One Family's Fight With Processed Food

Over half of what Americans eat every day is ultraprocessed food. For kids, it’s closer to 60%. Frozen pizza, deli meats, packaged breads, sodas, energy drinks—you name it.

Wall Street Journal reporter Michaeleen Doucleff decided to test what would happen if her family gave it all up for one month. She and her 8-year-old daughter Rosy came up with a simple rule: in the store, if the label had something they’d never cook with at home, they wouldn’t buy it. That cut out crackers, cereals, bagels, chips, chocolate, even flavored sparkling waters. Their pantry shifted to beans, nuts, plain yogurt, fresh cheese, canned fish, popcorn, fruits, and veggies.

Within just 10 days, Michaeleen noticed something wild: the constant food noise in her head went silent. No more nagging cravings for chocolate or salty snacks. And Rosy, who used to push her dinner around, started eating with determination. One night she surprised everyone by scarfing down turkey meatballs, scooping up wild rice, and even trying bok choy.

Dad, who thought the experiment was crazy, watched the changes and ended up weaning himself off ultraprocessed foods too. Research lines up with what they experienced. Trials show people who switch to minimally processed diets actually lose weight and see their cravings decline. What a gift, right? Exactly the opposite of what usually happens with dieting.

But the real battle wasn’t at home. It was out in the world—at birthday parties, softball games, even church. Everywhere Rosy went, people handed her ultraprocessed snacks. It became nearly impossible for her to resist. So the family set a new strategy: UPF-free zones. At home and in the car, UPFs were off-limits. Outside, they loosened up. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. It was like how smokers stop craving on airplanes—you change the rules and the environment, and the brain adjusts.

The shift in Rosy’s appetite revealed something deeper. Psychologists say ultraprocessed snacks—like crackers, granola bars, gummies—hit kids with refined carbs that go right into the bloodstream, spike sugar, then crash it, leaving them hungry again fast. And more junk satisfies that quickly. A double reward of intense taste and quick blood level of comfort. Real food?  Meh. Takes longer to feel it. Take that junk away, and suddenly carrots and tomatoes start tasting sweet again.

By the end of the month, Michaeleen said she didn’t need willpower anymore. She just didn’t WANT ultraprocessed foods. Rosy was eating better, her husband was on board, and the whole family felt different. And the real surprise to kids raised on UPFs? Real food that is better for you often ends up tasting better too.

Here are some solid sources that support many of the claims in the reel script, especially around how much ultra-processed food people eat, how it affects weight/cravings, and health outcomes:

1. “Ultra-processed Food Consumption in Youth and Adults: U.S., Aug 2021–Aug 2023” — CDC / NHANES Data Brief

• Finds that, overall, Americans age 1 and older got 55.0% of their calories from ultra-processed foods. (CDC)

• Youth (1-18 yrs) consumed ~61.9% of calories from UPFs, vs ~53.0% for adults 19+. (CDC)

• Also reports what specific UPFs contribute most: sandwiches/burgers, sweet bakery products, savory snacks, pizza, sweetened beverages were among the top sources. (CDC)

2. “Ultraprocessed or Minimally Processed Diets” — Nature Medicine Trial (2025)

• In a randomized trial, people assigned to a minimally processed food (MPF) diet lost more weight, had fewer cravings, and better control over food urges than those on a UPF diet—even when the diets were matched for macronutrients. (Nature)

• For example, there were significantly greater improvements in craving control (overall and for savory items) with the minimally processed diet. (University College London)

3. Health Risks & Broader Associations

• The CDC data brief also mentions that high UPF consumption is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. (CDC)

The trial from Nature Medicine supports that less-processed eating can reduce risk factors (weight, cravings), which are upstream of many health issues. (Nature)