A week without ultraprocessed foods

Health reporter Kelly Grant investigates the feasibility of eliminating ultraprocessed foods from a family diet by documenting her own household’s week-long experiment. Relying on the NOVA classification system, the study highlights how convenience-driven food environments and time constraints—particularly for working parents—make total avoidance of ultraprocessed items nearly impossible. Research indicates that these foods are associated with chronic health issues like obesity and diabetes, with studies showing they can lead to increased caloric intake compared to whole-food diets. Ultimately, the experiment reveals that while systemic food structures prioritize convenience, small, sustainable adjustments—such as preparing homemade staples—are more practical than achieving perfection. The findings underscore that the burden of food preparation remains disproportionately high for women, suggesting that individual efforts are limited without broader policy changes to the food environment.