We all want to live an organic, healthy lifestyle filled with fresh fruits and veggies and no processed foods. But the transition from a life filled with cheap processed meals to a life full of cheap, slightly more labor-intensive meals doesn’t have to be sudden. Here are some processed foods that aren’t off limits.
- Canned beans. Now we’re obviously not talking about high-sugar baked beans from a can. We’re talking about pre-cooked, canned garbanzo beans, black beans, or other beans with no added sugars. These beans are just as good for you as fresh beans, and you can just drain them and throw them into a salad or as a side for a high-protein component of your meal.
- Yogurt. Look for plain, lowfat greek yogurts, and add your own fruits or granola to them if you need them. No yogurt you buy should contain over 18 grams of sugar. Once you follow these guidelines, you’ll have a hearty, healthy snack that will keep you full for hours.
- Hummus. This garbanzo bean paste is more popular than ever, meaning that it’s pretty cheap to get a hold of these days. It’s great for dipping vegetables and putting on healthy wraps and sandwiches. ##MN_RESP##
- Frozen fruits and veggies. It’s already been proven that fruits and veggies aren’t any worse for you if they’re frozen. You can buy giant bags of them and use them for meals throughout the week, especially if you’re someone who likes to eat a lot of veggies but runs out of the fresh ones pretty early on in the week.
- Jarred tomato sauces and salsas. Lots of pasta sauces and salsas have very little added sugars, and processed tomatoes have countless health benefits (they really do!). Keeping a couple around can help you get your lycopene quick fix whenever you need it.
Changing your lifestyle to a healthy one that encourages weight loss doesn’t have to be the most difficult thing you’ve ever done. If you know what to do, you can shape your diet any way you want to.
