also groups food along a spectrum based on the extent and purpose of the processing they undergo.
Unprocessed or minimally processed foods include foods that have been crushed, dried, pasteurized, frozen or even refrigerated. These processes do not add salt, sugar, oils or fats to the original food. Ideally, unprocessed or minimally processed foods will form the basis of your diet.
Processed culinary ingredients are natural or minimally processed ingredients used in the home or restaurant kitchens to prepare, season and cook home-made dishes such as soups, broths, breads, preserves, salads, drinks, and desserts. Culinary ingredients make your food taste good without making them nutritionally unbalanced.
Processed foods are made by adding sugar, oil, salt or other culinary ingredients which unfavorably change the nutritional composition of the food. Most foods in this group have two or three ingredients.
Examples of processed foods are canned or bottled vegetables, fruit, and legumes: salted or