Follow-Through: Getting rid of processed foods

When I first set out on the "challenge" of eating our way to the end of our processed foods, I was very excited. Afterall, I always love a good excuse to eat! Our cabinets and freezer have a lot more space now, but I gotta say...this challenge was not as much fun as I thought it would be. I ended up feeling really gross as I was eating my way through boxes of Nilla Wafers, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and a bag of white Wonder bread. I read many of the ingredient lists on the foods I was eating and that alone made me feel a little queasy. Why are these chemicals and additives in our food anyway? What is the point?! From what I've been reading, many of the added ingredients in our food are there to increase the shelf life of products. Do we really need a box of cereal to last 2 years or a granola bar to stay "fresh" for 6 months? I expected to feel a little sad at the end of this challenge, having to say goodbye to all of my favorite foods. In the end, though, I became even more motivated to start eating more natural, unprocessed foods and I was more than happy to say goodbye to the others. Good riddance, I say!