The Top Nine Most Crappy Processed Foods + a Brownie Recipe With Nothing Crappy In It
By Molly Patrick
Sep 16, 2014,
When I think about processed food, I always think of food that’s sold at gas stations.
Chips, crackers, cookies, muffins, everything except for that one lone banana that sits by the register and sells for like 50 cents. Where does that one banana always come from, by the way?
It’s not like they order boxes of bananas to sell, because it’s always just the one. It usually looks kind of old and sometimes there’s a single shiny red apple sitting next to it. What’s going on with this?
So gas station foods (apart from the lone banana and stray shiny red apple) are the obvious processed foods.
They’re convenient, they have lots of preservatives, they’re cheap, and you can open the package and pop them straight into your pie hole. No assembly required.
Now, there are certain foods that are more processed than others.
A donut for instance is more processed than a piece of whole wheat bread. But whole wheat bread is more processed than say, a piece of sprouted grain bread. Can you see where this slope may get slippery?
I’m going to make it really easy for you with two simple steps.
I don’t want to overwhelm you, so I’m giving you step one today and step two next week.
STEP ONE
The first step is to identify the foods that should be avoided at all possible costs. These foods are the worst of the worst – vegan or not.
1) Dairy products, especially sweetened dairy products.
Watch: Got The Facts on Milk to learn all the crap things about dairy.
In a nutshell: Dairy has a protein called casein in it. Casein has been linked with loads of problems including inflammation, Autoimmune Diseases (think MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Alopecia to name a few), acne, allergies and even eczema.
If that’s not enough, the average glass of milk contains 60 different anabolic hormones (whether organic milk or not). The purpose of anabolic hormones is to help calves grow to become very large cows.
Why are we drinking something with hormones in it that are meant to grow a 1500 pound mammal? It defies all logic. Plus, imagine what all those hormones might help grow in us?
Also, there is no evidence that milk and dairy products help protect our bones. It’s actually the opposite.
Turns out that the places in the world which consume the most dairy have the most instances of hip fractures and the regions that consume the least amount of dairy have the lowest amount of hip fractures.
Don’t take the government and huge advertising budgets word for it – milk does not do a body good.
2) Anything containing Trans Fats.
Trans Fats are lab manufactured fats. To make Trans Fat, hydrogen is pumped into liquid oil to make a hard fat (think margarine and Crisco). This process is known as hydrogenation.
Trans Fats raise “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol.
They clog the arteries and are responsible for a slew of health problems, including obesity, diabetes and dementia to name a few. They are so bad that the entire state of New York banned them in 2006.
But get this.
Even if a food label says “Zero Trans Fat”, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free of these fake fats.
It just means that there is less than 1/2 a gram per serving in that food.
Sneaky bastards!
To find out if an item contains Trans Fat, read the ingredient list. If you see “Hydrogenated” or “Partially Hydrogenated” on the list, that’s your clue to put it down and keep movin’.
Common items that have Trans Fats are microwave popcorn, traditional supermarket pastries and donuts, frozen pizza, Coffee Mate coffee creamer and whipped topping.
3) Processed meats like sausage, hot dogs, jerky, bacon and lunch meat.
It doesn’t get any more processed than these.
Processed meats are filled with color enhancers, glues and carcinogenic chemicals like Sodium Nitrite.
If processed meats weren’t pumped full of all these chemicals, the meat would appear gray in color and dead looking. This would make people run away, not add them to their cart. Sodium Nitrites are responsible for putting back in that reddish “fresh” meat color.
Processed meats have been linked with so many types of cancer and other health problems that a 2007 report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) advised people to completely stop buying and eating all processed meat.
4) Donuts.
Even vegan donuts, y’all. 🙁
At best, they’re full of processed flour and processed sugar. At worst, they’re also fried and full of Trans Fat. Vegan or not, donuts are nutrient void and are not helpful to your beautiful bod.
5) Smoked meat, barbecued meat and conventionally raised meat.
The high temperatures of smoked and barbecued meat create highly toxic cancer causing carcinogenic compounds called Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs).
Conventionally raised meat is full of hormones and chemicals. Even organic meat is full of saturated fat and should be avoided for heart health.
Meat in general is something that we don’t need and that causes more harm than good.
If you’re set on eating it, at least stay away from smoked, barbecued, conventionally raised and processed meats.
6) All commercially fried foods.
There’s a myriad of problems going on with fried foods. Let’s look at a couple.
First, there’s the Trans Fat issue because most oil used to fry foods is hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated. And just because it’s “partially” hydrogenated does not mean it’s “partially” good for you.
But even foods that are fried in non-hydrogenated vegetable oils like Canola or Safflower Oil have their own set of problems. These types of fats (polyunsaturated fats) easily become rancid when exposed to oxygen, producing loads of damaging free radicals in the body.
Also canola oil is pretty much guaranteed to be made from Genetically Modified ingredients. I’ll be writing a post on this in the next few weeks.
And then there’s the risky substance called Acrylamide, which is formed in certain foods that are heated to high temperatures. The highest levels of Acrylamide are found in french fries and potato chips. 🙁
The World Health Organization stated that the levels of Acrylamide in foods pose a “major concern” and that more research is needed to determine the risk of dietary Acrylamide exposure.
7) Soda.
Check this out.
One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar (usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup), 150 calories, 30 – 55 mg of caffeine and loads of artificial colors and sulphites.
If it’s a diet soda, it has all of this stuff but the high fructose corn syrup gets swapped out for even more harmful artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
The combination of ingredients that make up soda spikes blood sugar, interferes with the bodies ability to absorb calcium, makes us dehydrated, causes plaque buildup on the teeth, causes weight gain and offers zero nutrients.
There is absolutely no reason why anyone (especially kids) should be drinking soda. I’m gonna get all Berkeley on you and be a stickler on this one!
Soda is some seriously bad shit.
8) Refined white sugar.
Excess sugar increases belly fat, damages the heart, has toxic effects on the liver, ages the cells and brain, and is as addictive as heroin. HEROIN!
And processed sugar is found in a lot more than just dessert type foods.
Food companies sneak it into lots of packaged foods to make them more satisfying, to cover up other chemical-like tastes and to get us hooked (they know about this little heroin fact too). Some foods that are surprisingly high in sugar are ketchup, fat free salad dressings, milk, granola bars, tonic water, packaged sauces and gravies and even certain types of breads.
Check out some alternative names for sugar. If you see any of these ingredients, it’s just another name for processed sugar.
Concentrated fruit juice, dextrose, maltose, crystalline fructose, evaporated cane juice, invert sugar, malt syrup, cane crystals and fructose.
Dried dates, bananas, brown rice syrup and 100% pure maple syrup are all great natural sweeteners for when you need to sweeten something up.
9) Refined white flour.
White flour is so processed that all the nutrients gone by the time it’s all said and done.
The grain is crushed and the bran and the germ are removed. It then gets bleached and treated with chlorine.
What’s left is a nutrient void substance that spikes blood sugar and acts like glue in the intestines, making it hard to digest nutrients.
It’s just bad news. I’ll be talking next week about better alternatives, but for now, here are the items to avoid that are made of refined white flour. White bread, white pasta, white tortillas, most crackers, baked goods and pizza dough.
Okay – that was part one. If you’re inspired to get away from the junk and try out a super clean, unprocessed diet, check out our weekly Plant Fueled Meal Plans.
If you know anyone who would benefit from this info, I would love for you to share this link.
Next week, I’ll be covering the foods that may not be so obviously bad for us, but still may not be great choices.
Today I’m giving you a brownie recipe that is the exact opposite of gas station brownies.
When you’re craving something sweet, these will do the trick without using any of the ingredients from my “holy shit, don’t eat that!” list.
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or more if you want them a little sweeter 60ml
- 2 cups canned black beans 340g, Crazy, right? Trust me - they work!, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup cacao powder 40g
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup almonds 75g, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut 25g
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds 12g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° (175°C)
- Place the banana, vanilla and maple syrup in the food processor and process until smooth.
- Add the black beans, cacao powder and salt and process until totally smooth, about a minute or two.
- Pour mixture into a mixing bowl and place the almonds and coconut in the food processor (don’t worry about washing the food processor).
- Process the almonds and coconut until the almonds are chopped up to your liking.
- Add this to the mixing bowl, along with the chia seeds and stir until everything is incorporated.
- Line an 8 x 11 (20.3cm x 28cm) pan with parchment paper so that it covers the bottom and sides of the pan (or opt for an equivalent silicone baking pan) and pour in the brownie mixture.
- Bake for 35 minutes.
I know that black beans in brownies sounds weird, but just go with it and tell me what you think in the comments below.
This post is amazing! It has all the information I try to get through to people I know all the time. Thank you for writing it so well and so clearly. Such an inspirational post! I will definitely by sharing it and it will help you spread the word!
Thank you! Such important info to spread around 🙂 Your blog is gorg, by the way 🙂
Thanks for the great info! It’s hard to steer clear of everything harmful to us out there, especially if we are in a hurry, but at least it’s good to know! And seriously… where DOES that one banana come from? 😉
@heatherhousewifeglamour:disqus Agreed. If someone is going to drink diet soda then they should at least know the crappiness of it. And yes, that one banana!…it’s a mystery.
I think I just got my ass handed to me…but in a good way. I only wish that one banana wasn’t always so ridiculously expensive!
Hi Molly,
I’m wondering if this recipe can be prepared in a Vitamix, or if it should be done in a food processor?
We’re new to WFPB in the past month or so. Thanks for sharing so much great information! Love your style!
Hi Karen –
I have not tried this in a Vitamix but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Keep me posted!
Molly
Omg, I’m seeing this for the first time. I. Can’t wait to try the brownies! But your story about the restaurant had me rolling on the floor. I waited tables for 20 years…. I know the crazy you speak of. I just read the story about your dad after making the potato salad a dozen times. Usually when someone posts the recipe I scroll down fast to save it. But now I’m really enjoying reading your blog stories that accompany the recipes. You should write a book, It can’t be anymore of a headache than opening a restaurant. ????
OMG! I’m laughing out loud about the snotty North Berkeley people! I live in the East Bay and totally know about them ????
Hi Demaris, thanks for reading the blog! Karen – Team Dirty Girl
I like how you write and get to the point without you gloves but without hurting either 🙂
Plus you’re one among few (none??) to publish recipes including cups and grams so as a French lady living around Amsterdam I am soooo thankful for this!!!
Hi Cec, Thanks for the love, we appreciate it! Making our recipes as accessible as possible is important to us and we’re glad that makes your life a bit easier.
Karen
Team Dirty Girl
The brownies were a KILLER! We all enjoyed, and way more than the other recipes black bean based I tried 🙂
Just so hard to not eat the dough before baking..
So awesome!
Can these be made without the almonds or maybe with sunflower seeds? My daughter’s class is nut free and I’m trying to find healthy snackies for her that are nut free. Thanks!
I was wondering the same thing as Dori! I’m wanting to make these for my Littles to take to school…will they work without the almonds or with a nut-free sub?
Read this aloud to my meat eating hub & he listened! I won’t expect changes but maybe it helps him get my changes. I just retired unexpectantly early & cant afford the meal plan but I do get a free recipe here & there & enjoy the FB group! Thanx!
Hi Debra,
Modeling lifestyle change is the best way to show it can be done and that there are good things that come from it. Glad you are in the group and trying out our weekly free recipes!
Karen
Team Dirty Girl
I want to make the brownies, but I need a good sub for the bananas as my mother is allergic… dates or applesauce?
Hi Darlene,
Molly recommends subbing 4 dates (remove pits and soak them first to soften) and 1/4 – 1/2 cup applesauce.
xo
Meghann
Team Dirty Girl
Thank you!!! This is happening!! 🙂 🙂
These brownies are fantastic! How do stop yourself from eating the whole pan?!?
Woohoo Gwen, thanks for letting us know you loved the recipe! The only way I’ve found to control my love of black bean brownies is to freeze them cut into portion sizes. Thaw overnight in the fridge and enjoy that one treat the next day. We’re going to make an adjustment to this recipe as it’s an oldie that we’ve yet to notice calls for a tiny bit of oil on the pan. The completely oil free option would be to use parchment paper to line the pan or opt for a silicone pan. ~Karen
Would almonds be a good substitute for coconut in this brownie recipe? Thank you!
Hi Kat, If you left the coconut out, the recipe should still be fine. If you wanted to up the almonds, you could do that too. ~Karen
If I wanted to make these in an 8×8 pan would I need to make adjustments to the recipe or just to the cooking time? Thanks,karen
Hi Karen, these will totally work in an 8 x 8 pan. They’ll just be thicker. You just might need to keep them in the oven a few minutes longer. ~Karen
Great,thank you!
I just stumbled (happily) across this site, and this is the first Dirty recipe I’ve made. More will follow shortly, I have no doubt. Just a note to say that I found these great on their own, but with a swipe of natural peanut butter on top like frosting? Amaaaazzzziiing. It’s a lot like the chemical-laden candy aisle PB/choc mashups but with zero regret. My 7-year-old even digs them. Oh, and I’ve also been storing the brownies in the fridge to coax out maximum sweetness, because, for science-y reasons, everything tastes sweeter when it’s cold.
Um, that sounds amazing. Totally doing this next time I make these brownies. The fridge effect might explain why my husband loves his fruit cold. Thanks for checking us out, Tori! Feel free to check us out on FB or IG, we have an awesome community! ~Karen
Is it possible to leave out the coconut (taste preference)?
Hi Karen
Is the batter supposed to be very dry or am I missing something? Normally, when I make a cake the batter pours out of the bowl but in this case I’ve had to scrape it out with a knife and use a fair bit of effort to persuade it so smooth out in the tin.
Sorry, I meant Molly, of course, no idea where Karen came from.
Hi Mike! Molly says this is definitely a thick batter – not your typical pourable batter. Let us know what you think! ~Karen (after all! 😉)
Thanks, Karen. They turned out OK but not as moist as I like and I’m not really a fan of coconut. I wish I could find the recipe I used to use, I’d modified that to my taste over time — mainly by cutting down on the sugar — unfortunately though I’ve lost it somewhere.
Thanks for sharing, Mike. There is a good amount of coconut in this recipe for sure. I hope you find a good brownie recipe similar to the one you’ve lost even if this isn’t it. ~Karen
I had two really small bananas. So I used them both. I ran out of chia seeds – didn’t even know it until all of the other ingredients were measured. (Hope chia wasn’t essential!) Anyway, the batter tasted amazing. The pan’s now in the oven.
How oh how will these brownies make it three days until Mother’s Day?! My plan was to serve them alongside some fresh strawberries for dessert. Here’s hoping I can stick them in the back of the fridge and pretend like they’re not there!!
Thank you for a great and easy recipe!
High five and you’re very welcome! If they don’t make it, that’s a great excuse to make another batch! 😉
Hello! Can I substitute the black beans with red kidney beans?
Hey Cecilia – red kidney beans should work just fine as a swap here. Let us know how they turn out if you try them. ~Karen
Wow, what a great article! Now I need to find and read the next one.