Katie's Healthy Bites: Mystery Foods, Revealed

Last week, I posted 4 "mystery" ingredient lists and asked you to guess what processed food the list came from.You had some great guesses -- after the jump, find out if you were right! Plus, try these wholesome, healthy upgrades to common processed foods.
Veggie Burger With Mushrooms - Photo Courtesy Food Network Magazine

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Last week, I posted 4 "mystery" ingredient lists and asked you to guess what processed food each list came from.You had some great guesses -- after the jump, find out if you were right! Plus, try these wholesome, healthy upgrades to common processed foods.

Product # 1 : Toaster Pastry
Healthy Upgrade:

Try toast with peanut butter and honey for a sweet breakfast treat.

Product # 2: Vegetarian Breakfast “Sausage” Patty
Healthy Upgrade:

Use mushrooms to create a “meaty” vegetarian flavor. Add sage to this this mushroom-laced patty (pictured above) for classic breakfast flavor.

Product # 3: Stir-Fry Microwave Dinner
Healthy Upgrade:

Make your own! Plan ahead and make a large batch of stir-fry or pasta with chicken and vegetables, like this chicken stir-fry. Portion the meals out into freezable containers and re-heat when hungry!

Product # 4: Macaroni and Cheese
Healthy Upgrade:

Again, make your own or switch to a less processed organic brand.  Add a flavorful veggie like butternut squash or cauliflower to the mix for added flavor and creamy texture. Recipes to try:

My hope is that last Sunday’s post was an eye opener and encouraged you to eat whole foods rather than their very processed counterparts.

TELL US: What are your healthy upgrades to processed foods?

Katie Cavuto Boyle, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian, personal chef and owner of HealthyBites, LLC. See Katie's full bio »

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