Ultra-processed foods are everywhere

Foods that have been extracted, processed and reassembled now make up nearly 60% of our diets in the U.S. For kids, that number climbs even higher to nearly 70%. And while ultra-processing makes foods shelf stable, delicious and convenient, there are health concerns linked to diets high in UPFs. However, they shouldn’t all be vilified.

The emphasis on kids’ diets in the reporting became the conceptual backbone of these images, inspired by a 1990’s yearbook aesthetic and memories of my own Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper.

NPR published two features: one on health risks of UPFs and one on how to swap your kids’ foods with healthier options.