"I Could Never Eat Processed Foods" - Really?

"Oh I could never eat packaged foods"? 

There is a difference between "processed foods" and "foods that have been processed". The functional fuelings we use in the program we coach falls into the SECOND category. Would you call baby formula processed food? "Oh, my baby doesn't do processed food" - said no one, EVER. Even breast milk has been "processed" and scientifically designed to be delivered in the appropriate form for that baby to grow, with everything that baby needs to thrive in his/her health. So, processed cannot be deemed "good" or "bad" absent the CONTEXT of the how/why/purpose of the processing. 

Our fuelings are functional foods designed for the PURPOSE of sending our bodies the instructions to utilize the long-term energy that it has stored, WHILE providing us nutritionally with everything we need for the PURPOSE of creating health in our lives. The FOOD industry has purposefully created "hyper-palatable" processed foods designed to trick the body into craving more so we will over-consume them because the high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, fat and salt are added in such a way to make us want MORE. Athletes, astronauts and military who are deployed overseas ALL eat "processed foods", but again it is because they are scientifically formulated to allow for maximum performance and nutrition in a form convenient and practical for them to achieve their mission/goals. MRE's in the military are "packaged", sports nutrition is "packaged", astronaut food is "packaged". You've got to look at purpose and context. Heck, when someone is in the hospital do they receive "packaged/processed" nutrition? 100% yes. So it isn't the fact that it is packaged/processed that makes it good/bad, you have to look at WHO designed it, and the PURPOSE it was designed, and WHAT it is comprised of. Also consider the following "processed" foods: Multivitamins, pasta, tofu, probiotic capsules, fish oil capsules, olive oil, wine, tea sachets, ANYTHING EDIBLE IN YOUR PANTRY OR REFRIGERATOR THAT HAS BEEN PURCHASED AT A GROCERY STORE OR SENT TO YOU THROUGH THE MAIL. Just because it has a list of ingredients and comes in a package does not mean it is good OR bad in and of itself. WHAT are those ingredients? WHY were they put there? WHAT is the effect of those ingredients, either alone or in combination with each other, on the body?

Even fresh organic fruit and vegetables that you purchase anywhere other than the farm stand on location at the farm it was picked at is "processed and packaged". Things must be processed and packaged in order to transport them to where they need to go so the end-point consumer can purchase them. "Oh, no, that's not what I'm talking about, I don't want to eat anything that's not in the form it was grown in."  That is awesome, and I applaud you! So tell me, is that philosophy your regular practice right now? Today? And further, are you practicing healthy habits routinely and daily in your life in ALL the areas of physical health? Do you have a clinically healthy body mass index? Are you physically active at least 150 minutes per week? Are you getting at least 7-8 hours of good quality sleep? Are you able to manage stress in a healthy way? This is the global view of the aspect of our program regarding "healthy body". How about habits of health for the mind? How are your relationships? Do you have a spiritual practice? Do you serve in your community? Do you have hobbies you engage in that allow you recreational time? Do you enjoy your job? What brings you meaning and purpose in your life?

Creating optimal wellbeing is much more than whether you eat food from a package or not. People do not change their lifestyle overnight, and our process baby-steps you from where you are now to where you want to go by setting up the structure for you to progress and bring in habits of health to set the foundation for lifetime transformation, one healthy habit at a time. That's the purpose.