What processed foods won't you buy?

@Modestah (11179)
United States
May 1, 2008 11:49pm CST
Are there certain processed foods that you won't purchase, choosing to make it from scratch instead? I would love to make my own cheeses but do not have a source for raw milk right now. I prefer to make homemade soups - but will buy canned soup if the price is right. (tomato soup I usually buy canned) I prefer to make homemade mac and cheese, but will purchase the box on occassion. I am not sure there is any prepared foods that I refuse to purchase, just some things I would definitely prefer to make from scratch.
4 people like this
7 responses
• United States
2 May 08
There is nothing like my homemade soups and stews. Canned just does not compare. I hate hamburger helper and Tuna helper. I can do so much better onmy own from scratch. Yes I like homemade mac and cheese, so does my family but sometimes we do not have time and they want a hot dog and kraft mac and cheese. I would love to make my own cheeze thinking about getting a goat so i can!
4 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 08
I bought some hamburger helper last month because of a great price on it (or so I thought) it was bacon cheeseburger macaroni.... First shocker was was the small bag of macaroni- shoot when I make a meal I use a lot more than that! the next shocker was the bright orange color the final shocker was the taste!!! only one of the five of us asked for a little more... one of the five of us sneaked it into a napkin to toss away (yes she got in big trouble) another of the five of us chose to not eat dinner that night.
2 people like this
• United States
2 May 08
It stinks i agree!
3 people like this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 May 08
Isn't that odd orange color a turn off not to mention the taste and to think as a young bride I had gave that crap to my family. now it makes me shudder.yuuck.i also love tomake my own stews and soups also. sures cuts down on all the added salt too
2 people like this
2 May 08
I don't really like buying the ready meals from the supermarkets. I can't see the point in spending out a lot of money on a small dish containing a little bit of rice and a dollop of sauce when I can make my own meals from scratch for less money. One of the worst is a pasta and sauce ready meal where the market price is £2.99. for the same price I can make up enough pasta and sauce to fill six good sized containers and freeze them.
@compumom (738)
• United States
2 May 08
I tend to make most things from scratch when time permits, but the one thing I never buy is store bought pancakes. My mom always made them from scratch and I guess I just never got into the habit of purchasing store mixes. Like you, I prefer to make my own soups, stews, etc. I might buy a can soup but I never buy store made stew. I try to make a huge batch of things and freeze them for later on during the week. It doesn't always work out that way, but I give it the old college try.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
2 May 08
For sure I will not buy hotdogs and processed meat and bacon because they are high in sodium nitrates. Nitrates is bad for your health, so it's better to avoid those items. It's better to prepare your own food, with fresh vegetable and fruits. This reduce your cancer risk. It taste good just like processed food.
• United States
3 May 08
Mostly sauces like guacamole and such. Its so much better to squeeze fresh avacados....
@whittby (3072)
• United States
2 May 08
I won't buy anything processed that has MSG pr high fructose corn syrup. That eliminates a ton of stuff right there. Someone mentioned hamburger helper - I got some on sale awhile back too and didn't like it one bit. I do buy boxed mac and cheese - it's quick and doesn't have too much of the bad stuff in it (unless it's cleverly disguised in name). Besides eliminating the bad ingredients, cooking from scratch ends up being cheaper in the long run.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 May 08
I detest canned spaghetti and meatballs, and other canned pastas as they do not taste all that great.Cooking your own pasta is so easy and so much more tasty than Chef boyardee that it isn't even funny. Fresh cooked pasta and tomato sauce tastes ever so much better than soggy stuff from a can and does not take that long to make. I also detest Vegall canned veggies cook your own and save money and have some real flavor not sythetic stuff.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 May 08
Hatley I am with you, I just can not hardly tolerate canned vegetables. It is either fresh or frozen for us. There is such a difference in taste and nutrition.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 08
oh yeah! you found the thing I absolutely dislike Chef Boyardee pasta - it has a distinct taste, doesn't it? yick. Between chef boyardee and canned carrots it is a toss up. (or throw up?)
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
4 May 08
I like to make cakes from scratch and also sauces and gravies. I made a stirfry tonight and I did use a hoisin sauce and a sweet chilli sauce and also some soy. I used some chicken thighs and lots of veges...garlic, cabbagem broccoli and carrot. I would have used mushrooms too but I'm out. I like to mix and match my bottled asian sauces.