The big difference between processed and ultra-processed food
The big difference between processed and ultra-processed food
Processed food refers to foods that have been altered in some way through processing, such as freezing, packaging or the addition of preservatives. Ultra-processed food, on the other hand, is a more specific category of processed food that has undergone a higher level of processing and contains a variety of artificial ingredients and additives.
Ultra-processed foods are typically high in sugars, fats and salt, and may contain a variety of artificial substances such as preservatives, colorings and flavorings. They are also often low in essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber.
The WHO recommends limiting the consumption of ultra-processed foods as they have been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Instead, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy is recommended. Examples of processed foods include:
Frozen foods, such as frozen vegetables, packaged salads, cow’s or vegetable milk, yogurts, cereals, etc.
Packaged products, such as tuna cans or canned fruits and vegetables.
Precooked foods, such as precooked macaroni or potato chips.
Foods with preservatives, such as sausages or smoked products. Examples of ultra-processed foods include:
Precooked foods with many additives, such as packaged fast foods, frozen meals with added sauces, precooked pizzas, snacks and precooked foods with many additives.
Foods with added sugars, such as sugary cereals, cakes and sweets.
Sugary beverages, such as soft drinks and juices.
Foods with hydrogenated fats, such as cookies, pastries and potato chips.
Foods with artificial flavorings, such as snack foods, candy and sausages. It is important to note that the difference between processed and ultra-processed food is not in the processing itself, but in the ingredients and additives used in its preparation. Processed foods can be beneficial if consumed in moderation, while ultra-processed foods are less healthy due to the quantity and quality of added ingredients.
For example, RealVegy plant-based foods, despite being a processed food, are very healthy, with a very balanced nutritional table in terms of fats, fiber, sugars and proteins.
For this reason, RealVegy will always insist on the importance of reading the labels of the products we consume.
Sometimes we get carried away by the claims we see on the label and do not stop to read the ingredients and nutritional values in detail.
Of course, if a product has a big claim “with olive oil”, it is certainly true, but what about the rest of the ingredients and the nutritional value of the product as a whole?
Example nutritional values of processed and ultra-processed foods The nutritional information of a processed food may vary depending on the product in question, but in general, they usually contain moderate levels of essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and fat. For example, a can of tuna contains lean protein, a small amount of fat and carbohydrates, and is rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium. On the other hand, ultra-processed foods often have unbalanced nutrition, high in sugars, fats and sodium, and low in essential nutrients. For example, a package of vanilla-flavored cookies is high in sugar, hydrogenated fats and sodium and low in fiber, vitamins and minerals. A can of soda is high in added sugars and low in nutrients. In summary, processed foods have unbalanced nutrition, while ultra-processed foods have more unbalanced nutrition.
Again, it is important to read nutrition labels and choose foods with balanced nutrition, avoiding foods high in sugars, fats and sodium and low in essential nutrients.
Check our plant-based foods you will love them.
Good Food Choice plant-based meat good for you and good for the planet
Good For you and also good for the planet
Good Food Choice plant-based meat good for you and good for the planet
Good Food Choice vegetable meat is made with pea protein, which is a vegetable source of protein that has gained popularity in recent years due to its nutritional benefits, taste and versatility in its uses in cooking.
First of all, pea protein is rich in essential nutrients, especially protein. This makes it an excellent choice for people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, as protein is essential for the growth and repair of body tissues.
In addition, pea protein is rich in essential amino acids, including lysine, arginine and methionine. These amino acids are essential for muscle growth and tissue repair. Pea protein is also low in fat and cholesterol, making it an excellent choice for those looking to control their fat and cholesterol intake.
Nutritional Benefits
It is rich in fiber, which can help regulate intestinal transit and control weight. Another benefit of pea protein is its versatility in the kitchen. It can be used to make a variety of dishes, from soups and stews to burgers and veggie dumplings. It can also be used to make plant-based dairy products such as cheeses and yogurts. In summary, Good Food Choice vegetable pea protein meat is an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality vegetable source of protein. It is rich in essential nutrients, low in fat and cholesterol, and is versatile in the kitchen. It is also a healthy and sustainable option for those looking to reduce their meat consumption.
Environmental Benefits
It is sustainable and good for the planet Indeed, pea protein production is considered a sustainable and environmentally friendly option compared to animal meat production.
Peas are a low environmental impact plant, requiring less water and fertilizer than grain crops such as corn or wheat. In addition, they do not require forest clearing or deforestation for their production. In addition, pea protein production emits fewer greenhouse gases than animal meat production. Animals emit methane and nitrous oxide, two very potent greenhouse gases, while pea crops do not emit greenhouse gases directly. Another advantage of pea protein production is its resource efficiency. Peas are a highly nutrient- and water-efficient plant, which means that fewer resources are required to produce the same amount of protein as with animal meat production.
Good Food Choice vegetable meat from pea protein is an excellent choice for those looking for a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of protein. It has a low environmental impact, emits fewer greenhouse gases and is more resource-efficient than animal meat production. It is also a healthy and nutritious option to include in a balanced diet. Is Good Food Choice vegetable meat from pea protein better than soy? Pea protein and soy protein are two popular vegetable meat options, and both have their own nutritional and environmental benefits. In terms of nutritional benefits, both are rich in protein and essential amino acids. Pea protein is slightly higher in protein compared to soy protein, with a content of 25-30% by weight.
In terms of sustainability, pea protein production is considered to be more sustainable than soy protein production. Most soy is grown to feed animals, and this production is responsible for deforestation and loss of natural habitats. On the other hand, pea protein production has a low environmental impact and does not require the clearing of forests. However, it is important to keep in mind that both vegetable proteins have their nutritional benefits and can be an excellent option to include in a balanced diet.
Another factor to take into account is that most soybean production comes from genetically modified crops and that, despite current legislation, manufacturers do not declare in their labeling that they are using transgenic soybeans.
Good Food Choice vegetable pea protein meat is definitely good for you and good for the planet. Allergen free, high in nutritional content and environmentally friendly farming.
Eating Healthier New Year Resolution
Eating healthier as a New Year’s resolution and why many people fail to achieve it.
Eating healthier as a New Year’s resolution and why many people fail to achieve it.
Eating healthier is a common New Year’s resolution, as a balanced diet can have a big impact on physical and mental health. However, many people find it difficult to keep this resolution due to a variety of reasons.
One of the main reasons is lack of planning and preparation. Many people do not plan their meals in advance and end up being tempted to eat unhealthy foods when they are busy or do not have healthy food on hand. Planning meals in advance and preparing food at home can help avoid this problem.
How to plan our meals
1.- he first thing to keep in mind when planning a weekly menu is our schedule. We can not plan very elaborate dinners for example if we get home at 8 or 9 o’clock at night, it is clear that we will not spend 2 hours to prepare dinner.
Taking into account our schedule we can decide how much time we have to cook and we can adapt our menu to recipes that can be done in 30 minutes, or the time we realistically have available.
2.- The second step is to be clear about which day of the week we go to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for our weekly menu.
This may not seem relevant to you, but it has a practical explanation.
In our weekly menu we will put the fresh foods that expire faster in the first days after making the purchase and for the following days we can leave the pastas, rices and foods that last more days fresh.
3.- The third and last step, elaborate your weekly menu trying to reach a good balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and sugars, and above all with recipes that you enjoy, that eating healthier has nothing to do with eating rich and enjoy what we eat.
With your menu already prepared you can make your grocery shopping list. This way you can organize yourself to only do a weekly shopping and with this you will not only save time but also money, we all know that when we go to the supermarket to get a little something we need we leave with 2 bags.
Here I present you a weekly vegan menu for healthy dinners:
Monday:
Quinoa salad with roasted vegetables and Good Food Choice Plant-based meatballs: cook quinoa according to package directions, mix with roasted vegetables (such as peppers, onion, tomato and eggplant), heat Good Food Choice meatballs in the microwave 2 minutes and add to the quinoa with a lemon vinaigrette.
Tuesday:
Good Food Choice Plant-based curry with lentils: heat Good Food Choice curry with rice in microwave 2 minutes. Drain a small jar of lentils and mix the curry with the rice and lentils.
Wednesday:
Good Food Choice Plant-based tacos with guacamole: heat RealVegy fajitas. Peel and dice an avocado. Assemble the taco with the Good Food Choice fajitas and avocado. You can also add lettuce, tomato, chopped onion to your taco to suit your taste.
Thursday:
Good Food Choice Plant-based Macaroni Bolognese: heat Good Food Choice macaroni bolognese 2 minutes in the microwave and add chopped basil and shredded cheese.
Friday:
Vegetarian pizza with vegan cheese and Good Food Choice Plant-based sausage: prepare homemade pizza dough (or buy a prepared one) and mix with tomato sauce, grated vegan cheese, vegetables (such as peppers, mushrooms and onion) and fresh herbs (such as oregano and basil) and RealVegy sausage cut into 2 or 3 pieces. Cook in preheated oven at 210 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
Saturday:
Good Food Choice Plant-based Burritos: heat Good Food Choice chili with rice. 2 minutes in the microwave. In a burrito tortilla put the chili with RealVegy rice, chopped lettuce, diced tomato, chopped avocado and your favorite hot sauce (if you like it spicy), roll the tortilla and eat.
Sunday:
Good Food Choice Plant-based Burger: in a skillet cook the Good Food Choice burger for 4 to 6 minutes per side with a little bit of oil. Assemble the burger on your favorite bun, with a slice of cheese, some lettuce leaves, a slice of tomato, sliced pickles and some thin slices of onion.
Keep in mind that these are just a few suggestions, you can also experiment and adapt these dishes to your tastes and needs. For example, if you are intolerant to any food or have any restrictions, you can look for alternatives or substitutes. You can also play with spices and herbs to flavor your dishes.
How to motivate ourselves to fulfill our purpose
Another reason that can cause you to fail in your purpose is lack of motivation. Changing eating habits can be difficult and requires effort and dedication. Many people lose motivation as they face difficulties and do not see immediate results. It is important to remember that changes in diet and health do not happen overnight, and it is important to be patient and consistent.
Another factor to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining our motivation is to not judge ourselves if we are not carrying out these changes as perfectly as we had planned. Many times we are almost waiting for a small slip up to throw in the towel and forget about the commitment we have made to ourselves.
You know, “I’ve already messed up, so why am I going to continue”?
On the contrary, we have to keep in mind that we are not perfect, that some days due to lack of time, too much stress, or simply because we are in a low mood, our willpower to follow our resolutions may fail us. And that’s okay, it is in those moments where we have to treat ourselves with love and understanding and resume our purpose without feelings of guilt or negative emotions that will hinder our goals.
Always remember YES YOU CAN!
Lack of nutritional knowledge
Lack of knowledge about the basics of good nutrition can also be a barrier to eating healthier. Many people do not have a clear understanding of what a balanced diet is and how to select healthy foods. It is important to educate yourself about nutrition and learn how to read food labels.
Many times healthy eating is confused with going on a diet, and it has nothing to do with it. Although maintaining a healthy diet brings us a host of benefits, it is not focused, as may be the case of a diet to weight loss or restriction of certain foods in particular as a result of certain diseases, diabetes, cholesterol, etc..
We encourage you to always read the labels well to know what you are eating, and to read and be informed about the pillars of a healthy diet.
Finally, remember that it is possible to achieve your goals and objectives. With proper planning and motivation you can make this 2024 the beginning of a new life for you that will make you feel so much better, physically, mentally and emotionally.
And at Good Food Choice we are here to support you in your efforts with healthy, fast and delicious dishes.
Good Food Choice
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Eating Healthier New Year Resolution
Eating healthier as a New Year’s resolution and why many people