5 Things You'll No Longer Find in My Grocery Cart

What owning a juicery has taught me about food, ingredients, and why I've become a little pickier about what I buy.

Owning a juicery has changed the way I grocery shop.

Not because I eat perfectly (trust me, I don't), but because I've learned a lot about what's actually in our food, and have become more in tune to how I feel after eat. And once you start reading ingredient labels, it's pretty hard to stop.

Here are five things you'll rarely find in my grocery cart anymore, and why.

1. Store-Bought Cold-Pressed Juice

Okay, this one is obvious. I own a juicery.

But here's what most people don't realize: cold-pressed doesn't necessarily mean fresh or unpasteurized.

Many grocery store juices undergo high-pressure processing (HPP) or pasteurization to extend their shelf life. These processes can improve food safety and preserve quality, but they're different from drinking freshly pressed, untreated juice.

At Green Farm, we never pasteurize or HPP our juices. We believe in keeping things fresh, using organic produce, and making juice the way we always have. Because how your juice is made matters just as much as what's in it.

2. Salad Dressings Made With Seed Oils

Have you ever looked at the ingredients in your favorite salad dressing?

Soybean oil. Canola oil. Sunflower oil.

They're everywhere, even in dressings marketed as healthy.

I've become much more intentional about the oils I consume, and seed oils are something I personally choose to avoid. In fact, I've gotten to the point where I feel like I can almost instantly tell when I've eaten something made with seed oils. My body just feels different afterward, and I've learned to pay attention to that.

Instead, I reach for dressings made with extra virgin olive oil, which contains beneficial fats and naturally occurring antioxidants.

And honestly, a delicious dressing doesn't need much. Olive oil, lemon, mustard, herbs, and a little seasoning. Simple.

3. Pasta Sauce With Added Sugar

This one still surprises me.

Tomatoes are naturally sweet. So why do so many pasta sauces have added sugar?

Now, a little added sugar isn't going to ruin your health. But when I'm buying something as simple as tomato sauce, I don't see the need for it. Tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, basil, and spices. That's all it takes to make a really good sauce.

Next time you're shopping, compare two jars. You might be surprised by the difference.

4. Pork

My grandpa was a butcher. I grew up eating (and selling) pork. And now pork is something I've personally moved away from, partly because I've become more mindful of food safety and the types of meat I consume.

Like other raw meats, pork can carry bacteria, including Salmonella and Yersinia, as well as certain parasites. Proper handling and cooking are important for making it safe to eat.

But what concerns me more is processed pork, think bacon, sausage, and ham.

The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as carcinogenic to humans based on evidence linking its consumption to colorectal cancer.

That doesn't mean every pork product carries the same risks. But for me, it's a reason to rethink how often it belongs on my plate.

5. Tortillas With a Laundry List of Ingredients

I love tacos. And I'm certainly not giving them up.

But have you read the back of a package of tortillas lately?

Something that can be made with just a few ingredients sometimes comes with a surprisingly long list of preservatives, emulsifiers, and dough conditioners.

One additive I pay attention to is potassium bromate, a flour treatment agent associated with cancer concerns. It's not found in every tortilla, or necessarily a common tortilla ingredient, but it's one example of why I think ingredient labels are worth reading.

I also look at the preservatives and other additives used to keep packaged tortillas soft and shelf-stable. Not every unfamiliar ingredient is harmful, but I prefer simpler options when they're available. Taco Tuesday is staying. I'm just changing what goes in my cart.

The Bigger Picture: It's Not About Eating Perfectly

Here's what I want you to take away from this.

I'm not suggesting you throw everything out of your pantry, spend hours reading every label, or feel guilty about what you ate yesterday.

But I do believe that the more we understand about our food, the better choices we can make.

Sometimes that means swapping your salad dressing. Sometimes it's finding a pasta sauce without added sugar (or whipping up a homemade one!) And sometimes it's simply choosing more fruits, vegetables, and whole foods.

And that's really what Green Farm is all about.

Stay tuned for a few simple pasta sauce, salad dressing and tortilla recipes in a future blog!

Just a reminder: These are my personal thoughts and experiences, not a one-size-fits-all approach to eating. Everyone's body is different, and I believe the most important thing is finding what works best for you and makes you feel your best.

xx Melissa