Giving Up Ultra Processed Foods

 

After my pantry challenge in July I had made my goal to have only good healthy whole foods inside my home.  Since then I began on the first day of August getting back to the basics and cooking the way I always used to.  Somehow during the pandemic and for a couple years after I had veered off course a bit, but I’m very happy that I’ve managed to get myself back on track.  I now have my pantry and freezers set up and stocked exactly how I want, the way they always used to be stocked.

 

I am buying the best quality foods I can afford

Instead of buying canned soups I make my own with wholesome ingredients
No bioengineered or GMO ingredients for me!

Early on in my adult life purchasing ultra processed items at the grocery was just not something I did very often, mainly because I couldn’t afford to buy that crap.  I had to make sure that I got the most bang for my buck so I bought actual food and then cooked almost all of our meals from scratch and I did it for years.  Decades in fact.

 

Beef stir fry on steamed rice

During July I ate far more ultra processed “food” items than I normally do and it made me feel sick and awful.  Toward the end of the month I was beginning to dread my meal options and even prepared and threw out one meal because I just couldn’t eat it.  At that point I gathered up everything that remained that was ultra processed and gave it all away.  I was DONE.

 

Lots of fresh fruits & vegetables on the menu these days

Egg salad on toasted whole grain bread

In short order I had begun to feel sluggish and bloated and ill.  I was even having digestive issues including stomach upsets and heartburn.  Fortunately, it didn’t take long to do a complete reversal.  I was amazed and relieved at just how quickly I was able to turn things around by simply preparing healthy and nutritious whole foods from scratch and drinking loads of filtered tap water.  Within twenty four hours I was feeling a ton better and after a week I felt absolutely AMAZING!  I was feeling like I was back to my old self.  My energy levels had rebounded and I was no longer feeling ill or sluggish.  I also lost a ton of water weight.  Even better, that previous month I had developed some brain fog and that had lifted as well.

 

Homemade yogurt & sliced peaches

I'm keeping my meals simple with simple ingredients

When I eat ultra processed foods I find they are not all that satisfying.  I was hungry all of the time and never felt full even though I had just eaten.  I also had some serious sugar cravings.  Now that I’ve been back to my regular REAL Food eating regimen I am much more satisfied, I eat less often and smaller quantities.  I also don’t have those awful cravings to eat sugar and junk that I know isn’t good for me.  My stomach issues have resolved themselves and I don’t retain fluids either.  Bonus – I get a lot more food for my money when I only buy the REAL stuff.  It also tastes a whole lot better.  REAL Food for the WIN!!!