Millions of tons of natural resources go into processing, packaging and transporting our food. Processing is the work of cooking and assembling the product; adding coloring, additives, and preservatives.
What to we mean by whole food?
We can think of a whole food as one that is taken directly from its source, whether plant or animal, and contains all of its original nutrients. Whole foods include fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, whole meat parts, and whole milk. Whole foods don’t have any additives or preservatives. They also don’t have their nutrients removed.
What does it mean to be processed?
chopped into fine pieces from a whole apple. It still tastes like an apple, and although it does not look like an apple, you can imagine how it is made from whole apples. An apple pop tart has been processed further and contains many other ingredients besides apples. A pop-tart would be considered a highly processed food. You can see the complete ingredients list here by clicking on Ingredients.
What are my attitudes toward eating whole foods? Simple meals? Where do those attitudes come from? To what extent do they support or hinder my having a healthy diet?
Can I get along without packages, canned or convenience food? Why do I buy these foods? To what extent are my eating habits influenced by the media?
What role does fast food play in my eating habits? What need does fast food fulfill? Can I imagine other, healthier strategies that could also meet that need?
Describe your ideal mix of foods for daily meals.
On your own or with your family, using magazines and other images, create a collage of foods you feel would feed your body and soul and post it where you can see it daily.
Track your eating for two days. Note which items are whole and which are lightly and which heavily processed.
Identify at home or at the store 3 to 5 processed food items and make a list of the additives and preservative. Here is a suggested form to identify ingredients and additives.
Want to buy bulk food with less packaging and higher quality, but don't want to give up the convenience of a regular grocery store? There's no need to wait for your closest mega-chain supermarket to carry the good stuff. You can join a local food coop or create a neighborhood coop. Food cooperatives are worker or customer owned businesses that provide grocery items of the highest quality and best value to their members. Coops can take the shape of retail stores or buying clubs. All food coops are committed to consumer education, product quality, and member control, and usually support their local communities by selling produce grown locally by family farms.
body care products with organic ingredients and more (i.e. vegan, vegetarian, macrobiotic, kosher).
Packaging: For 5 days, place all the food related packing you use in a plastic bag. At the end of the 5 days, weigh the bag and guessimate its volume.
Discuss how you might reduce that waste over time.
Learn more about sweet drinks.
Learn more about sweet snacks.