Processed Food Stations

Processed Food Stations

• Now let’s learn more about the different types of processed foods.

  • Minimal: pre-prepped for convenience. Examples: bagged spinach, cut vegetables, and roasted nuts.

  • Peak: locks in nutritional quality and freshness. Examples: canned tomatoes, frozen fruit and vegetables, and canned tuna.

  • Flavor & Texture: added sweeteners, spices, oils, colors, and Examples: jarred pasta sauce, salad dressing, yogurt and cake mixes.

  • Ready-to-eat: more heavily processed. Examples: crackers and deli meat.

  • Pre-made meals: the most heavily processed. Examples: frozen pizza and microwaveable dinners [Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016].

Processed Food Stations

• What processed foods are healthiest to eat and the not so healthiest to eat?

  • Minimal, peak and flavor & textured foods are still healthy to eat, but ready-to-eat and pre-made meals are not so healthy to eat.

Processed Food Stations

• Onn the following slides, there are photos of processed food/drink items.

• Work as a group to discuss the following questions and write on your worksheet what you think the original state of the food/drink is.

  • What is the original state of this food/drink?

  • What type of processed food is this food/drink?

  • Is it healthy to eat/drink? If not, what’s a healthier alternative?

​Canned Corn

Potato Chips

Bottled Orange

Juice

Beef Jerky

Trail Mix

Ketchup