Thekitchn iconThekitchnAug 31, 2026

I Set Out to Quit Buying Ultra-Processed Foods, and Picked Up 4 Key Tips I’ll Use Forever

For the past five years, I've been on a mission to cut back on the ultra-processed foods my family eats. While people define ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in a few different ways, the simplest way to think about them is foods made with ingredients you'd never find in your own kitchen.

I Set Out to Quit Buying Ultra-Processed Foods, and Picked Up 4 Key Tips I’ll Use Forever

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For the past five years, I've been on a mission to cut back on the ultra-processed foods my family eats.

While people define ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in a few different ways, the simplest way to think about them is foods made with ingredients you'd never find in your own kitchen.

We still keep boxes of macaroni and cheese in the cupboard, and my children eat cake at parties.

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For the past five years, I've been on a mission to cut back on the ultra-processed foods my family eats. While people define ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in a few different ways, the simplest way to think about them is foods made with ingredients you'd never find in your own kitchen. We still keep boxes of macaroni and cheese in the cupboard, and my children eat cake at parties.

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This has been no easy feat, given that nearly 75% of the U.S.

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