I recently came across an eye-opening article in The Wall Street Journal titled My Family Went Off Ultra-Processed Foods for a Month. The Results Surprised Us.

One statistic stood out immediately: according to the CDC, nearly 60% of children’s calories come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs). That’s a sobering number.

"When it comes to the dire effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on health, the scientific evidence is “incontrovertible,” says Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian at the Tufts Food Is Medicine Institute. He points to studies linking UPFs to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease."

Food Noise, Gone

In the first 10 days of the author's 30 day experiment without UPFs, she noticed a striking shift: she wasn’t constantly thinking about food. "Before, I carried around what some call food noise. I had persistent, nagging thoughts about what to eat next. Chocolate? Banana bread? A salty, crunchy snack? Without UPFs, my cravings faded."

Apparently, she's not alone.

A randomized, controlled eight-week trial involving 50 adults, published this month in Nature Medicine, found that participants who switched to a minimally processed diet lost weight and saw their cravings decline. “I was surprised by these findings,” says Samuel Dicken, who led the study at University College London. “When people lose weight, typically their appetite or cravings increase, but we found the opposite.”

As her snacking plummeted, her daughter’s eating habits followed suit. By the third week, her daughter did something she hadn’t seen in years: She ate a homemade dinner with gusto!

As her daughter's enthusiasm for homemade meals climbed, she started to wonder: Do ultra-processed snacks undermine children’s hunger for whole foods?

“Absolutely,” says Ashley Gearhardt, a psychologist who studies compulsive eating at the University of Michigan. She explains that because ultra-processed snacks, such as crackers, granola bars and gummies (even organic ones), are packed with refined sugars or other carbohydrates, they prompt children to keep snacking.

“After you eat a big hit of crackers or pretzels, two hours later, you’re getting this blood-sugar crash, and you’re craving more snacks that contain refined carbohydrates,” Gearhardt says. “It’s hard to have the hunger for real food if you’ve already eaten so many energy-dense foods throughout the day.”

When I read this article, the following movie snippet came to mind:

...except that I've been saying it for the past 30 years...use Cook'n to prepare home cooked meals!

Better Bodies, Better Minds

The benefits go beyond physical health. Research also shows that reducing UPFs improves mental health.

Research suggests that reducing UPFs may also improve people’s mental health. A randomized study of 95 adults with depression, published in Nutritional Neuroscience in 2017, found that those on a three-month diet rich in vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes and whole grains had a greater reduction in depression and better mental-health scores than participants who took part in a regular social group instead.

After a month without UPFs, I felt so much better, mentally, that I found I no longer needed willpower to resist them. I simply didn’t want them.

Teaching the Next Generation

That resonated with me. At Cook’n, we’ve been preaching this for more than 30 years: preparing home-cooked meals is one of the best gifts you can give your body, your mind, and your family.

On the recommendation of Dr. Agnes Ayton at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London, we are also teaching Rosy how to cook. “I have grandchildren, and I’ve been thinking, ‘How on earth are we going to protect them from UPFs?’” Ayton says. “I think it’s really important to teach children to cook and that cooking is pleasurable.”

The author continues:

Yes, preparing homemade meals takes more time than buying premade ones. To save time, Ayton recommends investing in some kitchen gadgets, such as a slow cooker or air fryer. Our family uses a bread machine to bake minimally processed bread and a pressure cooker for stews and beans.

After cutting back on UPFs, you might realize something quite surprising, says Tufts’s Mozaffarian: “Foods that are better for you often taste better as well.”

And there you have it...simplify meal preparation with Cook'n and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals! I couldn't have said it better myself!

Our Mountain Man Weekend Feast

Over Labor Day weekend, our family experienced this firsthand. We went to the Mountain Man Rendezvous in Fort Bridger, Wyoming, with about 30 relatives in tow.


We dressed up in our best Mountain Man gear, got into character, and had a blast!


My sister looks good in real fur!


Kathy was looking especially foxy...


The kids participated in a bunch of Mountain Men activities. They shot guns and bows & arrows too.

They played old-timey games as well...like tug-of-war. My great nephews pulled with all their might and had a blast!


And, as you can see in this video of my daughter-in-law Cecilia and her daughter Juliet, everyone got involved!

We enjoyed listening to bag pipes (and taking naps)!

But, best of all were the Mountain Man meals! In some cases, we cooked elaborate dishes. But, in other cases, we kept the meals super simple and grilled burgers over the fire and served them with big, fat, juicy, delicious, home-grown tomatoes! As Monk would say, "You can TASTE the symmetry!”

The Cook’n Difference

When you use Cook’n, you’re doing more than saving time and money. You’re building healthier bodies, calmer minds, and stronger families. You’re teaching kids to love real food. And you’re protecting yourself from the hidden costs of ultra-processed foods.

So, whether you’re simmering stew in a pressure cooker or flipping burgers over a campfire, remember: simple meals can make a big impact.

Keep Cook'n good look'n!!