While processed foods are widely accessible and appealing in taste, they often conceal underlying issues that may not be immediately apparent. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 51.4 percent of the average American adult’s annual caloric intake comes from highly processed foods. Around 40 percent of obesity in American adults is due to the intake of high-calorie, high-saturated foods. Most Americans don’t see the downsides of their daily diet; this type of ignorance may lead to dire health problems later in life. 

Susannah Wallenstrom, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Golden Gate Pediatrics, points to several reasons to avoid highly processed foods.

“The added sugar, the salt, the sodium, the saturated fat, these are three areas that, if over-consumed, are going to lead to health risks like type two diabetes and high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease over time,” Wallenstrom said. 

Processed foods can also have smaller, day-to-day impacts. Nikole Maxey, a parent of an Archie Williams freshman, runs a 21-day detox in March for women who want to cut out sugar, high-calorie foods, and fats. Maxey is an acupuncturist who specializes in women’s health, and organizes the detox completely voluntarily because she believes the results are highly impactful.

“Actually, once you cut out the foods, because your body is just not used to cutting out those foods, it’s kind of wild… But then, after five or six days of not eating those foods, people start feeling amazed, like they can’t even believe how energetic they feel. And that’s only a week. And then by the end of the 21 days, everybody just feels so much cleaner, you feel less bloated, and you feel lighter,” Maxey said.

Despite the clear benefits to eating healthy, there are also some drawbacks. For Maxey and her family, it’s hard to make a healthy meal and be thoughtful about what you eat, when time is scarce. 

“I wish I could [eat a healthy snack] all the time, but [during the cleanse]] I really put everything else aside. I go to work, and I cook, and that’s about it. But that’s just not sustainable for our lifestyle, because we’re on the go so much,” Maxey said. 

Archie Williams freshman Quinn Diamond believes that candy and sweet foods are enjoyable and doesn’t mind the dietary impacts. 

“When I don’t want to eat healthy, [sugary food] satisfies my sweet tooth. It depends on my craving, but spending 25 to 50 dollars [on a sweet treat] is more likely,” Quinn said. “I am more intrigued by the more colorful and more vibrant look of the packaging, and it makes me want to enjoy my food, for example, Hi-Chews,” Quinn said. 

Although Maxey’s detox specializes in adult interests, foods that are ultra-processed are designed based on child interest. A 2024 study by Shichang Liang and colleagues at the Guangxi University School of Business shows how brands usually use warm or bright colors of packaging to entice children, since they are known to be more captivated by those types of graphics.

“I’ve worked with kids who are eating more ultra-processed foods… which is crowding out high protein foods and healthy fats. And that is impacting their growth.” Wallenstrom said. 

Being able to understand and listen to the body is a key part of leading a healthy life. Wallenstrom believes that the complexity of modern food labeling can reveal how heavily processed a product is.

“If you can’t understand the words [on the packaging], then they’re very much produced in a factory. I like this quote by Michael Pollan, ‘If your grandmother wouldn’t recognize it as food, then you probably shouldn’t eat it.” 

Being aware of what’s in food, even if it’s the quickest, most convenient, and cheapest thing available, is crucial to supporting growth and overall health. Even small decisions, like checking  the nutrition facts, or swapping or snacking for a “healthier” one can make people more aware of what they put in their bodies each day.