Battleground Earth

Ditch the Processed Food

Kelly Rossiter, Toronto

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By Kelly Rossiter
Toronto, Canada | Sun Mar 23 17:21:00 EDT 2008

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Robert M. Madden/National Geographic/Getty Images

We here at Planet Green are always talking about eating as little processed food as possible. We have talked about the role of these foods in weight gain, as well as about the amount of trash it produces. We know that fresh vegetables are better for us and help promote healthy beginnings for your baby.We've also had a lot to say about Michael Pollan's wonderful book In Defense of Food (2008, Penguin Press), where he tells us to stick to the perimeter of the grocery store where the natural foods are generally shelved.

If this isn't enough to convince you then check out this article in Newsweek outlining five additives you should avoid, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.The five are:

1. Sodium nitrite: A preservative used in bacon, sausage and smoked meats; a possible carcinogen.

2. Potassium bromate: Used to process flour; a possible carcinogen.

3. Acesulfame potassium: A sugar substitute used in desserts and soda drinks; a possible carcinogen.

4. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil: Used as cooking oil and also in crackers, potato chips and cookies; linked to heart disease.

5. Artificial food colours: Used in all kinds of processed foods; possible links to behavioural problems in children.

When you do your grocery shopping this week, do yourself and your family a favour and buy vegetables instead of microwave pizza, milk instead of soft drinks, and make your own cookies.

Difficulty level: Easy

 
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