Be Careful with These Packaged Foods

When you start on a plant-based path, you may get into a rut with your cooking. This may lead you to a grocery store that has more to offer for their plant-based guests. One of the available options may be packaged foods. Though these sound like a great idea, they may not be as ideal as you first imagine them to be. Here are a few reasons you need to be careful with packaged foods, specifically the ones noted here.

Tofu

Yes, tofu is a staple in most plant-based diets. The problem with some of the tofu options out there is how they are developed. Though you can find organic options, general or traditional tofu may have been a product of genetically modified creation. If you are on a plant-based path that stays away from GMO foods, then this may be a huge issue for you. Just make sure you are going with a certified organic option that has a label for no GMO as well.

Organic Mac and Cheese

If you have children that love mac and cheese, or you love it, then you may think buying it off the shelf is best. The problem is, even with an organic label it may not be as good for you as you think. There are a variety of vegetarian organic mac and cheese options available. The issue is with the other ingredients. For example, the cheese may have been created using a beef broth. The pasta may have been created using GMO technology. Make sure that if you are buying a packaged mac and cheese option that is labeled as vegan. This will avoid all the other issues and ensure no meat or meat product was used, including broth. Choose a vegan option, it will avoid any confusion.

Any Canned Soup

Canned soup is something that many people eating plant-based reach for first. They see a label that says vegetarian or vegetable and go with that as the sign that it is vegan. The truth is these soups can contain a lot of sodium that can cause health issues. They may also be labeled vegetable, but the broth base is either beef stock or has been made with beef bones. Make sure you avoid this issue by going with a vegan canned soup. Just like with mac and cheese, the vegan label can help you avoid any meat product. You can cut the sodium by going with a no salt or low salt option.

These are just a few of the packaged foods to be careful of when you think of purchasing them. The most important point to keep in mind is to stick to your beliefs on vegetarianism and make sure that nothing in the packaged foods goes against those beliefs.

I am launching a program soon that will help you set healthy habits, take control of your carb cravings, and manage blood sugars. Managing the starchy vegetables, we eat can be as tricky as packaged foods. I created a few resources that can help you make better choices. Click the link below for your copy.

It’s time to feel amazing with our day-to-day decisions.

Sherimane Johnson, Vegan Chef, Restauranteur and Transition Guide believeshelps women and men works with health-conscious people who are a plant-based diet can reduce the onset of disease. She believes healing is possible through food. Her mission is to help others transform their lives by enjoying the physical, emotional, and social benefits of a plant-based way of eating. Plant Powered Shift, NaturallySweet Desserts & Night Owl Vegan provide several opportunities to learn more about her mission and offerings.