Processed Foods

Never before has the American supermarket—or the average American—contained so many processed foods. It’s not surprising. From taco chips to frozen entrees, they’re convenient and tasty. Some are easy to carry and eat on the run, others require little or no preparation, and all are available practically everywhere.

Processed foods are hybrids of nutritious ingredients plus elective calories. They can be good or poor choices. The problem is that many processed food labels make it difficult to figure out what the food is actually made of.

Consider those popular nutrition bars, for instance. The long list of ingredients may contain added fiber and protein as well as sugar(s) and fat. How can you tell if this bar meet your needs? The best products:

Taste great.
Are made with whole grains rather than refined grains.
Include amounts of added sugar and solid fat that can fit into your elective calorie budget.
Help you feel satisfied while enjoying a balance of healthful foods from every food group.

We are designing the Sargent Choice Personal Meal Planner so you can enter information from the food label of your favorite nutrition bars and determine which ones will help you meet your nutrition goals. Look for it in the fall of 2009.