The Dark Truth of Big Food: Navigating Healthy Eating in a Processed World

Apr 14

Hi friends!

Let’s talk Caesar salad & corporate lies

I’m not going to lecture you on why you should only eat kale and tofu or make you feel bad for indulging in a slice of pizza or an ice cream cone. No way, Jose. I'm all about balance.

But let’s be honest. Eating healthy? Sometimes it’s hard AF.

I’ll share my struggles and wins so you know you’re not alone. I’ll also give you tips on how to eat healthy on a budget without living off steamed spinach and sadness. There will be healthy recipes. And yeah, there will be some not-so-healthy ones, too, because #balance is real.

Why trust me?

I’ve read all the books, tried all the diets (yes, even the sketchy ones), and gone to the workshops. But more importantly, I’m not some green-juice-chugging robot with a six-pack and no personality.

I’m a 26-year-old girl who loves a good glass of wine and a Netflix binge. I’ve battled body image issues, I’ve cried in dressing rooms, I’ve stared down cartons of Ben & Jerry’s at 2 AM. I get it.

I’m not here to judge. I’m here to be your cheerleader and your truth-teller while we figure out how to feel better in our bodies without losing our minds (or our money).

Healthy doesn’t mean perfect. It means smarter.

If you're trying to make better food choices, especially with all the confusing labels and conflicting advice, let me be real: the food industry is counting on you to give up. It's a mess out there.

But here's what I've figured out:

Eating well can be affordable.
You don’t need 25 supplements.
The food pyramid was trash.

If you want to make healthy changes to your diet, start by incorporating more fruits and veggies into your meals. Still trying to figure out where to start? Add a handful of spirulina to your morning smoothie, or swap out your afternoon chips for baby carrots and hummus. Small changes can add up to big results!

The Skinny on Healthy Eating Trends:

Fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, and kombucha are delicious and rich in probiotics that help promote good gut bacteria. Prebiotic-rich treats like garlic, onions, and leeks are also excellent for your gut health. By incorporating these foods into your diet, you'll do your body a favor and enjoy some fantastic flavors.

Try adding a scoop of kimchi or sauerkraut to your salad or sandwich or sipping on a glass of kombucha with your lunch. You can also incorporate adaptogenic ingredients into your morning smoothie or tea. Remember to start with a small amount and gradually increase over time to avoid any potential side effects.

When it comes to regenerative agriculture, the easiest way to support this movement is by shopping for locally sourced produce and meat. Plus, local produce is often fresher and tastier than its supermarket counterparts.

If you want to make healthy changes to your diet, start by setting small, achievable goals for yourself, like drinking more water throughout the day. Whatever your goals may be, remember that every little bit counts.

The Dark Side of "Big Food": The Cheerios Wake-Up Call

Let’s talk about everyone's favorite childhood breakfast for a second.

Cheerios — yes, the “heart-healthy” ones — are being accused of containing cancer-causing chemicals. This isn’t just some niche wellness scare. This is a real, documented problem backed by lawsuits and lab tests.

And the gag is... this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Contaminated produce. Tainted meat. Ingredient lists that read like science experiments. Big Food doesn’t want you to look too closely. But we have to. Because this isn’t just about breakfast cereal. It’s about what we feed our families, what goes into our bodies, and what we’re not being told.

In the face of such alarming revelations, complacency is not an option. We must hold these companies accountable for their actions. By voting with our wallets and supporting companies prioritizing safety, sustainability, and ethical practices, we send the message that profit margins will no longer be prioritized over public health. Championing local farmers and advocating for fair labor standards are essential steps toward forging a more equitable and responsible food system. It's time we prioritize the well-being of people and animals over profit margins.

We deserve to know where our food comes from, how it's made, and what's in it. Stricter regulations are also necessary to ensure our food is safe and healthy. We need to prioritize environmentally friendly practices and support local farmers and producers. But it's not just up to the industry. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference.

Here’s what else is messed up:

Factory farms are pumping animals full of antibiotics. Hello, superbugs.
Regulations? Basically Swiss cheese. Full of holes.
Processed food = addictive on purpose. These people have scientists studying your brain to make snacks you can’t stop eating.

It’s bad for us, it’s bad for the planet, and the worst part? It’s totally avoidable if enough of us stop buying into it.

What can we actually do?

I know. We’re not all going to start growing our own food and churning butter. But we can make better choices, and we should. Because when we support better brands, better farmers, and better practices, it sends a message that we are done being played.

Here’s what I recommend:

Buy local when you can. Farmers’ markets > mystery grocery store strawberries from six countries away.
Read the label. If you don’t know what something is, your body probably doesn’t either.
Support companies that prioritize health, safety, and ethics.
Don’t fall for “natural” or “healthy” marketing — they’re mostly lies.
When in doubt, go for the ingredient list with the fewest words you can actually pronounce.

My Journey with Nutrition:

I used to be a fad diet queen. You know the type: the one who tries every juice cleanse and fat-free diet out there, hoping to achieve the perfect body. But, as you can imagine, nothing worked for me in the long run. I was constantly battling cravings, feeling deprived, and ultimately winding up right back where I started, if not worse.

Through prioritizing nourishing my body with love and care every step of the way, I’ve noticed a huge transformation in myself. I feel more energized, confident, and fabulous than ever before.

It’s not always easy to prioritize good nutrition, especially when constantly bombarded with diet culture and unrealistic beauty standards. But the truth is, good nutrition is not about perfection or restriction. It’s about finding what works for you and sticking with it. It’s about nourishing your body with love and care, not punishing it for what you ate yesterday.

And, let’s be real, we all have our guilty pleasures. Mine? French fries or a good ol' donut. Life is too short to deprive yourself of the things you love. So, go ahead and have that fried chicken or milkshake. Just make sure to balance it with nourishing foods that make your body feel good.

Final Thoughts (and a little tough love)

We all deserve to know what’s in our food, how it’s made, and what it’s doing to our bodies. That’s not asking for too much — that’s basic.

So no, this post isn’t about fear. It’s about facts. And if you’re sick of being tricked, misled, and gaslit by food companies, you’re not crazy — you’re paying attention.

And now that you know what’s up, you can start making small changes that add up to big power.

You get to decide what’s worth feeding yourself. They don’t.

Save or Share This With Someone Who:

Eats cereal every morning (👀)
Thinks “natural flavors” are safe
Is always tired and doesn’t know why
Loves a good reality check

PS: Want more real talk and zero fluff? 📝 Sign up for my newsletter! 💌 I dish out the tea every week, recipes, rants, and tips that actually make your life easier.

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