Why the discussion around processed foods isn’t black and white

SALT LAKE CITY — Processed foods are quick to come up in discussions about eating healthy, but there’s debate on what role, if any, they should play in our diets. 

What are processed foods?

Registered Dietician Nutritionist Ginger Bailey said processed food can be defined as anything that isn’t in its natural form.

That can mean a lot of things because, as Bailey said, there are different levels of processing.

Minimally processed food isn’t technically in its natural form, Bailey said, but it hasn’t been significantly modified.

Think of homemade bread.

“You’re kind of putting whole ingredients in there and it’s no longer the wheat that it started out as, you’re not just eating straight wheat, right? You’ve changed it a bit but it’s not heavily processed.”

Very processed food doesn’t even resemble where it started, Bailey said. Think soda.

Why are there concerns about processed food?

Bailey said food typically loses nutrition when it’s processed.

“They then later, after the fact, try to go add it back in … They try to chemically add those things,” Bailey said, adding, “They’re not just trying to add back in the nutrients that got lost. They’re usually also adding unnatural things to the food that shouldn’t even be there.”

The things that get added can be unhealthy for our systems.

“The reality is that highly processed foods are still not really good for our bodies. They’re not an optimal food choice,” Bailey said.

Should you cut it out entirely?

Bailey said it isn’t a cut-and-dry answer, despite what people on the internet may say.

“There’s been a lot of villainizing of food in general that’s happened that has gotten people to a point that they’re afraid to even eat anything.”

But Bailey said arguments on the opposite side, which say that all food is fine, isn’t the entire truth either.

“Food is so much more intricate and complicated than that. You can’t just say ‘this is good’ and ‘this is bad,” Bailey said.

Even though processed foods aren’t the healthiest choice, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever have them or that you’ll die. They just shouldn’t make up the entirety of your diet.

There’s more to consider too.

Bailey said that not everyone has the same access to food. Eating something is better than not eating at all, regardless of whether it’s an ideal food.

Eating healthy

If you are looking for budget-friendly food, Bailey said in-season food is usually less expensive, even when it’s fresh.

For out-of-season food, Bailey said buying it frozen can be easy on your wallet and it will still retain a lot of its nutritional value.

“It doesn’t mean that maybe you won’t ever use some of these other processed foods, but there’s still a way to be able to eat a lot of good, really nutrient-rich foods and have it not break the bank.”

Ultimately, Bailey said the key to good nutrition is understanding. She recommended seeing a dietitian for accurate nutritional advice. 

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