The Ultra Processed Food conundrum is finally beginning to make headlines in regard to the effects on our health, lack of studies and a wee bit of “what the hell do we do now?”, as many countries have become reliant or addicted to these foods. This is a topic I personally have been talking about for many years only to fall upon deaf ears and countless eye rolls. I know, I know, but cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes are all on the rise, higher than ever before in history. Trash is everywhere. We consume more food and beverages along with creating more trash than any of our ancestors before us.

The reliance of UPF comes in many different forms and of no real fault to you. It could be living in a food desert where your food choices are slim, or you are working 2-3 jobs so eating what is convenient is a lot easier than preparing the meal yourself after a long day. Society has made UPF an okay normal part of our everyday life. To top it off, the mere fact that the government and media push these foods on us as nutritious replacements for what used to be a natural part of our daily lives, supporting commodities and lining the pockets of major producers. We glorify some of these companies and products in other countries causing an increased desire for UPF or as a meal replacement due to their cheap cost. Yet, the effects on health are now a rising concern, especially when it comes to children.

I personally see UPF as a bigger problem than the health issues it presents. I have yet to see or find a good representation of cold hard facts surrounding how bad UPF are to the environment and humans as a whole. Very few recognize or see the overall footprint UPF have for food that is literally made for mere profit and not for the benefit of your health. It is not just a product being presented to you and the waste left over. It’s the many ingredients used to make said product. The packaging used to deliver products to the manufacturer of the product. The delivery of products to wherever it is being sold. The footprint is huge. At the end of the day it is all about money, not our health or the health of the earth.

While many people struggle with the idea of giving up the UPF’s they have come to love, or how the government could allow such adulteration to our food supply and continue to misinform and advocate for products proven to be of no benefit. It will be near impossible to now backtrack and admit we need to slow down our consumption and reliance on UPF or even the possibility that a good portion of the population will refuse the facts being presented.

Personally, because of my own experience with UPF, it has not been an easy journey. Contrary to popular belief I am not “naturally” skinny and able to eat anything, nor did losing or keeping the weight off happen overnight. I eat with an awareness of how food makes me feel, not vegan, vegetarian, keto, paleo or gluten free. I am human, I want to eat the junk too! I am not always perfect and at times long to eat some of those UPF’s without feeling the effects of doing so. I wish I could banish the knowledge I do have, or somehow become invincible and can eat what I want. What I am trying to say here is, I understand not wanting to give up foods that have been a part of your life for so long. Foods that have been advertised to us for years, dangled in our faces any chance they get, manipulating us at all hours of the night, presented so beautifully at our local grocer selling us a fantasy of healthy fun yumminess created to get you addicted and for profit. That is it.

With the current news headlines there is a lot of confusion over what constitutes an item being considered UPF. Developers at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil created the NOVA classification system in order to assist in identification of Ultra Processed Foods, Diet Quality and effects on health. In simple terms the system is broken down into 4 groups. I encourage you to check it out and have a read.

Group 1- Unprocessed or Minimally Processed Foods- ex. Whole apple
Group 2- Processed Culinary Ingredients- ex. Apple Cider
Group 3- Processed Foods- ex. Apple Sauce
Group 4- Ultra Processed Foods- Deep Fried Apple Pie from fast food chain

For a more detailed breakdown and a real understanding of the NOVA classification system visit:

Ultra-processed foods, diet quality and human health (fao.org)

I cannot ask you to stop eating UPF, that is like trying to take candy away from a child, besides that is what I have been trying to do for years and it hasn’t worked. What I can ask is for you to do the research, the information is out there. Educate yourself about how what you are eating might be affecting your health. Begin taking small steps in regard to how you eat. Read labels of the food you are buying. Better yet cook easy simple affordable food at home. If your current intake of UPF is 70% or more, try reducing your intake 25% and then 50%. Notice how you feel or how much less garbage you are creating.

The Ultra Processed Food conversation has been building for quite a few years now, so much so it is being compared to tobacco and seatbelt laws. In the words of Dr Robert Lusting “We have all been part of a 50 year food experiment, now almost 60.” I discovered how bad these foods are on my own, through my own journey with food. My health would not be what it is today had I not educated myself and transformed my own relationship. I still struggle at times to not eat the newest fad or patronize the newest UPF restaurant. I have worked in the food industry for many years. I am woke to what is sold to the public and what they believe is made on premises. There are so many layers to the whys and whats of what we eat. A huge portion of the population is addicted! Our separation from these foods that have been sold to us for so many years is not going to be an easy sell, even with all the benefits that could come if we were to even get rid of 50% of what is being sold or created.

Let the games begin…