What exactly is in that box of processed food you just opened?

Just like you, every now and again, we find ourselves faced with what to make for dinner.  The day has been long and the humans have been challenging.  It's time to find something good to eat that takes absolutely no time to prepare.  Old cheese on broken crackers isn't going to cut it again.

Let's just get a box out of the cupboard or maybe the ready-to-heat meal out of the freezer.  We've all done it and we'll all do it again.  Sometimes it is a guilty pleasure we are seeking.  That box of Mac n Cheese is awfully tempting.  Just a few minutes and comfort food can be enjoyed.

We're not here today to talk anyone out of anything.  We are here to talk about what is in that box that is so nicely packaged for our all-too-busy lives.

Processed foods include more things than you might think.  If it's boxed, bagged, canned or jarred and has a list of ingredients on the label, it is considered processed.   That means that the following items on the grocery shelves are included: 

• Canned Goods
• Frozen Foods
• Refrigerated Foods
• Dehydrated Foods
• Aseptic Processed Foods (a process to make those pesky germs die)

We are a society that looks desperately for convenience and ease.  As children, the 2 Prickly Pears didn't know about dehydrated potatoes.  We sure knew what it meant to stand at the kitchen counter, holding a paring knife and peeling potatoes we stored in the root cellar.  Maybe those days are gone for most of us.

The 2 Prickly Pears are giving you a task.  The next time you go to the grocery store take one minute and read the label on the meal "helper" box.  Pick any one.  There are dozens.  Once you've read the list, answer this question: "Did I understand each ingredient and know its purpose in being there?  If the answer is "no,"  then it doesn't have a place on your table. 

Let's begin with the guilty pleasure mentioned earlier.  The humble, comforting, and much loved, Mac n Cheese.  Ever wonder about the color of the cheese sauce in a box mix?  Well, that color comes not from the cheese, itself.  It comes from the color additive added to the powdered cheese.  That additive is call Yellow 5 and 6, also called tartrazine, and is a synthetic, water-soluble, very inexpensive dye used as a food coloring. Its purpose is to make us believe we are eating fresh cheddar cheese.

In order for the cheese packet to live as long on the self as the pasta, additives must be included.  This is true for the dry mix as well as the pouch with the already prepared cheese sauce.  What can be done to make sure of extended shelf life?  The answer is Cellulose Gum.  This is a cheap thickener and emulsifier that can also improve shelf life.  It is farmed from trees and cotton.  A little cellulose gum goes a long way.  It is important to note that cellulose gum cannot be absorbed by the human body.

It's now time to talk about sodium.  Way back when, when preserving food was useful for long winters when food, especially meats, was more difficult to come by, humans used salt to dry their food.  Nowadays, we use sodium as a preservative in food for several reasons.  To begin with, sodium in foods prevents fermentation.  The deli meat you buy in your grocery store is high in sodium so it will last longer under the glass and lights of the deli case.  Sodium also is used as a binder, enhances color of food, acts as a stabilizer and improves the taste.  While sodium is doing all of that, it is also contributing to health problems.  High levels of sodium is a known factor in heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and weight gain. 

According to the CDC,(Center for Disease Control), more than 75% of the sodium Americans consume comes from processed and restaurant foods.

These few aspects of what makes up boxed Mac n Cheese is only the beginning.  Here's a list of other additives found in many processed foods. 

With cancer and heart disease all around us, researchers are now studying the dangers of processed foods which are more of a staple in our home than a loaf of bread or carton of milk.

Here is a breakdown of the difference in nutrional values of boxed vs homemade Mac n Cheese:

The 2 Prickly Pears are not trying to convince anyone out of eating processed foods.  We wish to shed a little light on the downside to having too much processed food in our diets.  While it might be more "convenient" to open a box or can or toss a frozen dinner in the microwave, in long run, it is better to make a from-scratch, homemade pan of Mac n Cheese.  We offer you a simple, tasty, and easy recipe.  It's yummy and has your added love to make it completely worth your while.

Homemade Creamy Mac -n- Cheese  

Makes eactly 6.5 servings

8 ounces elbow macaroni
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 Cups milk
8 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
Pinch of salt and pepper

Directions:

• Cook elbow macaroni according to package.
• In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook for a few minutes on medium heat until the mixture turns a light tan color.
• Slowly whisk milk into roux. Whisk continually until milk is incorporated. The mixture should get nice and creamy. Try to whisk out any lumps that form.
• Add grated cheese to sauce and season with a tiny pinch of salt and pepper.
• Once cheese is melted, stir in elbow macaroni and stir until well combined.

When shopping for your favorite foods, consider reading labels as a way to have a better handle on what you are serving when using processed food.  Make sure you include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits for a good dose of needed nutrients.  Only indulge in those guilty pleasures once in awhile.  

Planning ahead makes scratch cooking easy to manage and healthier in the long run.