Proper nutrition

[emattson]

Common wisdom teaches that unprocessed food, what the Stone Age cavemen eats, is the healthiest way to live. Can't argue the numerous health benefits of nuts, legume, fruit and vegetables. Obviously, that sort of lifestyle is unrealistic. The life expectancy of cavemen is 33.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5719695/

I do not practice a whole, unprocessed food diet. One challenge is that ultra-processed food tastes so delicious. I've been trying various recipes to substitute modern junk food with cartoon mascots with various levels of success. Soda and sugary fruit drinks were replaced with tea brewed at home, home-made smoothies, and sparkling water with natural flavors only. I've been experimenting with a stainless steel tea filter to brew dried herbs to prevent microplastics from getting into the water.

I substitute sugary cereal with whole grain ones with fruits, sweetened by chopped banana. Still trying to find substitute for sugary granola. I rarely purchase flavored yogurt these days since I make my own using unsweetened yogurt with chopped apples, crushed 72 percent cacao chocolate and ginger. I make my own trail nut mix to replace proteins bars.

Spam and luncheon meat substitutes turned into disasters. Chicken and tofu pretending to be heavenly tasting, heavily processed canned meat is like Saccharin trying to identify as sugar. (YUCK!) If any of you have ideas of great replacement, please let me know. You'll be my hero.

Also, I'm looking for good substitute for potato chips. Cooked potato are okay in moderation but taste rather bland without butter and cream.

The biggest problems with a whole food diet is that the raw ingredients spoil quickly Even after careful inventory a forgotten bag of vegetable often needs to be thrown out--waste. Freezing fruits helps. Often, bagged berries in the freezer section is healthier than in the fresh products section. and can be stored for months. Strawberries will rot within days, so I wash and sliced them for dehydration. The drying process sweeten strawberries somehow, making them perfect for my nuts trail mix. Store-purchased dried fruit often have sugar added.

Preparation is time consuming. I often spend an hour cooking supper.