Packaged, processed foods are a common part of the U.S. diet, and even if you're trying to eat healthier, you may find yourself turning to them from time to time. Ultraprocessed foods get a lot of hate, and while it's important to minimize your consumption and include whole foods in your diet as much as you can, it's normal to lean on packaged foods for convenience and to help meet certain nutritional needs (looking at you, protein bars ).

Just keep in mind that processed foods often contain excess calories from added sugar , even in foods that you don't think of as sweet, like bread and frozen dinners. But fortunately, registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo — who creates balanced, nutritious meal plans for the Start TODAY app — has an easy guideline to make sure you're not overdoin

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