Ready to eat convenience foods/ packaged foods can cause obesiy, diabetes and heart disease.

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Why, the excuse of not having time to cook is inexcusable? - Are you guilty too? All processed foods in the market today are laden with saturated fats, sodium and sugar and provide little to no nutritional value. Even foods claimed as fat free or low fat are usually poor alternatives to an already low-nutritional value food such as fat free ice cream and potato chips high in cholesterol.

Ready to eat foods often contain ingredients that may lead to obesity, heart disease and overall poor health.
Trans fats, sodium, refined cereals and high fructose corn syrup are four common and potentially harmful ingredients in ready-to-eat foods that are unhealthy.
Tran’s fatty acids are formed when a liquid vegetable oil is converted to a solid form, such as taking corn or safflower oil and converting it to shortening or margarine. They tend to increase the cholesterol levels in the blood.
Most canned foods, frozen entrees and boxed mixes are high in sodium to extend the product’s shelf life.
Packaged foods are loaded with calories from refined sugar, fructose syrup and fats (especially, the artery-clogging saturated and hydrogenated fats.
These foods are nutritionally deficient (in vitamins) and, therefore, unhealthy if consumed on a regular basis.
They are deficient in dietary fiber and essential micro-nutrients like vitamins and minerals. Dietary fiber is one important dietary component to lowering cholesterol.
Do not promote family togetherness in terms of cooking and eating together.

These foods lead to a piling up of unused & empty calories, which get stored as body fat till one day you look in the mirror and realize that the person with the most gorgeous and envious figure has been replaced by an apple shaped body with multiple lifestyle diseases.

If you don’t want yourself or your family members to be like Ryan then only choose convenience foods occasionally - instead make simple salads, grilled fish or meats or even cook complete meals in a crock pot with whole grains, fresh vegetables and other whole and unprocessed foods so that you can avoid the obesity track.

By Parul Bhatnagar
Dietitian www.nutritionvista.com

NutritionVista

User Comments

10 August, 2011 | Prasanna | Reply

What is your opinion about Indian chat foods like Bhelpuri, pani puri, batata wada, wada pav, pav bhaji etc? Even we adults like to eat it and its a weekly treat? is it good or bad to eat it?

26 July, 2011 | Punitha Sharma | Reply

Even the non vegetarian food that is cooked at home should be fresh or frozen and not processed as many studies suggest that eating processed meats may increase your risk of colorectal, kidney and stomach cancer. Processed meats include hot dogs, bologna, sausage, ham and other packaged lunch meats. These meats are frequently high in calories, saturated fats and sodium.

13 July, 2011 | Vijayalakshmi Iyengar | Reply

Processed foods so rampantly used in the West is fast taking over the Indian households too. To quote Dr Sehsikiran Director NIN `Indian consumers are increasingly taking to packaged food due to accessibility, affordability and attractive marketing." Nothing ! Nothing can replace fresh foods prepared into a simple tasty healthy food at home.

11 July, 2011 | Elena Appaji | Reply

HI as a mom I do worry when my son gets back home from school and chooses not to eat if he does not like what is in the fridge or pantry. I have tried so hard to get my child to eat a wholesome meal, but what do you do when you are not home and your mom can only do so much to a stubborn child?

11 July, 2011 | Mrinal | Reply

Hi Elena, I hear you, but welcome to the club of unhappy mothers. As a mother of two teenagers I understand your plight - but perhaps your son looks at it in a similar light too - 'Mom is always forcing me to eat things I don't like - so when its a food item I like I will still say no!!!'

Perhaps you can start by asking what all he would like to eat - make a list of things that he wants - then pick and choose - let him know that the junk foods can only be a small treat provided he eats a decent, balanced meal. When he is hungry he will eat what you give him. Of course, try to balance the nutrients so depending on his age and activity level make sure he gets adequate protein and fresh fruits and vegetables as well as some whole grains.
For example - My kids used to love Raimin noodles - so my deal with them was that I would make them provided I added fresh peas, carrots and corn to the noodles. They ate it all. I also held back on using all the packets of spices inside as they were very high in sodium.

My son started disliking plain milk around the age of 15 so instead I started making fruit smoothies for him.

Another great suggestion is make your own vegetable soup during the winter months or when he comes home from school, leave a plate of cut fresh veggies with a dip in his room. He will munch on it.
Whatever you do - dont fuss and argue with him - for he will only say no - simply move on to the next battle. Good luck!

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