We still haven't defined processed food, so we are not ready to discuss such questions. You posed the questions as if we had form a shared understanding what a processed food is, but we do not have such shared understanding. It is different for different people. And, I thought that I was clowning around suggesting that kale chips from Whole Foods are more virtuous in the minds of people than same chips from a regular store, but in reality I was, unwittingly, Right. Honest to god I was simply trying to be funny! But in a recently published research experiment, the same milk shake was given to one group as a low cal Sensishake and to the other group as a high cal Indulgence shake. The two groups secreted different amounts of ghrelin!!! It is hilarious. Just based on perception and nothing else.

Processed food as I see it is used as a term to vaguely describe everything connected with the advent and development of agricultural technology in any shape or form. Strictly speaking, by this definition steam-in-the-bag microwaveable artichoke hearts with nothing added are processed and some kind of a drink full of artificial colorings, flavorings, and a long list of ingredients is processed as well. Clearly, this word - processed - does not allow to even begin to have a meaningful discussion because it fails to distinguish between actual vegetables and a fluorescent color solution of sugar and additives.

***

I am resuming exercise and have made two attempts to refuel after workout with chocolate milk, as it is supposed to offer the best protein/carb ratio for recovery. First, I bought a half gallon of one percent chocolate milk in a plastic jug, a store brand. There was no full fat alternative. It was disgusting. The drink foamed too much for normal milk and the chemical aftertaste was awful.

Then I bought a single serving bottle of Nesquick fatfree calcium fortified chocolate milk with less than 2% of Cocoa mass processed with alkali (read - cheap, bad way to use cocoa beans). It was horrendous.

There were no full fat options at the grocery store. I will try Costco tomorrow. I think they have single serving cartons of organic chocolate milk, for children. Hopefully, for children and organic would mean less adulterated. If not, I will have a piece of dark chocolate with a glass of whole milk for the same effect.