In this post I want to give you a simple strategy for how to eat less processed food. It can work for you, your kids, your whole family. But first, I want to clear something up because I’m worried I may have freaked some folks out…
A couple weeks ago I shared a podcast link on Instagram.
It was Dr. Casey Means on Tucker Carlson’s show talking about how the system is rigged making it next to impossible to be healthy in mainstream America today.
America is in a Health Crisis
And we have the stats to prove it…
- 74% are overweight or obese
- 77% are unfit to serve in the military
- 30% of teens have pre-diabetes (this was 1% in 1950)
- young adult cancers are up 79%
- 25% of women take an antidepressant
- 40% of 18 year olds have a mental health diagnosis
- Autism rates are 1/36 (this was 1/1500 in the year 2000). In California it’s 1/22
- Infertility is up 1% per year since the 1970s
She goes on to explain all of this is driven by one thing: metabolic dysfunction…
Which is a fancy way of saying the way the body uses food for fuel is all messed up.
Our Food has Deranged Our Metabolism
She traces it all back to our toxic food and environment and our inability to get un-messed up through our health system, because as she says…
“No one has any education, time, or financial incentive to think about how these diseases are related. So you have specialists reacting to symptoms happening in different parts of the body rather than anyone understanding how to think about how it’s all connected.”
As the conversation goes on it gets darker – turning to look at pharmaceutical companies’ role in all of this.
If you haven’t listened to it, I’d still encourage you to check it out.
I could go on and on talking about this but my point with this email is to un-freak you out and give you some practical advice for how to eat less processed food…
After posting that link, I heard from so many mamas who now feel like they’re poisoning their kids anytime they give them a snack.
They don’t know where to start… what to buy… what to feed their kids because all they’ll eat is Goldfish….
If you’re feeling this too right now, here’s my advice….
My Two Cents: How to Eat Less Processed Foods Without Stressing About It
Believe it or not, the outrage, the fear, the overwhelm can be a good thing.
We need that feeling to motivate us to change.
But it isn’t going to happen overnight.
No one goes from 100% processed foods to 100% whole foods diet one day to the next.
AND, on that note… NO ONE is eating 0% processed foods in 2024 so let’s all just give ourselves a break, OK?
When it comes to processed vs whole foods, it’s alllllllll relative.
We’re always striving to know more so we can do better. That’s it.
That’s all we can do.
And we MUST give ourselves grace in that and know that the most effective, and lasting change happens gradually.
Tiny steps.
Just starting where you’re at.
My favorite strategy: add in to crowd out.
And it applies to anything…
Goldfish… fast food… coffee… sweet treats… alcohol… Netflix…
Focus on what you *want* to be eating (or doing).
And just start adding in more of it.
Here’s what it can look like…
Small Steps to Eating Less Processed Food
Before you know it, you’ll be wanting the other stuff less and less. And in time the desire and the thing more easily falls away.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes if you do.
And if you want help with this, I’m your gal. Think of me like a VIP Disney tour guide for your health so you can get results in a fraction of the time.
If you’re looking for something different than your standard visit where you leave with a prescription…
If you’re ready to get to the root cause of your pesky symptoms and feel better than ever…
There’s two ways to get started…
1) Dive in with a Jumpstart Session — we go over your health history, symptoms, recent lab work and connect the dots between your symptoms and what’s going on below the surface. You’ll leave with clear next steps to get you going in the right direction. Get booked in here.
2) Book a Chat — Not quite sure what you need or if a functional approach would work for you? Let’s chat about it. In this 30 minute consult we talk through what’s going on with you, get to know each other and explore options for working together and see if we’re a good fit. Zero pressure or obligation. Schedule a chat here.
P.S. Want a partner who can help you clean up your diet and get your family eating less processed food? Let’s chat.
Megan Adams Brown, CHC, is a certified health coach based in Austin, Texas. Megan helps people take charge of their health and make “healthy” not feel so high maintenance. The content in this post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
