My family tried to eat fewer ultra-processed foods

The foods she talks about eliminating are processed foods, not ultra-processed foods. Processed foods aren’t quite as good as fresh foods, but they’re not bad for you or addictive the same way ultra-processed foods are. So I’m not surprised most of the difference she’s seeing is in the amount of effort it takes to feed themselves.

Canned (well, jarred) tomato sauce is processed. Chef Boyardee is ultra-processed. Chicken broth from a carton is processed. A ramen flavor packet is ultra-processed. A Lean Cuisine or Hungry Man frozen meal is processed. Hot pockets are ultra-processed.

Bread from the farmers market or that you bake yourself is in fact a processed food! What’s ultra-processed is wonderbread.