Ten foods to avoid & National Baking Week

Below is a list of foods that nutritionists suggest you stay away from (source), I have to agree:

1. White bread
2. Soft drinks
3. Banana bread (homemade may be much better)
4. Cheese-flavoured snacks (I would also include chips)
5. Lollies
6. Chocolate nut spreads
7. Fruit bars
8. Doughnuts
9. Rice snacks
10. Margarine

I can think of a few more to add:

• any processed food than contains artificial colours, flavourings or other questionable ingredients (if you can say or spell them, then avoid them!!).
• shop bought cakes and bisuuits - make your own, at least you know what is in each bit. 
• cheap chocolate - if you are going to eat chocolate, spend more for quality

What else would you add to the "no" list?

I am finding more and more of my friends are skipping these processed foods and cooking from scratch. As my friend said to me the other day "if granny didn't eat it, then we shouldn't". I have to agree with her - however I don't think my granny ate feta cheese or goats cheese or chorizo sausage like we do, so there are a few exceptions to the rule with this quote!!!

In Britain this week (14th to the 20th October) is National Baking Week to encourage people to cook from scratch. Here is the website, it has many great recipes.  I found one recipe that I plan to bake: Spiced pumpkin tea bread, it contains freshly cooked pumpkin (avoid the canned version), coconut milk and coconut - looks yum and is healthy too.

Photography by Joluise: fruit bowl on my desk at work - even at work one can eat healthy and avoid all that rubbish.