Pitfalls of Pre-Packaged Foods

It’s pretty safe to say, fresh food is best. But, we also know how difficult it is to always have fresh meals prepared. One can start the week with the best of intentions of meal prepping for the week, and having healthy snacks at the ready, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Unfortunately, you should think twice before reaching for a pre-packaged snack or meal. There are several pitfalls of pre-packaged foods, and we break down some of the worst parts of them.

The pitfalls of pre-packaged foods may be enough to have you cooking fresh meals and snacks, even if it means sacrificing a little bit of sleep or not being able to do something else because you need to meal prep.

• Sodium. This alone is a serious issue when it comes to pre-packaged foods. Salt is one of the key preservatives that is used, and unfortunately, they use plenty of it in pre-packaged meals. Because of this, you may find that one pre-packaged meal has up to half of your daily sodium intake just in it alone! Needless to say, that is a lot, and really not what your body needs.
• Added sugars. Unfortunately, this is another serious drawback to pre-packaged meals and snacks. While natural sugars are expected in certain things, in some snacks that are touted as high-protein and healthy options, they are actually loaded with 15-20 grams of added sugar. Completely unnecessary, and very bad for your body. Always read the labels carefully to make sure you know what you’re getting.
• Fat. Ugh, dreaded fat. Trans fat helps these pre-packaged foods to have a longer shelf life, so odds are, it will be in one you are looking at. You definitely want to be aware of these, as they increase your risk for heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and more.

Additives. There are a variety of chemicals that get added to pre-packaged meals, and while they may be considered safe to ingest, many times people can have adverse reactions, and quite frankly, they just aren’t all that good for you.

Unfortunately, even those pre-packaged salads that you see at the supermarket may be full of additives to make them last longer. You need to carefully review the ingredients list before making any purchase, even pre-packaged carrots. Unfortunately, there are many ways that these healthy options get turned unhealthy in an effort to make them last longer.