01/07/2026
💚 10 foods I don’t buy for my family
People often ask what I feed my family, but just as importantly, they ask what I choose not to buy.
These are my personal choices after more than 20 years working as a holistic nutritionist.
🥄 1. Seed & vegetable oils (including margarine)
I choose natural fats like butter, ghee, olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and tallow. Many seed oils are highly refined and commonly found in ultra-processed foods, so I choose to leave them out of my shopping trolley.
🥣 2. Sugary breakfast cereals
Most are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates but low in protein, leaving teens hungry again soon after breakfast.
🍬 3. Artificial sweeteners
I’d rather help my family enjoy less sweetness overall than rely on sugar substitutes.
🍜 4. Instant noodles
Quick and convenient, but often made with refined flour, low-quality oils and additives, with very little protein.
🥤 5. Fizzy drinks
These offer very little nutritional value and are often packed with sugar or artificial sweeteners.
🥩 6. Processed deli meats
I choose fresh, minimally processed meat whenever possible.
🌈 7. Artificial colours, flavours & preservatives
I always encourage parents to become label readers. The shorter and simpler the ingredient list, the better.
🍫 8. “Healthy” snack bars
Many are still highly processed and packed with sugars, syrups and unnecessary ingredients.
🍕 9. Highly processed convenience foods
Convenience is important, but whenever possible I choose meals made with real, whole ingredients.
⚡ 10. Energy drinks
Growing teenagers need nourishing food, hydration and sleep - not a caffeine boost in a can.
💚 Healthy eating isn’t about being perfect.
We absolutely enjoy treats from time to time, but I’ve learnt that filling our shopping trolley with more real food and fewer ultra-processed foods is one of the simplest ways to support our family’s longterm health.