My personal grocery list of "processed" food because I'm not falling for the anti processed food propaganda (I recommend the 'low sodium' versions when available to most people, but I have pots so I intentionally buy high sodium versions)
- frozen vegetables esp peas, carrots, corn, green beans, stir fry mixed veg or peppers and onions, soup veg, seasoned roast potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, kale, edamame
- frozen fruits esp blueberries, cherry berry blend, mango
- low sodium canned beans including seasoned beans
- non-dairy milks, or ultra filtered milk (regular pasteurized milk is fine too, but fairlife isn't much more expensive than lactaid and lactose is not my friend)
- jarred kimchi or sauerkraut, miso, kombucha, and anything else fermented
- low-sugar yogurt (I like ratio + fiber the best for snacking but also chobani, fage for cooking, or la fermiere if I want a special treat)
- v8 splash juice which I like to make chia & flax seed pudding with for on top of my yogurt
- boxed cereals (even 'sugary' cereals are super fortified and my fave plant-based iron source, but lots of low sugar cereals are super tasty now too)
- any pasta made with enriched semolina flour (which is most pasta!) or rice or bean based pasta if you want gluten free
- boxed goodles mac & cheese for easy hot meals
- nutritional yeast is super yummy and a good lil boost
- sugar free/unsweetened teas or water enhancers or drink mixes that will make me actually consume enough fluids
- no sugar added dried fruits esp figs, dates, banana chips, craisins, apricots
- Whole grain bread (or bread product, like tortillas or frozen waffles)
- canned fish like tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, oysters, squid (lidl store brand mackerel in chili sauce is one of my faves)
- hummus
- regular nut butters are basically the same as the "healthy" branded ones. I buy a 'natural' brand sometimes bc I'm avoiding palm oil for ethical reasons but jif and skippy are perfectly fine
- low sodium canned veg, esp tomatoes
- dark chocolate
- tofu! I love mori-nu shelf stable tofu bc I can stockpile it and that makes it even extra processed!
- protein bars or cookies, bc eating a bar is so much better than not eating lunch. I like David, Barebell, and the protein cookies that are 2 guys names that I can never remember
- flavored roasted edamame or sunflower seeds
- bagged popcorn! I buy loose kernels now bc cheaper but I also buy butter-flavored popcorn spray and flav-a-col popcorn salt
- jarred tomato sauce and salsa. I look for ones with no added sugar bc sweet tomato sauce is kinda gross to me
- fiber brownies and prebiotic sodas (esp bc my wifey doesn't have a gallbladder anymore)
- low sugar granola (rn im buying a kashi granola/cereal)
- low sodium or 'heart healthy' canned soup (esp progresso lentil w/roasted vegetables and the southwest style black beans & vegetable)
- those fancy nut & seed crackers
- those grain bowl packets with canned tuna in them
- cheese
