Page 5 - BrockCoNewsletter-NovDec-2021.indd

Nutrition NOte:

PROS AND CONS TO PROCESSED FOODS
When shopping at the grocery store, there Ready-to-eat: The foods are more heavily
are many processed food options, and some processed, and nutritional value is adjusted.
are okay to purchase while others you should Deli meats, snack crackers, cereal, chips, or
leave on the shelf. The best selections include packaged cookies are examples.
fresh produce and packaged foods with an Heavily processed foods: These are foods that
ingredient list that contains less than fi ve have been manipulated and are considered pre-
whole unprocessed ingredients.
made meals. These foods include frozen pizza,
There are varying degrees of processed foods. frozen/microwavable meals, microwaveable
Minimally processed foods: Cut vegetables, mac-and-cheese, or soups. These foods have
roasted seed or nuts, or bagged lettuce several additives and higher amounts of
are processed for convenience and do not sodium, sugar, and preservatives.
manipulate the food or adjust the nutrient Just being aware of what you are regularly
content of the food. consuming can help ensure you are making
the best possible choices. Some foods that fall
Foods processed to maintain peak
nutrition: Frozen fruits or vegetables and into the minimally processed category provide
canned fruits, vegetables, or meats fall into convenience during meal prep and can save
this category. These are processed to preserve time, and some foods in the “added fl avors”
vitamins and minerals and make these foods category can help meet the nutrition needs of
ready to use. Frozen produce will maintain things like Vitamin D or calcium. Foods that
peak nutritional value. In the canned foods are ready to eat or heavily processed should be
category, adjustments to the nutritional value consumed only occasionally, if at all. Focusing
may occur due to the liquids inside the can. on fresh produce, beans, whole grains, nuts,
or seeds can boost your nutrient intake

Added flavors, supplemented, and texture and provide nutritious alternatives to more
adjustments: These foods have sweeteners, processed food options.
spices, oils, colors, or preservatives added.
Examples of these foods include jarred Source:
pasta sauce, salad dressing, cream cheese, https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/
mayonnaise, and cake or cookie mix. nutrition-facts-and-food-labels/processed-
foods-whats-ok-and-what-to-avoid

On The Rise: MICROGREENS

Have you ever been out to a restaurant and These can now be found on grocery shelves
gotten tiny green shoots on top of your in the organic produce section labeled as

entrée? These healthy garnishes, known as microgreens. Another way to reap the benefits
microgreens, are immature versions of their is to grow the microgreens yourself. You can
grown produce counterparts and come in purchase a seed kit from several websites. Once
varying colors and textures. The “shoots” received, microgreens will be available to eat
come from plants like broccoli, lettuce, or in as few as seven days following set up. With
carrots and pack a wonderfully nutritious these tiny little plants packing a big nutritious
punch. Believe it or not, on average, they punch, go ahead and try some today!
provide about four to forty times as many
nutrients as the mature plant version, Source:
depending on the kind. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
articles/316075#_noHeaderPrefi xedContent