Is avoiding ultra-processed foods in modern life even possible?

Parenting in the 21st century comes with a host of challenges, and navigating the minefield of nutrition is one of the most pressing. In a candid and deeply relatable essay, The Atlantic explores the tension between the ideal of feeding children only unprocessed, wholesome foods and the practical realities that most families face. The author, a seasoned health reporter and parent, opens with a scene that will resonate with countless caregivers: an afternoon spent shuttling a toddler between back-to-back doctor appointments, sustained only by peanut-butter puffs, a grape-jelly Uncrustables sandwich, and mixed-berry oat bites—all ultra-processed.

The piece critiques the increasingly strident public-health messaging around ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are blamed for obesity, overeating, and other chronic health issues. American health authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, urge parents to minimize these foods, while campaigns such as the MAHA movement, led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., describe them as driving America’s obesity epidemic. Yet, as the author emphasizes, strict avoidance is often impractical. Many working parents, constrained by time, energy, and money, rely on convenient processed foods to feed themselves and their children.

The article highlights the nuanced reality of UPFs. While diets high in heavily processed foods correlate with adverse health outcomes, not all UPFs are equally detrimental. Foods like ultra-processed yogurt, bread, fortified cereals, or even protein powders can contribute meaningfully to nutrition. Distinguishing between minimally harmful convenience foods and hyperpalatable, calorically dense snacks is crucial. Scholars such as Nicola Guess from Oxford University note that categorizing all UPFs together can be misleading; some, like tofu or soy milk, are both processed and nutritionally valuable.

Time, effort, and cost are central barriers. Preparing unprocessed meals requires planning, shopping, cooking, and cleanup—luxuries many parents cannot afford. Studies cited in the article show that diets of minimally processed foods cost more and demand more time than ultra-processed alternatives, leaving overburdened caregivers in a bind. The essay also critiques social media portrayals of “perfect” parenting and home cooking, which obscure the reality of modern family life and can impose unrealistic expectations.

Instead of rigid avoidance, the article promotes pragmatic harm reduction: balancing convenience with nutrition, incorporating vegetables into instant meals, minimizing added sugars, and selecting UPFs with fewer artificial ingredients. Health experts encourage comparing alternatives rather than striving for perfection, emphasizing that small adjustments can significantly improve dietary quality without exhausting parental resources.

Ultimately, the piece argues that ultra-processed foods, while not ideal, are an unavoidable and sometimes essential part of modern parenting. Rather than demonizing all processed foods, families benefit from guidance that is flexible, realistic, and considerate of daily constraints—helping children eat reasonably well while preserving parents’ sanity and capacity to care.

By Vugar Khalilov