What exactly is processed food? How do we define the word processed? Processed food is everywhere, staring at you from all supermarket shelves. Is everything in a package evil? Is cheese processed food?
Let me break it down. No jargon. No judgment.
Processed food is anything that’s been changed from its original form. That could mean chopping, cooking, canning, freezing, drying, adding preservatives, sweeteners, flavours—you name it. So yes, technically, washing and chopping carrots is processed. But that’s not what we’re worried about.
We’re talking about ultra-processed, the kind where you look at the label and think, oh gosh, I need a bloody PhD in chemistry to understand this.
Now imagine this: you’re walking through the aisles, probably hungry, a little bit tired, and you’re surrounded by cupcakes in a plastic tray with a shelf life of 200 years. Tinned spaghetti with that bright orange glow that tastes like childhood and regret. White sliced bread that feels like a pillow and has 19 ingredients, including sugar and something called mono-something-sulfate.
These are all ultra-processed. They mess with your blood sugar, confuse your hormones, and leave you hungrier in just 30 minutes.
But minimally processed foods? Totally fine on a keto lifestyle.
Examples? Pastrami, I love pastrami. As long as it’s nitrate-free, sugar-free, and you can pronounce all the ingredients, it’s keto-friendly. Cheese? Of course. Cheese. Glorious cheese. It is processed, for sure but minimally. If it’s just milk, salt, enzymes, and maybe some cultures, go for it.
And my favourite one? Peanut butter. Almond butter too. As long as it’s just nuts and salt, no sugar, no palm oil, enjoy.
There’s also boiled eggs in a packet also slightly processed for convenience, but still whole food. What else? Precut cauliflower. Technically processed, but totally keto-friendly.
Now a quick trick for reading labels: if the ingredients look like a recipe you’d make at home, that’s good. All is lovely.
If it reads like a science experiment from outer space, with ingredients you couldn’t possibly buy yourself? Those are unnecessary additives.
We all love to think food companies are looking after us but that’s not always the case. The key is to stick to foods that are as close to their natural form as possible. Avoid surprise sugars and weird ingredients. Channel your inner detective.
Ask yourself: Would my grandma recognise this ingredient?
If the answer is yes, toss it in the trolley.
Final thought: please don’t stress about being perfect. You’re not a food saint. It’s about making easy choices that feel good for your body.
Now, tell me the weirdest ingredient you’ve ever seen on a food label. I’ll go first: Butylated hydroxyanisole. I can’t even pronounce it. I found it on sausages.
And don’t forget to take our Apple Cider Vinegar capsules for weight loss and gut health.
-- Written by Hala, founder of Dietapplements
