By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Often, when we hear about prepackaged foods, our minds instantly think that they are unhealthy, as many of them are full of sugar, carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and more. While this is definitely true for a lot of prepackaged foods, there are actually some prepackaged foods that are both super convenient and actually healthy for you.
Make sure you understand these commonly used terms on food labels (photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com)
Registered dietician nutritionist Shana Minei Spence notes that just because a food item is either prepackaged or highly processed doesn’t inherently mean that it is bad for us. She says that it isn’t necessarily the packaging or the processing that makes a food unhealthy, rather it is the nutrient makeup of the food item itself. For example, canned vegetables are prepackaged as well as processed, as they have been picked, washed, cut, and canned, yet they are still nutritious vegetables. Compare that to an Oreo cookie, which is prepackaged, full of carbohydrates and sugar, and while they are delicious, they are not very healthy for us.
With that being said, Minei Spence says that people should feel free to use some prepackaged foods in their cooking, as not only are they convenient and budget friendly. Just remember to check the ingredient labels and choose those that contain nutrient-rich foods! Some examples of healthy prepackaged foods include canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, canned soups, dried pasta, certain prepackaged snack foods, and oatmeal packets.
So, just because a food is processed or prepackaged doesn’t mean that that food is instantly made unhealthy and should be avoided. If you consult the nutrition label and ingredient list and make wise choices, prepackaged foods can be a part of a healthy and balanced diet!
For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!