chips, pretzels and crackers I eat. They are yummy but aren't doing a whole lot for me nutritionally. I can try making homemade falafel from scratch instead of making the mix--although that's not one I eat often. I already eat Daiya cheese or veggie meat very infrequently.