19 processed foods nutritionists swear by

Many processed foods earn high marks for convenience but poor marks for health. But the truth is, the term “processed” spans a wide range of foods, from healthful pre-washed salad greens (some form of processing occurs to wash and bag the greens) to less healthful processed meats. I weighed in on this piece for NBC News about healthier processed foods:

Maya Feller, RD, author of “The Southern Comfort Food Diabetes Cookbook” is another fan of canned and pouched seafood. “There are times when we don’t have access to wild or sustainably sourced salmon and wild salmon in a pouch is an economical as well as a convenient way to get your recommended two servings per week,” she says. Sardines are also tops on her list of healthy processed foods. “They’re a delicious small fish, rich in protein, heart-healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D. There’s some compelling research around brain health and fatty fish consumption,” says Feller.