Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state through methods such as cooking, freezing, canning, drying, pasteurizing, or adding ingredients to improve safety, preservation, flavor, or convenience.
Examples: Canned vegetables, cheese, whole-grain bread, canned beans, yogurt, and frozen fruits.
Important: Not all processed foods are unhealthy. Their nutritional value depends on the ingredients, degree of processing, and amounts of added sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats.