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How to Write a Process Essay on Food

How to Write a Process Essay About Cupcakes

How to Write a Process Essay About Cupcakes

A process essay on food is either an essay that tells you how to make a recipe or one that tells you how a food product is made. Both essays are written in the form of step-by-step instructions. As you research and write your essay, you'll likely learn a lot, which can benefit you as the author, as baking brownies from scratch is time-consuming, but the final product is well worth the wait. It is important to keep your directions or process steps as simple as possible. If the process is a recipe, the article should teach the reader how to make it. If the process is how a certain food product was made, like name-brand factory products, the reader should understand all the steps that went into creating that food product.

Writing About How Food is Made

Find out everything there is to know about making the food product about which you are writing. Take notes, use legitimate sources and if possible, interview someone directly involved in the production of the food product. Consider all of the ingredients, staff and machinery necessary to make the food you are learning about. You may be writing about how a factory mass produces their brand of food, such as candy bars or toaster pastries, or how a private bakery is run. Ask questions appropriate to your topic.

Before you begin writing, first outline your essay. This will help plan everything you want to write about. Order everything in sequential order, so the reader will clearly understand how the food product is made. Next, write the body of your essay. Each paragraph should be one point or one step in the process to make the food product. Make sure the reader knows everything involved in the process you are writing about.

Finally, write the introduction and conclusion of your essay. It is best to write the introduction after the body, so you understand what you are introducing. An introduction should prepare a reader for your article and possibly give them some background information on the process. The conclusion should summarize all of your main points. Last but not least, go back over your essay and correct any grammatical or spelling errors.

Writing Recipes

Learn everything you can about the recipe you are writing about. Do some research and learn if there are different ways to make the food in the recipe. Make sure you are educated in the cooking methods required in the recipe. It's also important to cook or prepare the recipe yourself. When you have followed the steps you learned, you will understand how best to teach those steps to others, and you might pick up some new cooking skills as well.

Next, write down all of the steps to prepare the recipe. Be sure to write the recipe in chronological order. For example, for recipes that require baking, mention preheating the oven first, so it can be at the proper temperature when it's time to place your dish in the oven. Include a list of necessary ingredients.

Then, you'll be able to write an introduction to the essay. This is best done after you have written the steps, so you know exactly what you are introducing. Try to include background information on the recipe in question.

Finally, write a conclusion to the essay. In this section include any variations to the recipe. If certain ingredients can be exchanged for others, let the reader know. Also, don't forget to proofread your essay at least one more time for spelling and grammatical errors, and fix if necessary.

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5 Process Essay Examples

5 Process Essay Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

Learn about our Editorial Process

A process essay is a type of essay that explains a process in detail. Good process essays don’t just explain the process but provides details about common mistakes to avoid as well as tips and methods to achieve success. Below are some example essays:

Process Essay Examples

#1 how to bake a chocolate cake.

1337 Words | 4 Pages

how to back a chocolate cake process essay

Thesis Statement: “The purpose of this essay is to guide readers through the enjoyable and straightforward process of baking a chocolate cake, highlighting the essential steps and tips to ensure a delicious and successful outcome.”

#2 How to Write a Resume

resume writing process essay

Thesis Statement: “This essay aims to provide a comprehensive guide on crafting an effective resume, detailing each step from gathering relevant information to finalizing the document, while offering practical tips and common pitfalls to avoid, ensuring a polished and professional presentation of one’s career achievements and qualifications.”

#3 How to Train for a Marathon

1508 Words | 5 Pages

running a marathon essay

Thesis Statement: “This essay provides a comprehensive guide to marathon training, detailing a strategic approach to building endurance, strength, and speed, coupled with essential advice on nutrition, hydration, and mental preparation, to equip runners of all levels with the knowledge and tools necessary for successfully completing a marathon.”

#4 How to Prepare for a Job Interview

1309 Words | 5 Pages

job interview preparation essay

Thesis Statement: “This essay outlines a comprehensive strategy for job interview preparation, encompassing in-depth company research, personalized response formulation, professional presentation, and logistical planning, to equip candidates with the tools necessary for making a compelling and confident impression in their pursuit of career opportunities.”

#5 How to Write an Essay

1473 Words | 5 Pages

how to write an essay process

Thesis Statement: “This essay outlines a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to essay writing, from understanding the prompt to the final stages of revision and editing, providing essential tips and strategies to enhance writing skills and ensure the creation of a well-structured, persuasive, and effectively communicated piece.”

How to Write a Process Essay

The following template provides an overview of a process essay structure:

Process Essay Plan

Grab this process essay template here.

Instructions: To write a process essay, start by introducing the process and its significance, ensuring the reader understands the purpose and value of the instructions. Next, present the preparation and materials required, before outlining each step of the process in a logical order, offering detailed explanations, tips, and potential pitfalls to avoid, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. Conclude by summarizing the main steps and reinforcing the benefits or results of completing the process, leaving the reader with a clear understanding and the confidence to undertake the task.

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Process

To write a thesis statement for a process essay, identify the process you’re explaining and clearly state the purpose or goal of the essay. Concisely outline the primary steps or stages involved in the process, ensuring clarity and direction for the reader. The thesis should be informative, indicating what the reader can expect to learn and achieve by following the essay.

💡 AI Prompt For Writing a Process Essay Thesis Statement “Create a thesis statement for a process essay on [TOPIC] that clearly identifies the specific process being explained. The thesis should state the purpose of the essay and briefly outline the main steps or stages involved in the process. Ensure that the statement is concise, informative, and guides the reader on what they will learn and achieve by reading the essay.”

Read Also: 101 Thesis Statement Examples

Suggested Process Essay Topics

For Grades 4 to 8:

  • How to Organize a School Backpack.
  • Steps to Create a Simple Science Fair Project.
  • The Process of Planting and Caring for a Vegetable Garden.
  • How to Write a Book Report.
  • Making a Handcrafted Greeting Card.

For Grades 9 to 12:

  • How to Prepare for the SATs.
  • Steps for Conducting a Basic Scientific Experiment.
  • Crafting an Effective Persuasive Essay.
  • Planning and Executing a Community Service Project.
  • The Process of Creating a Personal Budget.

For University/College:

  • How to Conduct a Literature Review for a Research Paper.
  • Writing a Successful College Application Essay.
  • The Process of Developing a Mobile App.
  • How to Create a Comprehensive Marketing Plan.
  • Steps for Conducting a Qualitative Research Study.
  • Preparing and Delivering an Effective Oral Presentation.
  • The Process of Writing a Business Plan.
  • How to Analyze a Case Study in Business School.
  • Crafting a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal.
  • Developing and Implementing a Personal Fitness Plan.

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Take action! Choose one of the following options to start writing your essay now:

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How to write a process essay

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  • August 25, 2023

Process essays are one of the most common types of essays . It’s simply explaining a process of how to do something. 

In this article, we’ll show you how to write a process essay in steps with interactive examples. 

Process essay definition

Let’s take a look at the steps outlined below to write a clear and effective process essay. 

Choose a topic

You should start by choosing a topic that not only interests you but also attracts your target audience. 

Whether it’s brewing the perfect cup of coffee or conquering the art of origami, your topic should be engaging and well-defined.  Let’s have a look at topic examples:

  • Crafting Exquisite Miniature Bookbindings
  • Building a Sustainable Vertical Garden
  • Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee

So for this guide, I’ve chosen “Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee”. Now let’s continue with the next steps.

Create a process essay outline

Now that you’ve your topic at hand, it’s time to create an outline to present the steps chronologically. Outline will also help you organize your thoughts and ideas so you won’t get lost during the writing process.

Let’s examine this step with an example of a process essay explaining “Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee”.

Process essay outline example

  • Thesis statement
  • Provide safety precautions if necessary.
  • Address to the reader
  • Provide any variations or customization options if applicable.
  • End with a memorable concluding thought or call to action.

By presenting the steps in chronological order, your readers can follow the process smoothly. 

During this step, just make sure to:

  • Expand on each step you outlined earlier.
  • Use clear and concise language.
  • Make use of bullet points or numbered lists to make the process visually appealing.

After completing the outline, it’s time to write an interesting introduction.

Write an introduction

  • Hook the reader's interest with a hook sentence
  • Offer a brief overview of the topic and its significance
  • Introduce and explain the process with a thesis statement at the end of introduction

Process essay introduction example

Introduction

Now that we have an intro on our hand, you need to tell what materials you need to finish the process.

Write the materials needed for the process

Listing the necessary materials for the process is a best practice for process essays. Typically found just after the introduction, this paragraph is devoted to outlining the necessary materials.

Here, p rioritizing the list is important; the more influential a component is, the higher its position on the list should be.

Example material list for process essay

Body paragraphs

Materials needed

  • High-quality coffee beans that align with your flavor preference.
  • A grinder for optimal flavor extraction.
  • Equipment for brewing methods, such as a pour-over apparatus, a drip coffee maker, a French press, or an espresso machine.
  • Fresh and clean water for brewing.
  • Optional additives like milk, cream, sugar, flavored syrups, or other preferred elements.

Start writing the process

Right after listing the materials needed, it’s time to start writing the process itself.

When describing your process, be careful not to make it too complicated. To keep your readers on track, use transitional words like “after,” “eventually,” “first,” “then,” and others help you maintain an understandable tone.  

Or simply use a 1,2,3, bullet point structure as seen in example below to remind readers of their step during the process.

Body paragraphs - Process writing example

Materials needed ...

  • Grind the beans just before brewing for optimal freshness. Use a burr grinder and adjust the coarseness to match your brewing method (coarse for French press, fine for espresso).
  • Weigh your coffee grounds using a scale. A standard ratio is 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounces of water, but adjust to your taste.
  • Ensure the water is heated to the ideal temperature, typically between 195-205°F (90-96°C). Water that's too hot or too cold can affect the taste.
  • Pay attention to the brewing time. Generally, 4-5 minutes is suitable for most methods, but again, adjust based on your preference.
  • After finishing, regularly clean your coffee maker or French press to prevent rancid oils and residue from affecting your coffee's taste.

As seen from the example above, using an imperative language structure is generally preferable. It makes total sense as you’re describing a process in steps and usually don’t need a full sentence structure. 

Give tips and supporting details

After explaining the process above, it’s now time to provide tips and supporting details. Here, make use examples, tips, and even warnings if necessary. 

In other words, anticipate the questions your readers might have and address them as you go along. 

Body paragraphs - Supporting details

Supporting details & tips

  • Ensure safe handling of hot water and coffee-making equipment.
  • Water that's too hot can result in over-extraction, while water that's too cold won't extract enough flavor.

Write a conclusion

At this step, you simply need to write a conclusion paragraph to end your process essay. First summarize the key points, and restate the process in a concise and short sentence. And finally, finish your process essay by a memorable sentence or a call-to-action. 

Process essay conclusion example

Revise and polish your essay.

Now that you’ve written your essay, take a breath, and then come back for some editing. Check for consistency, correct sentence structure, efficient transitions , tense selection , and other linguistic issues that may arise. 

If possible, make use of proofreading tools like QuillBot or Grammarly . 

  • Think about potential reader misunderstandings and address them. If needed, explain what should be avoided.
  • Offer explanations for steps that might seem unusual or complicated.
  • Define any unfamiliar terms or materials that the reader might not understand. This ensures clarity in your essay.

So  you’ve successfully learned how to write a captivating process essay. Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you’ll become.

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How to Write a Process Essay

Last Updated: December 6, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 168,316 times.

A process essay, otherwise known as a how-to essay, tells a reader how to perform a particular task. The best process essays follow a clear step-by-step organization. Start by providing your reader with a time estimate and general summary of the task. Then, move on to a more detailed explanation of each and every necessary step. When you are finished with your essay, read it over carefully to ensure that you haven’t left anything out.

Getting Ready to Write

Step 1 Assess your audience’s skill level.

  • For example, a process essay intended for professional chefs could probably skip a description of how to chop carrots and just say, “Finely chop the carrots,” instead.

Step 2 Make a list of the materials needed.

  • You could also include a comprehensive “Things You’ll Need” section at the beginning of the paper. Or list the materials needed after the introduction.
  • If an item on the list is a bit unusual, such as a particular type of hand tool, then make sure to clearly introduce it within the text. For example, “The pin hammer has a finer tip than a standard hammer, making it suitable for more detailed work.” You can also include a picture of the item, particularly if the essay will be published online.

Step 3 Create an outline of the task.

  • If you are writing an essay about how to cook lasagna, your initial outline might just state, “Mix in basil.” Before you start writing, you could expand your outline to say, “Briefly mention taste differences between dried and fresh basil.”
  • Note that the more specific your article or essay topic, the more specific your details needs to be.

Crafting an Introduction

Step 1 Grab your reader’s attention within the first 1-2 sentences.

  • For instance, you might write, “The process of preparing lasagna has a rich heritage all of its own.”

Step 2 Provide a general time estimate.

  • If your process essay focuses on a cooking task, this is where you might advise your readers to consult the ingredients or materials list and put every item on the counter.
  • For example, you might write, “This recipe requires 30 minutes of active preparation time, along with 45 minutes of baking time.”

Step 3 Present the thesis statement as a problem.

  • For example, your thesis might be, “This essay will explore how to create a complicated lasagna dish in a short period of time by preparing the noodles and sauce in advance.”

Writing Your Body Paragraphs

Step 1 Consult your outline.

  • Be especially careful with items that contain multiple steps. Make the transitions clear and acknowledge prior steps regarding a particular item, if applicable.

Step 2 Structure the body of the essay in paragraphs.

  • For instance, when making pasta, consider writing a paragraph on how to boil pasta and another paragraph on how to make the sauce. This separates the ideas for easy clarification.

Step 3 Add transitions in between steps.

  • For instance, you could write, “Next, place the pot on the stove,” to move from one paragraph to the next.

Step 4 Avoid using first person pronouns.

  • For example, you could write, “This essay shows…” instead of “I’ll show.”

Step 5 Mention any cautionary notes.

  • For example, you might caution a reader to, “Cook the meat until it is no longer red in the center.” This advice will help them to avoid a foodborne illness.

Wrapping It Up

Step 1 Mention the end product and what to do with it.

  • In the case of the recipe, you could write something like, “You now have a bowl of boiled pasta and finished Bolognese sauce. Serve up plates of pasta and sauce to your family, topping them with parmesan, if desired. You can serve garlic bread or a side salad with this dish, too.”

Step 2 Restate the importance of the task.

  • A simple example for our newly-made dinner might be, "And there you have it! A delicious yet quick meal fit for the entire family that you can make over and over again without complaint. Next time, experiment with different herbs and spices to find your own spin on this classic dish."

Step 3 Check your essay for ease of reading.

  • Look to see if there are places where you can eliminate steps or condense your instructions. A reader is more likely to finish directions that they can easily skim through.
  • Ask someone to read through the essay to see if they can understand the process. If possible, pick someone from your intended audience demographic.

Step 4 Proofread your essay.

  • Don’t rely on spell-check alone, as it cannot account for context and doesn’t catch every error.

Expert Q&A

Jake Adams

  • If there are alternative ways to do a particular step in the process, make sure to mention these as you go along. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

process essay food

  • Give your readers pacing instructions as well. If they need to go slowly while performing a certain task, tell them early on. The same rule applies if a task requires speed for success. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Write an Essay

  • ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
  • ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/essay-outline/
  • ↑ https://www.georgebrown.ca/sites/default/files/uploadedfiles/tlc/_documents/hooks_and_attention_grabbers.pdf
  • ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-clinton-englishcomp/chapter/2-the-process-essay/
  • ↑ http://www.butte.edu/departments/cas/tipsheets/style_purpose_strategy/procress_paper.html
  • ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/readability-scores/

About This Article

Jake Adams

To write a process essay, begin by writing an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention so they’ll want to keep reading. Then, end the first paragraph with a thesis statement presenting a problem for which you are offering a solution. Next, explain the process, making each step its own paragraph, and using transitions like "next" or "then" to move from one task to another. As the final step, let the reader know what to expect from the finished product and what to do with it. Finally, close your essay by reiterating why the process is helpful to the reader. For tips from our Education reviewer on how to proofread for common errors in a process essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Process Essay: Excellent Guide with 10+ Examples

Updated 13 Jun 2024

how to write a process essay

Process essay explains how to do something. This is a kind of tutorial that describes a process step by step. 

For example , you need to cook a pie or draw a picture. In this case, you will need to follow step-by-step instructions. Each preceding step influences each subsequent one.

As we have vast experience in writing this type of papers, we would like to share several tips with you so you don't have to wonder who can help to write essay for me . It’s important to make a good paper to understand the details of this procedure better. Let's follow the tips from professionals at our trustworthy essay writing service and get to know how to write a process essay with us! 

What is a Process Essay?

In order to understand how to write it, firstly you need to learn what it is. Therefore, let’s start with the definition. This paper explains the process of making something. The numerical order is used when writing a process essay. This type is written in a descriptive manner. It has qualities of technical documents. Words, such as “later”, “next”, “finally”, “eventually” are often used to describe the process. 

The following features characterize a process paper: 

  • The chronological order of described events
  • Description of repeated steps to follow 
  • Fixed order
  • Clarity of narration 
  • The presence of transition words.

Process Essay Outline 

The structure of this paper is similar to any other assignment, meaning that it comprises of introduction, main paragraphs and conclusion. You need to create an outline to ease the procedure of writing process essay. Use bullet points not to forget the essential ideas you would like to deliver. 

In your process analysis essays , it is important to create a detailed outline that includes all the essential steps and descriptions.

For instance , if you’re creating a process essay about making excellent sushi, in your outline you may state the following: “Add fish”. Further, you could add the following description: “Add salmon, shrimps or eel”. The more details you add to it, the better. 

Need more writing assistance?

Connect with our top writers and receive a paper sample crafted to your needs.

Introduction of Process Essay

So, how to write a process essay? The introduction is the first part of the text exposed to readers. Therefore, it should grab their attention from the first lines. A colorful description can help to fulfill this task. This method is inherent to creative essays also, so if you've written this type before, it'll be a big plus for you.

For example , if you are describing a receipt of sushi, you may wish to start with the following words: “Japanese sushi is a well-known dish which is loved all over the world for many years.” By keeping a lively and vibrant language, you can stimulate people to continue reading. 

Further, you need to let readers know how much time they should to cook sushi because we are living in a world where every single minute is precious. They will be thankful to you if you help save their time. It is essential to provide people who read with the exact time estimate from the beginning to the end. Let them know the materials or tools that help reduce the amount of time spent on cooking sushi. You may share advice related to preparations and making a list of all ingredients to shorten the cooking time. 

For example , you may write in your process paper: “Making sushi takes 30 minutes of preparation time and 10 minutes of cooking.”

The next action is to write a thesis statement. It is one sentence that describes the research problem to be considered in the paper. It can be the last sentence of the introduction.  

For example , a great thesis may sound like: “This assignment explores how to create sushi at home quickly by preparing necessary ingredients in advance.”

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Body Paragraphs of Process Essay 

Before starting to compose the main part of your process essay, consult your outline. Follow your outline closely and create appropriate headlines to divide your paper into smaller pieces. Pay attention to clarity and order of paragraphs. Be careful with items that contain many steps. Use different words to maintain flow. Make clear transitions and acknowledge previous steps regarding particular items. 

The process essay outline may look as follows : 

  • Make a list of ingredients 
  • Cook rice 
  • Prepare fish and cheese
  • Prepare ginger 
  • Prepare soy sauce
  • Prepare tools to make sushi (sushi rug)
  • Make this sushi 
  • Serve sushi

As a rule, this paper has three or more paragraphs in the body section. You need to use enough details when writing a process essay, but don’t overload it with unnecessary details not to confuse your readers. Your paper must be clear and coherent to deliver core ideas without excessive details. 

By adding transition words, you can encourage people to read. You should use the words “then”, “next” and “now” to add coherence. Use of these words gives you an opportunity to make your paper more cohesive. 

For example , if you don't know how to start a phrase in process essay, use “next” to switch from one step to another: “Next, prepare your fish.”

Further, using first-person pronouns like “I”, “me”, “mine”, “we”, “us” or “ours” is not a good idea. It would be better to narrate from the second or third person (“it”, “they”) to make your readers trust your instructions more. For instance, it is better to write as follows: “This paper describes...” rather than “I shall describe”.

You should mention any cautionary notes if any to warn your readers about actions they should skip. You can discuss these actions either in the main text or in the conclusion part of your essay. This is important if your task can cause harm. 

For example , caution a reader if the food may be spoiled: “Make sure salmon is of good quality because raw fish is used in sushi”.

You should also mention when writing process essay what people need to do with the final product. By describing what this product looks like you will give the idea of what readers should expect from it. You may also specify how to use the product because potential users do not necessarily know how to do it. 

If you’re explaining how to make tasty sushi, you could write the following: “Now you need to serve the table to eat sushi. Propose plates of sushi, soya sauce, and ginger to your friends or family members.”

The Conclusion of Process Essay

In conclusion, you can restate the importance of the topic discussed. Try to end your paper positively Remind people why they spent a lot of time to complete this task. Praise your readers and encourage them to follow your directions. 

An example of a proper conclusion can be: “We finished! A delicious and quick meal that is good for the whole family is ready to be served now. Next time, do experiments with different filling for sushi.” In this way, you will encourage your readers to track your upcoming publications. 

Final Steps

After finishing, you need to edit and proofread the text:

  • First, read your text and evaluate whether it is easy to understand. It is better to read it aloud because you can hear stylistic and grammar mistakes. 
  • Picture each detail of your text in mind, check all phrases for coherence and feel confident that your descriptions match images. Also, ensure all paragraphs are placed in the right order. 
  • Do not rely on online spell-checkers too much when checking mistakes and typos because they don’t take into account the context of your assignment. 
  • Check if your instructions are clear and detailed enough so readers can understand them. 
  • Give your text to a friend for reading and ask him if he understood instructions. If possible, choose someone from your target audience. 

How to Write a Process Essay: Composing Tips

The procedure of creating this paper reminds of creating a manual. Its objective is to explain the process of doing something in details to someone who had never done this before. These tips will help you while writing: 

  • Choosing topics for process essay  – 50% of the success of your future paper depends on the choice of topic.
  • Gather as much information as possible about the issue of your research, study your subject well.
  • Research your topic thoroughly before starting to write and take notes.
  • Make a coherent essay featuring precise and relevant comments to enhance its quality.
  • Assume that your readers are not aware of the topic under discussion and explain all details of the procedure.
  • Observe flow and maintain logical order when you want to tell about the next step.
  • It’s crucial to explain each step of the action you’re describing because everyone needs to know the reasons behind each action. 
  • Use specific words when switching to another activity (furthermore, then, before, that, etc.)
  • If you use terms that don’t belong to common knowledge, you need to explain their meaning.
  • Using imperative sentences is not a cool idea because in this case, your work will remind a manual rather than an essay.

When you finished this paper, check phrases for consistency and run your paper through an online plagiarism checker .

Advantages of Writing Process Essays

Each type helps develop certain skills. For example, a comparison paper helps improve different skills and find similarities and differences between two events or actions. Process essay helps expand the following abilities: 

Analytical – when composing a process paper, you need to switch logically and represent events in order. Aiming to write this essay, you need to be able to think analytically. Also, you need to keep the interest of everyone and describe the action in dynamics. One of the benefits is that you can transfer these analytical skills into other areas of your life. For example, you can use your skills at work when performing complicated tasks. 

Information prioritization – when you are writing a paper, use precise phrases because vague expressions reduce the paper quality. On the stage of research you have to analyze a great number of resources and choose several of them that add value to your work. You need to include only valuable information and exclude unnecessary information. 

Complying with instructions – when you’re trying to do something in compliance with guidelines, you’re learning to follow the procedure of smooth transition to another step. Gradually you learn how to reach a goal. This skill can be used in each aspect of your life as well. 

Keeping an eye for details – details are very important when you're writing a process essay. Just try to scrutinize each word and phrase to present value for your readers. This is particularly important when you need to complete this paper because your readers will follow you little by little. Attention to details is essential in any workplace. 

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Conclusion of the Article

We hope that our article was useful for you and you can start right now. If you think you’re not creative enough to start independently or maybe you don’t have enough experience, you can always apply for our service to buy nothing day essay examples or just order the best process essay using our writing agency. 

In our agency, we provide reliable service at a reasonable price, so you can easily pay for essays online . Our support team is available 24/7, and our professional writers are capable of writing high-quality essays online on time. Each of them is the author of a big number of academic papers. Besides, we offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the quality of the final work. Also, a review of your article review paper is available if you have any suggestions regarding the improvement of the work. Therefore, don’t hesitate to apply for professional article review writing service help and save your time. Use our agency to get better results and be your school's best students!

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Written by Jamie Wallace

Jamie Wallace, editor and freelance writer, specializes in Philosophy, Literature, and Art. His interdisciplinary background and passion for critical analysis enable him to assist students in crafting compelling and well-researched papers.

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process essay food

How to Write a Process Essay

process essay food

The process essay, also known as the "how-to" essay, is commonly written for people or companies that need tutorials or a set of instructional steps. Whether it's building a robot or cooking a chocolate cake, process essays use a similar format for any variations. They follow a step-by-step style, with the initial step influencing the second, which influences the third, and so on. Each step carries its own importance, and a poor explanation of one step can ruin the entire process. It's important to stay concise and efficient. However, before you begin writing your essay, you should do some small preparations. Let's discover them with our research writing service .

What Is a Process Paper?

A process essay is a type of essay that explains a process step by step and gives guidance for a certain process, working mechanism, procedure, etc. Process essays range from very simple ones, such as instructions for how to ride a bicycle, to more complex ones, such as a chemistry lab report of an oxidative reaction experiment. The goal of a process paper is to give its readers guidance and directions. 

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A process paper is characterized, first of all, by explaining a process using a description. Some words that are frequently used in process essays are “further”, “then”, “next”, “first”, “last”, “finally”, and “initially”. It is really important to remember that every process essay includes features, such as:

  • clear and straightforward narration - the last thing you want to do is to confuse your reader with complex language and an unorganized thought thread;
  • chronological order - avoid skipping steps and shifting them around, as it will result in misunderstanding and frustration for the readers;
  • transition words - make sure to separate the next step from the previous ones by using transition words;
  • descriptions of the steps - make sure your steps are clear and easy to follow.

There are several types of process essays. The first one is directional - it explains the “how to” for something. It can take on a wide range of subjects, such as how to apply for a credit card, how to get your driver’s license, how to plan a wedding, etc. The outcome of the directional essay should be a result. In the cases of the examples above: a credit card, a driver’s license, or a carefully planned wedding. The other type of process paper is informational - it explains how something works. Here are some examples: how a weather forecast is determined, how a space rocket works, how intermittent fasting changes your body, etc. An informational essay explains something to a reader and does not necessarily end up with a result, like directional does. 

Another type of essay that is similar to a process essay is a process analysis essay. The biggest difference is that a process analysis essay not only explains the steps, but also analyses them in depth. It has all of the characteristics of a process essay, although goes into more detail about the causes and consequences of every step.

If you need any additional information for process analysis essays, check out our article: HOW TO WRITE A PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

Writing a process essay is not extremely difficult. By following simple rules and a set of steps, a successful, well-structured essay can be guaranteed.

Prepare The Small Stuff

Here we gathered some small general tips and advice that you should follow throughout your writing process to make sure that all of the expectations of a process paper are met.

  • Determine the Audience's Skill Level. It's important to base the level of complexity of the essay on who the readers will be. For example, if you need to teach a friend how to do a simple fix or create a certain tool, then it would be most reasonable to stick to more basic terminology. However, if you are writing an essay for your astrophysics professor about the creation of a black hole in the universe, use more sophisticated and informative terminology.
  • Make a List of Materials. Obviously, the creation of anything comes with some prerequisites. Whether it's items or ideas, the importance of knowing the necessities beforehand and having them ready to go is essential. Make sure to place each item in accordance with its importance. The more impactful a part is, the higher up on the list it should be. 
  • Write out Each Task. In a step-by-step tutorial, each individual task carries some sort of weight. Since an entire process can not be complete if a step is skipped, it's crucial to write out every single step. However, don't go overboard in your explanations. It's not necessary to bring the tutorial to a microscopic level, but each step should be understandable and competent.

If you still have difficulty writing, you can get essay help online from our service.

Process Essay Topics

Choosing a topic for a process paper can be quite challenging. A good place to start is with your passions. If you pick something you are excited about, you can make it interesting for your readers and fun for yourself to write about. If your professor limits you to write a process essay on something you have very little knowledge of, choose a topic that is intriguing and triggers your interest. Then, conduct enough thorough research to make sure you understand everything perfectly before you go ahead and try to explain it to someone else. 

How to Pick a Process Analysis Essay Topic

Another very important thing to consider while writing a process essay is your audience. It is highly unlikely that college students are interested in instructions for “How to Get Into Your Dream School” or “How to Pass Your SATs”. Make sure your topic relates to the subject you are studying and you are following your professor’s prompt guidelines.

Here are some ideas that might be of interest for you:

  • How to lose weight on a keto diet
  • How your immune system fights COVID-19
  • How to start selling on Amazon
  • How to improve your credit score
  • How to decrease your social media usage
  • How to apply for unemployment insurance
  • How to improve your college performance 
  • How to open your first bank account

It's important to note that these essay topics are just some common examples used by several college students for their course papers. Feel free to use any one of them if you want, or think of one on your own. Just make sure it's a PROCESS!

Process Essay Outline

Most essay outlines follow the standard scheme: Intro > Body Paragraphs > Conclusion . follow the standard scheme: Intro > Body Paragraphs > Conclusion. A good process essay outline should look like this:

WRITING A PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

  • Introduction — brief your reader on your topic, explain why you have chosen it and how you are planning to approach the explanation of the process. 
  • Body — the biggest part of your essay that should be divided into paragraphs for easier understanding and structure. Make sure each paragraph is flowing smoothly into the next one with connective words.

Paragraph 1. First step of the process. Explain what the step is, what the best way to perform it is, and how to avoid common mistakes when doing it.

Paragraph 2. The next step of the process (the same as in Paragraph 1). Thoroughly explain what this step is about.

  • Conclusion . Here you need to explain why your instructions are valuable. It is your opportunity to persuade your reader(s) that the steps you presented and the process they learned will be useful for them in the future. 

Every process is different: some can take a couple of minutes, while others can take months or years to complete. The length of the essay is generally based on the difficulty and number of steps it takes. However, the structure doesn't maneuver.

Introduction

The first thing that you want to do as a writer for your process paper is to help your readers be interested in your individual process. Be descriptive about it, paint a picture for your readers. A joke or a personal reference can be a great attention grabber and can pull your reader right in. For somebody to be keen on approaching your process, they have to express interest in it. Though, it generally goes without saying that many writers ignore this fact. Let's break it down into subsections:

  • Give a little bit of historical background. People often want to know the origins of whatever it is that they're working on. Introducing this part of the process helps to intrigue your readers, as well as give them a sense of purpose for the task.
  • Create an approximate timeframe. Unfortunately, your readers don't have all day to spend on this one event. In addition to learning about its purpose, people want to know how long the task will take. This way, they can decide how to break up the work. If it's a quick fix, then they can knock it out in one session. However, if it's a large-scale operation, then your readers will obviously have to create their own time schedule.
For example, let’s say that the topic of your essay is “How to Save Money”. You can start the introduction of your process essay by explaining that as a college student, you often find yourself in need of extra money and you are stuck with bad money habits. This will create a good connection with your readers, because almost everyone has been in a situation of needing to be savvy with their finances. Another thing you can mention is the importance of saving money and the multiple opportunities it presents, such as being able to invest it, being able to pay off a credit card debt, or being able to save up to avoid taking out a student loan.

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Body Paragraphs

This is the point in the process essay where you start introducing the step-by-step process your readers will need to take. A lot of the time, it helps to break down each process into subsections. For example, if a step has many parts to it, it would be clever to create a paragraph on its own just for that step. Remember, it's important to keep things smooth and efficient. Break down the body paragraphs in unity with the steps. Let's go into more detail about each step:

Each step should be carefully explained.  Every step will vary in length. Think about it: every instruction manual has several steps. Some are more difficult to comprehend or perform than others. For this reason, create your steps and explanations accordingly. You should be able to get a sense of their length and difficulty based on the explanation.

Don't forget to explain the purpose.  People don't want orders barked at them aimlessly. Besides just accomplishing a task, people want to learn as they perform.

  • Why did they do this?
  • What was the purpose of this method?
  • Why did we do it this way and not this other way?

To make everything flow smoothly use transitions.  Make the steps flow one after another to create a well-structured essay. As you introduce the next step, consider using transition words like “next”, “now”, “then”, “so that”, etc.

Before writing the steps out in full sentences, it is a great idea to create an outline for your body paragraphs. Here is an outline for the body paragraphs of a process essay on “How to Save Money”:

Paragraph 1:

  • keep track of your expenses
  • organize your collected data
  • decide what you can skimp on in your spendings

Paragraph 2:

  • create a realistic budget
  • check weekly to ensure you are sticking to it
  • save 15% of every monthly income
  • set a tangible goal for saving, such as a car

These process essay examples use only two body paragraphs, but feel free to include more to ensure a better understanding and cohesive flow for your paper. Although, do not include excessive unnecessary details that clutter your essay and make understanding it even more difficult. While writing your essay, include small brief explanations for each statement. For example, “Even though eating out and grabbing a coffee on your way to class sounds tempting, setting a budget and saving 15% of each of your monthly earnings aside can help you have enough to put down a downpayment on a new car.” Here the reader will understand that there is a direct relationship between each step and the result it is going to give. 

Showing the readers that they are learning and not just repeating is one of the most effective ways to lock down their attention and keep them coming back!

After going through every step meticulously and explaining the whole process, a process essay needs a confident conclusion. This paragraph should be short, sweet, and to the point. It's main goal is to accomplish the following tasks:

  • Discuss the main result. After the readers have completed the process, they should be left with a final result. It's important that you explain to your readers what the end result will look like, and what can be done with it.
  • Restate the process’s general purpose. After completing the task, you obviously would like to know its overall purpose. When your readers feel that they have accomplished a challenge, learned something from it, and have a path to take the result towards, they will be satisfied!
  • State your Overall Conclusion. To put a pretty tie around your process essay means that you need to neatly wrap things up! Restate some of the highlightable points as well as the process’s key overall purpose. Make sure that your readers feel accomplished after going through your process, and  ensure that you strengthen the necessity of its purpose with a nice concluding sentence!

The conclusion of an essay on “How to Save Money” would explain that the completion of all of the steps will result in saving money that can be used for a specific goal or for rainy day fund purposes. You can mention the importance of every step and briefly repeat some of the key points. 

Post-Writing Tips

Here are some final tips to wrap up your writing process. Use them as a checklist for a successful and coherent essay. 

  • Make sure the work is simple enough to follow. Worst-case-scenario: its author creates a feeling of absolute confusion in the reader’s mind. To avoid this problem, always remember that your readers can be beginners. Do not try to impress them with complicated words or sentences, use simple language to provide clear directions on how to do something. Give as many details as possible, but do it plainly. "Why is he making me do this?" "What was the purpose of this?" "I don't understand this step at all!" If the reader is asking themself these questions, then it's time to do some editing!
  • Experiment and try it for yourself or ask a friend. There's no better way to experience success than to actively attempt your process through your own instructions. If everything truly makes sense, then you should have no problem solving the task using your own words. Even better, ask a peer to try it through your words to get an outside point of view.
  • Choose the right topic for you and research it well
  • Maintain a logical order of steps, make it easy to follow
  • Avoid using imperative sentences - you do not want to sound like an Apple TV manual
  • Explain terms that are most likely outside of most people’s range of common knowledge 

If you have a ready-made essay but need to make significant changes to it, you can use our rewrite my essay service .

Process Essay Examples

Now that you know all about process essays and how to write them, we have prepared some great essay topic ideas in case you are stuck and cannot choose one:

Building a business from scratch is an intricate process that entails a number of steps. Each of these steps should have specific objectives and measurable outcomes.The following analysis gives the basic steps followed when building any business from scratch.
Saving can be defined as a differed consumption or keeping aside a portion of your income for unexpected future uncertainties or plans. Read for reason and actual steps for saving more money

Read also a thesis statement example from our author. In this article, you can learn something useful for yourself.

Still Need Help?

If you still feel like you could use some help with your process essay, do not hesitate to seek help from our writing service. Our writers specialize in a wide range of essays of different types including creative writing essay , process essays, and would be more than happy to assist you with writing, editing, or direction if you are feeling uneasy. Click the button below and college admission essay writer will process your requests fast.

Daniel Parker

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

process essay food

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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15.6 Process Analysis Essay

Learning objective.

  • Read an example of the process analysis rhetorical mode.

How to Grow Tomatoes from a Seedling

Growing tomatoes is a simple and rewarding task, and more people should be growing them. This paper walks readers through the main steps for growing and maintaining patio tomatoes from a seedling.

The first step in growing tomatoes is determining if you have the appropriate available space and sunlight to grow them. All tomato varieties require full sunlight, which means at least six hours of direct sun every day. If you have south-facing windows or a patio or backyard that receives direct sunlight, you should be able to grow tomatoes. Choose the location that receives the most sun.

Next, you need to find the right seedling. Growing tomatoes and other vegetables from seeds can be more complicated (though it is not difficult), so I am only discussing how to grow tomatoes from a seedling. A seedling, for those who do not know, is typically understood as a young plant that has only recently started growing from the seed. It can be anything from a newly germinated plant to a fully flowering plant. You can usually find tomato seedlings at your local nursery for an affordable price. Less than five dollars per plant is a common price. When choosing the best seedling, look for a plant that is short with healthy, full leaves and no flowers. This last point tends to be counterintuitive, but it is extremely important. You do not want a vegetable plant that has already started flowering in the nursery because it will have a more difficult time adapting to its new environment when you replant it. Additionally, choose a plant with one strong main stem. This is important because the fewer stems that a tomato plant has, the more easily it can transport nutrients to the fruit. Multiple stems tend to divide nutrients in less efficient ways, often resulting in either lower yields or smaller fruit.

Once you have found the right seedlings to plant back home, you need to find the best way of planting them. I recommend that you plant your tomatoes in containers. If you have the space and sunlight, then you can certainly plant them in the ground, but a container has several advantages and is usually most manageable for the majority of gardeners. The containers can be used in the house, on a patio, or anywhere in the backyard, and they are portable. Containers also tend to better regulate moisture and drain excess water. Choose a container that is at least 10 inches in diameter and at least 1 foot deep. This will provide sufficient room for root development.

In addition to the container, you also need the appropriate soil mixture and draining mechanisms. For the best drainage, fill the bottom of your container with 2 or 3 inches of gravel. On top of the gravel, fill ¾ of the container with soil. Choose a well-balanced organic soil. The three main ingredients you will find described on soil bags are N-P-K—that is, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Without going into too much detail about the role of each element in plant growth, I will tell you that an average vegetable will grow fine in a 10-5-5 mixture. This ratio, too, will be easy to find at your local nursery.

Once you have the gravel in the bottom of the container and the soil on top, you are ready to transplant the tomato. Pick up the tomato in the plastic container it comes in from the nursery. Turn it upside down, and holding the stem between your fingers, pat the bottom lightly several times, and the plant should fall into your hand. Next, you should gently break up the root ball that formed in the nursery container with your hands. Be gentle, but be sure to rip them up a bit; this helps generate new root growth in the new container. Be careful not to damage the roots too much, as this could stunt the growth or even destroy the plant altogether.

Next, carve out a hole in the soil to make space for the plant. Make it deep enough to go about an inch higher than it was previously buried and wide enough so all the roots can comfortably fit within and beneath it. Place the seedling in the hole and push the removed soil back on top to cover the base of the plant. After that, the final step in planting your tomato is mulch. Mulch is not necessary for growing plants, but it can be very helpful in maintaining moisture, keeping out weeds, and regulating soil temperature. Place 2–3 inches of mulch above the soil and spread it out evenly.

Once the mulch is laid, you are mostly done. The rest is all watering, waiting, and maintenance. After you lay the mulch, pour the plant a heavy amount of water. Water the plant at its base until you see water coming through the bottom of the container. Wait ten minutes, and repeat. This initial watering is very important for establishing new roots. You should continue to keep the soil moist, but never soaking wet. One healthy watering each morning should be sufficient for days without rain. You can often forego watering on days with moderate rainfall. Watering in the morning is preferable to the evening because it lessens mold and bacteria growth.

Choosing to grow the patio variety of tomatoes is easiest because patio tomatoes do not require staking or training around cages. They grow in smaller spaces and have a determinate harvest time. As you continue to water and monitor your plant, prune unhealthy looking leaves to the main stem, and cut your tomatoes down at the stem when they ripen to your liking. As you can see, growing tomatoes can be very easy and manageable for even novice gardeners. The satisfaction of picking and eating fresh food, and doing it yourself, outweighs all the effort you put in over the growing season.

Online Process Analysis Essay Alternatives:

Stanley Fish, a professor of humanities and law at Florida International University, tells us why Getting Coffee Is Hard to Do :

  • http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/06/opinion/06iht-edfish.1.7000425.html
  • http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/04/getting-coffee-is-hard-to-do

Arthur Miller takes a humorous look at a gruesome process in Get It Right: Privatize Executions :

  • http://www.davidglensmith.com/lonestar/1301/PDFs/miller.pdf
  • http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/08/opinion/get-it-right-privatize-executions.html

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

How to Write a Great Process Essay

Otherwise Known as a How-To Essay

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How-to essays , also known as process essays, are much like recipes: They provide instruction for carrying out a procedure or task. You can write a how-to essay about any procedure that you find interesting as long as your topic fits the teacher's assignment.

Start by Brainstorming

The first step in writing your how-to essay is brainstorming. Here are tips to help you:

  • Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper to make two columns. Label one column "materials" and the other column "steps."
  • Write down every item and every step you can think of that will be needed to carry out your task. Don't worry about trying to keep things in order yet. Just empty your head.
  • Number your steps on your brainstorming page. Just jot a number beside each item/step. You may need to erase and scribble a few times to get the order right. It's not a neat process.

Create an Outline

First, determine the format required for your essay; ask your teacher if you are unsure. Your essay could contain a numbered list (like the one in the previous section), or it could be written as a standard narrative essay. If you are instructed to write a step-by-step without using numbers, your essay should contain all the elements of any other essay assignment, including an:

  • Introductory paragraph : the section that identifies the  topic , arouses interest, and prepares the audience or readers for the development of the thesis
  • Body : the part of an essay that develops the main idea
  • Conclusion : the sentences  or paragraphs that bring the essay to a logical end

Regardless of the essay format—whether your teacher allows for numbered paragraphs or sections or simply wants you to craft a narrative report—your outline should center on these three areas.

Creating the Essay

Your introduction will explain why your topic is important or relevant. For example, your paper about "How to Wash a Dog" would explain that dog hygiene is important for your pet's good health.

  • Your first body paragraph should contain a list of necessary materials. For example: "The equipment you will need depends somewhat on the size of your dog. At the very minimum, you will need dog shampoo, a large towel, and a container large enough to hold your dog. And, of course, you will need a dog."
  • The next paragraphs should contain instructions for following steps in your process, as enumerated in your outline.
  • Your summary, or conclusion, explains how your task or process should turn out if it is done correctly. It may also be appropriate to restate the importance of your topic.

Topics to Write About

You may believe that you are not expert enough to write a process essay. This is not so. There are many processes that you go through every day that you can write about, including:

  • How to make a perfect paper airplane
  • How to dye your hair
  • How to wear makeup
  • How to survive a weekend with your family
  • How to play basketball
  • How to play (a popular video game)

The goal in this type of assignment is to show that you can write a well-organized essay and clearly explain to the reader how to do what you are instructing.

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  • How to Write a Response Paper
  • How to Write a Narrative Essay or Speech
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  • Tips on How to Write an Argumentative Essay
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How to Write a Process Essay: A Complete, Step-by-Step Guide

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by  Antony W

February 16, 2023

how to write a process essay explained

A process essay, also known as “how-to-essay”, is a common type of paper that informs the reader how something is done. Being able to write a process essay is about talking the reader through a set of instructions or step-by-step guide on how to do something such as performing an experiment, preparing a meal, or carrying out a specific process. 

Writing a process essay should involve enough details to lead the reader successfully to the desired goal.

You need to follow the step-by-step process until the reader has achieved what you’re leading them to do.

Any missteps or poor explanations at any point can cause bad mistakes or even ruin the entire project, so process essays need to be highly detailed and instructional.

This guide will show you how to write a brilliant and effective process essay and be sure of that A-grade.

Pre-Writing: Planning Your Process Essay 

The first requirement if want to write a good process essay is preparation.

Preparing the small stuff goes a long way in ensuring you deliver the best of the report. 

Some of the things to look into for an essay that meets expectations include;

Understand the Target Audience 

Before you start writing, you have to understand your target audience and their expectations from the essay.

The target audience determines the language to use and the general complexity of the essay. 

Ask yourself about the education level of the audience on the topic. Understand if you have to explain basics for them to understand.

I t’s also essential that you the language and terminologies best suited to the audience. 

Create a List of Materials Needed

Anything that involves creating something new will require materials.

The same applies to writing a process essay which details how a thing is done. Before you start writing, create a list of all the materials and tools the reader will need for the whole process. 

Place each item either in the order of use or importance. The more impactful or useful a tool is, the earlier it comes on the list. 

Create an Outline 

Once you have understood your audience and listed the needed tools, it’s time to note what you want to include in the content.

It is easy to forget important things that you need to include in your essay, but an outline creates a structure that you can flesh out with details. 

Note down every step, detail the important all the important steps, and try to  make your ideas flow clearly .

You don’t have to go into a detailed explanation at this point. Just have the steps down with the important tools. 

Structure of a Process Essay

Introduction.

The introduction is where you get to draw in the reader and get them interested in the essay.

You can talk to them about why the particular process they are about to undertake is important without jumping ahead of yourself. 

You can also mention briefly what the essay will cover, thus creating anticipation for what is to come.

Another tactic is to d raw the reader’s interest by giving some historical background of whatever you are working on. It also helps to refer to the timeframe so that they prepare well in advance. 

Body Paragraphs 

The body paragraphs are where you introduce the step-by-step guide to your the readers.

Let the readers understand why they each step in the process is important and why they need to take it instead of alternative methods. 

The length of the paragraphs depends on the complexity of the whole process. Every section should have enough details such that the reader would complete the process properly.

Be sure to mention what equipment and tools will be necessary for the procedure. Also, let the reader know of possible troubles and other difficulties to expect during the process. 

Ensure the smooth flow of everything by using transitions. The transitions make the Essay easy to read and follow. Use terms like then, so that, next, now, and others. 

Your process essay's conclusion is where you can go through the expected results of the process.

It summarizes everything about the guide and provides the reader with a reinforcement of the procedure’s significance.

Explain to the readers the result.

State what it looks like and what follows, whether there are other processes or its final. Ensure your read is accomplished by the end of the essay. 

Process Essay Writing Tips

There is more to writing a process essay than identifying the audience and using the right format.  

1. Focus on Simplicity 

As a guide on doing something, most probably for the first time, a process essay should be easy to follow and understand.

Use simple language with clear directions on how to perform all the processes. 

The choice of words and the construction of sentences must meet the reader’s understanding. 

2. Choose the Right Topic. 

Your choice of topic is crucial when it comes to process writing.

Choosing a technical topic might not resonate with the audience, as you can also have little to write about.

Common issues are also hard to write about as you never seem to be helpful. Look for the readers’ probable needs and solve them. 

3. Proofread the Essay

Once you are done writing, revisit the whole of your work to ensure everything is in place. Revise the work with the reader in mind.

Ensure the language resonates with the target audience. Pass the work through checkers for  plagiarism-free work .

Ensure your work is well detailed with all the necessary guidelines. Include all the steps while you eliminate anything unnecessary.

Only hand in your work once you have achieved a desirable result.

4. Seek Help For Your Process Essay Assignment

No matter how much you have mastered the art of writing a process essay, you can never be all-knowing.

Do not shy from seeking help from a friend or professional to help you through the writing and proofreading.

Working with a professional team like Help for Assessment helps in creating high-quality work for assured high grades.  Our essay writing experts are experienced in delivering top-notch papers on various topics. 

Related Reading

  • This Guide Will Help You to Write an Opinion Essay

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Examples

Process Essay

Process essay generator.

process essay food

Do you know all those YouTube do-it-yourself (DIY) tutorials that they post online? When you consider posting that other than a process essay, it usually attracts more viewers and generates more subscribers on your YouTube channel as people these days are considered more visual in terms of learning new skills or facts. But process essays are just more than how-to videos or DIY videos, an accurate description of a process essay is that it simply describes a procedure. You may also see a  short essay .

  • 22+ examples of free essays .
  • 10+ Essay Writing Examples

This kind of essay provides a step-by-step explanation of a process that leads to an expected or planned outcome. What people do not know that the aforementioned process may either be concrete or abstract. Simply put, there are two types of process essays: directional process essays (give instructions in steps on how to accomplish a specific task), and informational process essays (explains or analyzes a process). You may also see self-introduction essay

Student Process Essay Example

Student Essay Examples

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Process Analysis Essay Example

Process Analysis Essay Example

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Plain Process Essay Example

Essay on the importance of healthy food

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Preparation in Writing a Process Essay

1. assess your audience’s skill level.

Before you begin, you need to first take your audience’s skill level into consideration. In a lot of DIY videos and how-to videos that you see in numerous TV shows, you can see that the hosts will often make use of very simple language so that the people who decide to subscribe on their YouTube channels and watch those DIY videos will be able to understand them very easily. Another thing that you should assume is that everyone who decides to check out your videos or read your process essay has little to no knowledge of the said topic, depending on the content you decide to release or publish. Before you even begin to write your essay, you have to understand the parts that comprise an essay .

For example, a process essay intended for professional chefs could probably skip a description of how to chop carrots and just say, “Finely chop the carrots,” instead.

2. Make a list of the materials needed

If you already have an idea on what kind of process you are going to release or publish, the next thing to do would most probably be to draft a list of the materials or ingredients that your audience or viewers might need so that they can follow along. It may be easier to do so in your own DIY or “How To” videos, as it is more visual and that the viewers could clearly see as to what these products look like should they get confused, but for process essays, it is a bit tricky. One tip that you could follow would be to include a comprehensive “Things You’ll Need” section at the beginning of the paper or simply list the materials needed after the introduction so that the readers of your essay will prepare the materials needed beforehand to save precious time. There are moments in your life that you will be asked to draft up self-introduction essays as part of a class assignment.

There are times that an item on the list would seem very unusual for a person to procure. Should that be the case, such as a particular type of hand tool, be sure to clearly introduce it within the text. For instance, “The pin hammer has a finer tip than a standard hammer, making it suitable for more detailed work.” If at all possible, make sure to include a picture of the said object you are planning to use if you intend to publish the said essay online. You may also see a  formal essay .

3. Create an outline of the task

In order to make things simpler for you on your end, it would be best if you created an outline that can help you create the flow of the process essay that you are working on. Keep in mind that the outline simply acts as the guide for the essay and is not the essay itself. Outlines are normally made with bullet points and at least 1 to 2 sentences per point. Creating an outline will be most helpful to especially informational process essays. Keep in mind that the more specific your article or essay topic, the more specific your details need to be. Here are some examples of how different people would write their essays .

  • If your essay happens to be about cooking lasagna, you may want to begin your initial outline by saying, “Mix in basil.” Before you start writing, you could expand your outline to say, “Briefly mention taste differences between dried and fresh basil.”
  • When writing an informational process essay outline about how journalists write a news report, you can include some details about journalists select a news story and the criteria they would use to determine a story’s newsworthiness.

Simple Process Essay Example

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Sample Process Essay on Kool Aid

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Scanned Written Process Essay Example

Sample Scanned Written Essay

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Golf Process Essay Example

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Crafting Your Introduction

1. Grab your reader’s attention within the first 1–2 sentences. Today’s readership has a very short attention span. You see books being made into movie adaptations. Some books are being even made into TV shows for a longer and more detailed story line. Although there are some people who also prefer reading compared to watching, there are people who can tell a good book just by the first few paragraphs of the first page alone. You get that right, then you would have gained new readership. DIY and “How To” videos may be easy to create and draft a new introduction, but essays, not so much. It is usually the make or break stage for the essay. They say that when you start strong, it is just as important and vital to end strong as well. Leave the audience wanting to do more of your DIY projects or videos in the near future. Should you be interested in writing a reflective essay , you may want to click on the hyperlink on this sentence.

For instance, you might write, “The process of preparing lasagna has a rich heritage all of its own.”

2. Provide a general time estimate. Providing time estimates are very essential especially in writing these process essays as everyone might have some other plans other than doing the DIY video or following the process essay they happen to be reading. In cooking or baking, time is considered very critical. An example would be when the participants of MasterChef are asked to cook one of Gordon Ramsay’s signature dishes to avoid elimination. Even when cooking something as simple as scrambled eggs, one of the steps that Gordon suggested would be to stir over medium heat until the eggs start to cook.

The next step would be to remove the egg mix from heat and then continue stirring eggs for about 30 seconds. Return to heat, continue to stir eggs until they start to clump. He suggested that it is important to keep it “on and off” from the heat, otherwise, the eggs might be overcooked which as a result becomes watery. You would not want that to happen to your eggs, would you? Should you find yourself in need of writing an analytical essay , you may want to refer to the hyperlink found on the sentence.

3. If your process essay focuses on a cooking task, this is where you inform your audience to have some sort of clock or timer nearby for them to keep track of the number of minutes that have passed by and to place all the ingredients on the table beforehand.

4. Present the thesis statement as a problem. A thesis statement focuses your ideas into one or two sentences. It should present the topic of your paper and also make a comment about your position in relation to the topic. The thesis statement is considered to be the most important sentence of your paper as it informs the reader not only which problem you will be examining, but it should give them an idea as to how you will be able to solve the issue at hand. Your thesis statement should tell your reader what the paper is about and also help guide your writing and keep your argument focused. The thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph. Here are some examples of short essays that might serve as a reference in case you need assistance in formulating one.

5. You can start off your thesis statement like this, “This essay will explore how to create a complicated lasagna dish in a short period of time by preparing the noodles and sauce in advance.”

The Writing Process

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Pros and Cons of Adoption Essay Sample

Pros and Cons of Adoption Essay Sample

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Process Essay Example about Bathing Your Dog

How to Bathe your Dog Process Essay Sample

s3.amazonaws.com

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Basic Process Essay Example

How do we account for the changes observable in the commermoration of the dead in Italy andd Northern Europe in this period Process Essay Example

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Writing Your Body Paragraphs

1. consult your outline.

People have the tendency to be sidetracked, especially when making their own stories or novels or any written work for their personal use or for their schoolwork. From time to time, it is best to try and consult with the outline that you have made as not to get lost and personally confused to where you currently are in your essay making process. As aforementioned, outlines are considered an excellent way to draft the flow of your speech or essay should you ever get lost somewhere in the middle of your essay writing. Always refer back to your bullet points if ever your point was not made somewhere in the body of the paragraph. The outline is not always right, it is merely temporary. The possibility of not following your outline might not actually exist if you have happened to draft a better one. For more ways to help start up your essay , you may refer to this hyperlink.

Try to be very careful with items that consist of multiple steps. Make the transitions clear enough and acknowledge prior steps regarding a particular item, if at all applicable.

2. Structure the body of the essay in paragraphs

The outline simply serves as the guide for your essay and is not really the speech itself. Since you have already given some thought into making the outline, now is high time to formulate the body of your essay. As much as possible, when you decide to do the initial draft of your essay, keep it in paragraph form. Bullet points may be simpler, but it is first and foremost an essay. For instance, if your process essay is about making the best shepherd’s pie, try drafting a paragraph on how to make the filling below and another paragraph on how to create good mashed potatoes on top of the lamb filling below. This, in turn, separates the two ideas for easy clarification.

Scholarship essays  are normally written by applicants who wish to get their education at a lesser price, considering they uphold to the following conditions.

3. Add transitions in between steps

And since it is a process essay, it is very important that you place transitions on the steps to allow your readers to help identify as to what is Step 1 and what is Step 2. These transitions make it easier for the readers to help proceed to the next step without worrying they might have missed something on the previous step. Examples of some transitions would be the words next , first , later , then , finally , before , afterward , etc. For some examples of formal essays , you may refer to the hyperlink.

For instance, you could write, “Next, place the pot on the stove,” to move from one paragraph to the next.

4. Avoid using first-person pronouns

Including I , we , us , me , mine , our , and ours  within your writing can make it seem less declarative and authoritative. In a process essay, this can make a reader less likely to trust your instructions. Instead, stick with a second and third-person perspective by using words, such as it or they . Here are some examples of argumentative essays for your reference.

For example, you could write, “This essay shows…” instead of “I’ll show.”

5. Mention any cautionary notes

Some people would normally forget to add that at the end of the process essay. This is perhaps one of the worst things that the author will not bother doing since he or she did not think that the reader will go to that extent of not following what was written. As someone who has written the process essay in the first place or a notable DIY star on YouTube, please mention some of the mistakes or actions that people tend to do when performing the said task. By doing so, you might actually save a life when you warn people beforehand. These cautionary notes serve as a warning to people as it might have already happened to some unfortunate people already. So when you are warned not to microwave your electronic devices for the sake of fun, just do not. For reference in writing personal essays , you can go through our website to find out more.

For example, you might caution a reader to “Cook the meat until it is no longer red in the center.” This advice will help them to avoid foodborne illness.

Process Essay Example about Hosting the Pre-Homecoming Dance Dinner

How to Host the Pre Homecoming Dance Dinner

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Process Essay Writing Example

Writing a Process Essay

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Sample Outline of a Research Article

Sample Outline of a Research Article

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Process Analysis Essay Writing Tips

Process Analysis Essay Writing Tips

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Odor Nuisances Sample Essay

Odor Nuisances Sample essay

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The Process of Building Stonehenge Research Paper

The Process of Building Stonehenge Research Paper

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Wrapping It Up

1. Mention the end product and what to do with it. At the last few minutes of the DIY video or the process essay, you can see that you are almost through making the said product. Now, there are some people who might already have an idea of what to do with them. For example, let us say that you are done making the recipe for the coffee jelly dessert. You can provide suggestions as what to do with the coffee jelly that you have made (e.g., After cutting the coffee jelly into cubes, pour it into a tall glass and pour some cold-brewed coffee to give it that extra flavor. And finally, top it off with some ice cream and place a spoon or straw. Best served chilled with family and friends). Here are some tips and examples that you might need when writing a thesis statement for your narrative .

2. Restate the importance of the task. Cooking has proven itself to be quite a challenge, especially when one has no background or experience in cooking. It can otherwise be daunting, and there will be times that you will feel like passing out or giving up. But if you hold on to the very reason as to why you are doing it in the first place, it will keep you focused on completing the task at hand quicker than expected. To be quite fair and frank, this is often utilized by marketing stunts everywhere even in making DIY arts and crafts projects for Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. Here are some examples of persuasive essays  that can serve as a reference when writing essays.

3. A basic example of a newly-made dinner intended for your parents’ anniversary might be, “And there you have it! A delicious yet quick meal fit for the two of them to enjoy which looks complicated and sophisticated but is actually simple enough with enough practice. Next time, experiment with different herbs and spices to find your own spin on this classic dish.”

4. Check your essay for ease of reading. Now that you are through writing your essay, the next best logical thing to do would be to actually take some time to review them. If you think you are satisfied with the flow of the essay that you have written, then you may publish it with ease. But if you do not think you are comfortable or assume that there is something lacking in the process essay, take the time to double-check the content and add the necessary content to the essay. While you are in the middle of double-checking, try adding a few final touches to your essay for it to sound better. Lend your essay to a friend or family member to check if they had understood the whole process. Here are some examples of academic essays .

5. One tip would be to see if there are certain steps that you can eliminate or condense your instructions as not to take up too much space in the essay. A reader is more likely to finish directions that they can easily skim through.

6. Proofread your essay. Finally, proofread your essay. Don’t rely on spell-check alone, as it cannot account for context and doesn’t catch every error. But other than spell-checking your essay, make sure to also check for typographical errors in terms of grammar and preposition, subject-verb agreement, etc. Keep in mind that people from all over will be reading your essay, so make sure that it is written professionally in whatever language you will be using. Here are some examples of high school essays that you can refer to.

Process Analysis Essay

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Expository or Process Essay Example

Process Essay Example

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Minimalist Process Essay Example

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Process Essay Example in PDF

Process Essay in PDF

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Fundamental Process Essay Example

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Cheerleading Routine Process Essay Analysis Example

Cheerleading Routine Process Essay Analysis

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Interesting Process Essay Ideas to Write in 2019

2019 is considered the “Year of the Earth Pig.” This could indicate laziness; however, it could also depict enthusiasm for some people. Considering that the usage of social media and the internet in this year is prevalent, people tend to view loads of various information that shape their own perspective. Moreover, this era strongly pushes the empowerment for every individual to showcase themselves, abling them to do what they want to do. Conclusively, the freedom of this age provides people a wide variety of interests.

A process essay explains the how-tos of a certain topic. Now that you already tackled the basics of this composition as well as the steps in making one, we are giving you in this section some exciting ideas that you can use in writing your own process essay for this year, 2019. According to your preference, you may consider selecting from these topics:

1. Technology-based ideas

2019 is a year that belongs to an era of rapidly innovating technology where gadgets and internet are major tools for almost everybody. Hence, it is not a surprise that people commonly ask some steps regarding technology. In writing your 2019 process essay, here are some examples of technology-based ideas:

  • How to create your own Facebook account?
  • How to reboot your phone?
  • How to create your own Instagram account?
  • How to upload several pictures on Facebook in 3 simple clicks?
  • How to invite someone to play an online game?
  • How to rank up in Mobile Legends?
  • How to call someone via Messenger?
  • How to use Snapchat as a newbie?
  • Step-by-step guide in composing your first tweet
  • How to perform a factory reset on your phone?

 2. Smart aesthetic hack ideas

The presence of the internet also paved the way for beauty online influencers to showcase their own intelligent ideas. Consisted of mostly females, different channels and blogs fascinate their audience with their various mind-blowing hacks in grooming oneself. They also give some out-of-the-box solutions to the common aesthetic dilemmas. Basically, topics under this section range from fashion to beauty tips bonanza which include:

  • How to transform a shirt into a skirt?
  • How to rescue your shattered face powder?
  • DIY T-shirt printing
  • How to brush teeth the correct way?
  • Alternative ways to curl hair
  • How to make your own anime costume?
  • How to make your own natural body scrub?
  • How to do your full-face make-up in 3 easy steps?
  • How to select the perfect sunglass for you?
  • How to distinguish fake jewelry from genuine ones?

An important reminder, try to talk about processes that do not involve your audience’s health, especially if you are not a professional or your step is not yet widely studied.

3. Cooking hack ideas

Food is a basic necessity for each individual and just like the previous one, the internet also provided the cooking pros a medium to share their impressive easy-to-do recipes and strategies in preparing edibles. This extends from simple snacks and desserts to meals of rare occasions, turning simple white plates to something you can boast your friends of. These ideas may include:

  • How to make a home-made chocolate fudge?
  • Simple steps in making a no-bake cake
  • How to slice onions the correct way?
  • Impressive ways to plate your meal
  • Easy-to-make soup recipes
  • How to brine a turkey?
  • How to make the perfect sandwich for your kids?
  • How to boil eggs perfectly?
  • How to remove avocado seed fast?
  • Step-by-step guide in assembling cake layers

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Write a Process Essay on how to prepare for a high school exam.

Discuss the steps involved in writing a research paper for your Process Essay.

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Warm-Up for Process Essays

A process essay leads readers through a series of steps for getting something done. This lesson will help you think about different processes and which ones you might explain in an essay.

What Is a Process?

Listen to "What Is a Process?"

Writing a Process Essay

A process is a series of steps for getting something done. For a bird, building a nest is a process. For a bee or a squirrel, gathering food is a process. And for a student, writing a process essay is, itself, a process.

What processes do you know how to do? What processes could you explain to others?

When you write a process essay, you explain how to do something or how something works. Each paragraph in your essay focuses on a step in the process. The sentences follow time order, leading the reader from start to finish.

Process writing helps you get the job done!

Watch the video "What Is a Process?"

Thinking About a Process

Most things don’t happen all at once. They take steps to finish. Even something as simple as shooting a free-throw:

  • Stand at the free-throw line.
  • Get the ball from the ref.
  • Focus on the basket.
  • Line up the shot.
  • Shoot the ball.
  • If you make the first shot, repeat the process.

You can organize the steps of a process by making a numbered list like the one above.

You can also make a time line to put steps in time order. Start each line with a time-order word, and give the step.

First

Stand at the free-throw line.

Second

Get the ball from the ref.

Then

Focus on the basket.

Next

Line up the shot.

After

Shoot the ball.

Finally

If you make the first shot, repeat the process.

Choose a process you can do.

Write down something you know how to do.

Take care of a hamster

Organize the steps.

Create a numbered list or a time line. Make a copy of this Google doc or download a Word template .

Numbered List

Go to buy a hamster.

Pick out and set up a cage.

Feed and water your hamster.

Hold your hamster to gain trust.

Make mazes for your hamster.

Show off your hamster to your friends.

First

Go to buy a hamster.

Second

Pick out and set up a cage.

Then

Feed and water your hamster.

Next

Hold your hamster to gain trust.

After

Make mazes for your hamster.

Finally

Show off your hamster to your friends.

Teaching Tip

Help students understand that a list and a time line are two different ways to organize the same material. They do not have to generate both. Also, help them realize they don’t have to have six steps in their processes.

© 2024 Thoughtful Learning. Copying is permitted.

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Process Essay Examples

A process essay is an essay that explains or outlines the process for making something or completing a process or activity. Process essays are most often organized in a chronological or step-by-step manner, such that the reader is lead through the process of making something or completing an activity.

Because of the step-by-step nature of a process essay , transition words are critically important in the process essay. The reader has to know what to do first, next, and finally. The reader also has to know what to do "before" something else, "while" something else is happening, or even "eventually."

While they are not technically full essays, recipes are a good example of a process writing. Recipes include a step-by-step process for making a food or dish. Process essays have the same purpose as recipes-to lead the reader through the process.

This is an excerpt from an essay on how to make the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Some people say that you should spread the peanut butter on one slice of bread and the jelly on the other. However, these people have never experienced the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich ever made.

You begin with a bowl-not too big, and not too small. You gather the ingredients-peanut butter, jelly, and white bread. The best peanut butter is the creamy kind, and make sure the bread is fresh and soft.

After gathering the ingredients, spoon a large clump of peanut butter into the bowl. Adjust the amount depending on the number of sandwiches you plan to make. Then, spoon a large clump of jelly into the bowl with the peanut butter. Using the spoon, mix the peanut butter and jelly together. You will need to stir briskly to mix the two. This is the secret to the best peanut butter and jelly!




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Processed Food, Essay Example

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Introduction

Processed food has been in the spotlight for several years now, and many researchers claim that they are responsible for several health problems and civilization illnesses. As a result of pressure from health agencies, many food manufacturers have made changed during the process, altered the fat and carbohydrate content of their products. However, in order to prove that processed food has a negative effect on human health, there is a need for researching the topic and looking at research data. The below study is designed to evaluate the claims that processed food is directly responsible for diabetes and obesity in the society. The authors would like to examine claims, research and studies in order to create a framework for reducing health risks of Americans and improving their diet.

The authors would like to prove the following thesis: “Processed food is directly responsible for the increased rate of obesity and Type 1 or 2 diabetes in America.”

Jalonick (2010) confirms that a pledge has been made by the organizations of Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Partnership for a Healthier America supported by the First Lady to reduce over 1.5 trillion calories in goods produced by food and beverage manufacturers. The aim is to increase awareness of the health risks, provide recommendations for not only diet but the healthy lifestyle as well. The First Lady also has created a Childhood Obesity Action Plan to tackle obesity and create a healthier America. (Sweet) While processed food is usually mentioned as a main reason for obesity, the lack of exercise, the spread of home entertainment including gaming consoles, computers and television are also to blame. The changed lifestyle of people results in more money to be spent on food, less time to cook from scratch and a comfortable life without having to get out of the house. Some diet publishers, especially Loren Cordain claim that while our body has not adapted to the increased calorie intake and lack of exercise, processed food is not suitable for the human body. It is, in fact true that there are some differences between caveman’s and the modern lifestyle; we do not have to hunt or gather, run after the animals and exercise much less than cavemen did. We also eat more processed food, of course.

Processed Food

Before trying to find a connection between obesity, diabetes and processed food, it is important to ask the question many have asked before: “What exactly is wrong with processed food?” The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (web) seems to provide an answer in a recent publication. According to the publication, increased sodium intake is one of the major contributors to stroke, heart problems and high blood pressure. The organization also states that 75 percent of the sodium Americans consume comes from restaurant food and processed fast food. Salt only adds up a small percentage of the total sodium intake. Before we examine the scientific research closer, however, there is a need to look at the official definition of processed food, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Quoted in: The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 3) “any food other than a raw agricultural commodity and includes any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling.” The above definition means that the food is not in its raw form and has been modified. This can mean added ingredients, mostly additives. While in America all processed food items are legally required to have a clear label on them stating the fat, carbohydrate and sodium content, not many Americans are aware of the recommended amount of intake or simply neglect it.

Pros And Cons

From the society’s point of view, there is certainly a place for processed food. People (including women) are in full time work and preparing food from scratch might not be a solution if they only have one hour to get dinner ready for the family. (Saphiro 15) Certainly, the price of processed food in America is also an advantage, as well as the wide availability. It is usually cheaper to buy bulk frozen meals than getting all the ingredients. As a conclusion: the three main benefits of processed food are convenience, price and the fact that they can save time for busy people.

The negative effects of consuming processed food are related to diet and health and have been examined for decades. First of all, with processing, many vitamins and minerals disappear from the original ingredients. Secondly, according to Puristat (web), “Refining destroys and devitalizes most of foods’ goodness”. Describing the process of producing processed food, the company highlights various risks, such as: toxins, preservatives, lack of antioxidants, colorings, synthetic sweeteners, flavorings, as well as the refining process that results in increased glucose levels contributing towards the development of diabetes.

Scientific Research

According to Monteiro et al., evidence shows that the increase of processed food consumption impacts human health. The authors researched three groups in Brazil: Group one was on a non-processed food diet, Group two was put on a meal plan including processed ingredients while group three was given ultra-processed food products. The caloric share of consumption over the years in the ultra-processed food eating group increased continuously. This research clearly shows that those people who eat processed food are at a higher risk of overeating, obesity, as well as developing metabolic illnesses.

Looking at the effect of globalization and the appearance of processed food in India, researchers have evaluated the health effects. (Vepa 212) The author has proved that sugar and carbohydrate consumption significantly grew over the years, as a result of consuming more processed food. This resulted in undernutrition of the population, especially measured among pregnant women and children. Obesity grew as the consumption of processed food increased. It is important to reflect on the above study, as it examines a country where there is no long term tradition of eating processed food and the consumption is on a sharp rise. The thesis was confirmed by the results of the study.

While the above study did not go into a great depth of what makes processed food unhealthy, it attempted to examine the relationship between the increase of these foods and obesity, blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. The examined studies have proved the initial thesis that processed food consumption has adverse effect on people’s lifestyle. While there are initiatives in America supported by Michelle Obama to change residents’ lifestyle, more research is needed to be able to put pressure on food manufacturers to make their products healthier. Still, without the promotion of other aspects of healthy lifestyle, like regular exercise, outdoor activities, there is no chance to achieve significant results.

Works Cited

Jalonick, Mary Clare (17 May 2010). “ Food companies agree to remove 15 trillion calories from foods to reduce childhood obesity”. Business News. Associated Press. Print.

Sweet, Lynn (11 May 2010). “Michelle Obama Unveils Anti-Childhood Obesity Action Plan”. Politics Daily. Web.

Shapiro, Laura (March 29, 2005). Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America . New York: Penguin11. Print.

Clark, Irene L. (1998) The Genre of Argument. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace, 1998. Print. Ward, Russ. Logical Argument in the Research Paper. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace, 1997.  Print.

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (web) Get the Facts: Sodium’s role in processed food. Web.

Interview: Dr. Loren Cordain discusses the Paleo Diet. The RX Review. Web.

Puristat. (web) Glazed and Confused…It’s Time To Wake Up And Smell The Coffee. Web.

Monteiro, C., Levy, R., Claro, R., Castro, I., Cannon, G. (2010) Increasing consumption of ultra- processed foods and likely impact on human health: evidence from Brazil . Public Health Nutrition: 14(1), 5–13 Print.

Vepa. S. (2004) “Impact of globalization on the food consumption of urban India” In: SS Vepa: Globalization of food systems in developing countries. 2004 FAO. Print.

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process essay food

How to Live a Happy Life

       People are always searching for things that make them happy. For example, many people work very hard to improve their employment because they want to find a better job to make themselves happy. Other people search for happiness by purchasing things they want. It is not bad to search for happiness, but many people do not understand that lasting happiness does not depend on having certain things. It doesn’t depend on the circumstances of a person’s life. It depends more on how life is lived and people are loved. There are things that people can do to live a happy life regardless of their situation. In order to live a happy life, people should build relationships, be grateful, and help others.

        The first thing that people should do to live a happy life is build relationships with other people. Building relationships can include both making new friends and strengthening relationships that already exist with friends and family members. These relationships lead to greater happiness because people who have strong connections with other people are less lonely, especially in difficult times. They have people who they can talk to and people who can offer comfort to them. Another reason that strong connections can increase happiness is that they create a network of people who can offer advice. Knowing that there are friends who can offer this advice to help solve a problem can help people feel happier. Strong relationships also lead to greater feelings of belonging and security, which in turn, lead to greater happiness. Building these relationships is an essential step to living a happy life.

        In addition to nurturing relationships, people who want to be happy should be grateful. People who are grateful open their eyes to see all of the good things in their lives, and they express gratitude to people who help them. Many people have noticed that by opening their eyes to see the good things they have and choosing to have gratitude, their perspective changes. They spend more time focusing on positive thoughts instead of focusing on things that are negative or difficult. Thoughts create perspective, so intentionally creating positive thoughts will lead to a more positive perspective. Regardless of struggles they have, they choose to focus on the gifts they can see. Gratitude can change people’s perspective and help them be happier, regardless of their situation.

        Finally, serving others can make people happier. Serving others can include doing simple things like listening to a friend who is having a hard time or preparing a meal to share with someone who is sick. These simple acts not only improve another person’s life, but they also bring happiness to the person who is serving. This happiness is a natural result of lifting another person’s burden. Helping others also helps in the other areas of building happiness: it strengthens relationships with others and it helps people feel more gratitude. When people serve others, they can become good friends by showing how much they care and want to help. People feel more gratitude because when they see the problems other people face, they find ways that their life is blessed. Serving others is an essential key to living a happier life.

        If people want to have a happier life, they should serve others, be grateful, and strengthen their relationships with other people. Each of these things focuses on people and perspective rather than money and material possessions. People bring joy to other people in a way that possessions can never imitate. Perspective can make a lasting impact on a person’s life in a way that a promotion simply can’t. Regardless of the circumstances of an individual’s life, that individual can choose to focus on happiness in a real, genuine way if he wants to. Finding lasting happiness is really a simple search. That search begins as soon as people start looking beyond temporary things that only bring temporary happiness.

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Processed Food Industry Essay

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The Impact of Processed Foods on Human Health

The impact of processed foods on the environment, the impact of processed foods on the economy.

The current paper dwells on a number of issues connected to the processed food industry. A variety of influences are reviewed and critically appraised within the framework of this in-depth discussion. The implications of processed food on human health, the environment, and the economy are deliberated. The key concepts regarding the harmful nature of processed foods and the major reasons for UAE residents to consume fewer processed foods are covered in the last section of the paper.

The problem with processed food consists in the fact that it lacks numerous essential nutrients that are required for proper digestion. For instance, grain cannot be properly digested in the form of refined white rice as it lacks the fiber that can be found in its original form, brown rice. Another issue that may arise due to processed foods is a faster release of sugar into the bloodstream (Moubarac et al., 2012). This increased sugar significantly limits the number of minerals and vitamins that can be transferred to the vital organs of the human body. It is a well-known fact that blood sugar can be regulated by biotin and thiamine; the core mission of these two active factors is to transfer glucose to the mitochondria, which is the energy center of a human body cell.

However, these active factors are unable to accomplish their mission successfully if a person eats too many processed foods. In perspective, by eating overly refined foods, an individual is depriving him or herself of the elements that help the human body function properly and provide its organs with indispensable nutrients (Monteiro, Moubarac, Cannon, & Popkin, 2013). Regardless of the documented adverse impact of processed foods, one should be aware of the fact that rare or infrequent consumption of processed foods does not significantly affect the human body. The problems mostly arise when processed foods are incorporated as a major regular presence of the diet. Another point to consider is that a gluten-free diet does not harm the human body. This positive outlook should be perceived as a warning because obesity is often caused by processed foods that elicit a strong desire to overeat (Baker & Friel, 2014). Indeed, a sensory-oriented strategy is one of the core principles of the food industry.

Another major problem with processed foods is the fact that every stage of processed food manufacturing has a significant impact on the environment. These stages typically include food processing, packing, transportation, supply, and marketing. The biggest concern regarding processed foods is their high potential for environmental pollution. On a bigger scale, the diversity of the food industry imposes a number of complications on its manufacturers (Krimsky, Gruber, & Nader, 2016). One of these complications is an uncontrollable amount of various types of waste, which can, in turn, become the source of serious ecological problems linked to waste disposal and consequent environmental pollution.

Moreover, because processed food manufacturers tend to ignore the essential recovery methods, such waste leads to a situation in which valuable biomasses are critically damaged, and vital nutrients are lost. Indeed, the problem with processed foods consists of the fact that waste treatment procedures are insignificant, and almost nothing has been done to minimize the amount of hazardous waste or modernize the processes of bioconversion and reutilization (Heldman & Hartel, 2012). Such processes as bioconversion are designed to reduce the impact of processed foods on the environment, but currently, such reduction cannot be accomplished due to poor waste management practices. The companies that operate in the food sector should carefully review their policies and recognize the global impact that processed foods have on the environment.

Growth in the economic sectors of a number of countries all over the world has been supported by the development of the processed foods industry. Currently, processed foods majorly contribute to worldwide GDP and international financial development. Despite its positive connotation for the economy, numerous complications have transpired due to weak policies and regulation of the processed foods industry, as well as increased costs of agriculture (Friel et al., 2013). The economic benefit of the processed foods industry consists in its investment opportunity and income growth. The public demand for processed foods has grown unconditionally, and so has the economic stability of the processed foods industry. This supposition is supported by the fact that this business sector attracts foreign investors and boosts local economies to previously unthinkable dimensions.

It is also important to mention that the processed foods industry has not reached its full potential due to numerous failed investment projects and the subsequent negative effects on the supply chain (Brennan & Grandison, 2012). This aspect of the industry is inextricably linked to complex organizational protocols and actions that should be taken in order to accomplish the corporate goals. The diversity of economic complications created by the processed foods sector has to be addressed by means of a multi-layered approach that takes into account the demands of various stakeholders (Frantzen, 2012). Regardless, following the economic needs of the processed foods industry is questionable, and they’re still exist certain constraints that prevent the manufacturers from revealing the potential of this industry. Considering the growing global demand for processed foods, these companies have to improve their pricing strategies, invest in supply chains, and develop new waste management strategies. Because the food industry is quite competitive, its economic implications have to be taken seriously within the context of the existing complexities inherent in the industry-consumer relationship (Dorfman, 2014).

All UAE residents should realize that processed foods are damaging to the body and the environment, and they should try to eliminate them as soon as possible because these products make them overweight and unhealthy. It is no secret that heart disease and even different types of cancer may be caused by the industrialization of the food business. By reducing the consumption of processed foods, the Emirati people will cut healthcare costs and learn to make smarter choices when it comes to their daily nutritional patterns. There is no critical reason to continue consuming processed foods; these products are simply designed in such a way that they decompose slowly over time. Moreover, by consuming fewer processed food products, the Emirati people will normalize their intake of sugar, oil, and salt.

To this end, it is essential to revert to whole grain products because white flour is associated with the consumption of empty calories. The Emirati should also take into consideration the fact that soy and corn ingredients, which are common to processed foods, do not contribute to a healthy and varied diet. Reducing the consumption of processed foods will lead to a healthier lifestyle, weight loss, and improvements in nutritional intake. One does not have to completely refuse to consume processed foods, but instead, one should carefully compose a custom diet that includes both whole foods and their processed counterparts.

Baker, P., & Friel, S. (2014). Processed foods and the nutrition transition: Evidence from Asia. Obesity Reviews, 15 (7), 564-577. Web.

Brennan, J. G., & Grandison, A. S. (2012). Food processing handbook . Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Dorfman, J. H. (2014). Economics and management of the food industry . New York, NY: Routledge.

Frantzen, K. A. (2012). Risk-based analysis for environmental managers . Boca Raton, FL: Lewis.

Friel, S., Hattersley, L., Snowdon, W., Thow, A., Lobstein, T., Sanders, D.,… Walker, C. (2013). Monitoring the impacts of trade agreements on food environments. Obesity Reviews, 14 (4), 120-134. Web.

Heldman, D. R., & Hartel, R. (2012). Principles of food processing . New York, NY: Chapman and Hall.

Krimsky, S., Gruber, J., & Nader, R. (2016). The GMO deception: What you need to know about the food, corporations, and government agencies putting our families and our environment at risk . New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing.

Monteiro, C. A., Moubarac, J., Cannon, G., & Popkin, B. (2013). Ultra-processed products are becoming dominant in the global food system. Obesity Reviews, 14 (2), 21-28. Web.

Moubarac, J., Martins, A. P., Claro, R. M., Levy, R. B., Cannon, G., & Monteiro, C. A. (2012). Consumption of ultra-processed foods and likely impact on human health: Evidence from Canada. Public Health Nutrition, 16 (12), 2240-2248. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2021, May 20). Processed Food Industry. https://ivypanda.com/essays/processed-food-industry/

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Food Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on food.

Food is the basic human need to stay alive. Moreover, it is the need of every living organism . Therefore it is important that we should not waste food. Our world consists of different types of cultures. These cultures have varieties of dishes of food in them.

Food essay

Thus, all the dishes have different taste. Furthermore, our nature provides us a variety of food. From fruits to vegetables, from Dairy food to seafood everything is available. Different countries have their own specialty of dishes. Therefore some of them are below:

World-famous Cuisines

Italian Cuisines – Italian cuisines is one of the most popular cuisines around the world. Moreover, it is widely available in our India too. Dishes like pizza, pasta, and lasagna own a special place in the hearts’ of people.

Furthermore, restaurants like Dominos and Pizza hut are available all over the country. People of every age love the taste of these Italian dishes. Also, Italian dishes are famous for their’ cheese filling. Every dish is load with cheese. Which enhances the taste of these Italian dishes.

Indian cuisine – Indian cuisine is always filled with a lot of herbs and spices. Furthermore, the specialty of Indian dishes is, it is always filled with curries. Whether veg or non-veg the dishes are in curry form. Moreover, Indian cuisine has so many varieties of food that has further branches. The Branch consists of Mughal cuisine which is mostly of non-vegetarian dishes. Also, almost every Indian love Muglia dishes.

Chinese Cuisine – Chinese cuisine in India is also very popular. There are many Chinese theme-based restaurants here. Moreover, in these restaurants Chinese are preferable chefs because they can only give the perfect Chinese blend. Chinese cuisines have a wide variety of dishes. Some of them are Chinese noodles, fried rice, Dumplings, etc. Dumplings have a different name here. They go by the name of momos in India and people love the taste of it.

These were some of the favorites of Indian people. Moreover, these are in almost every part of the city. You can find it anywhere, whether be it in 5-star restaurants or at the side of the street as street foods.

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Importance of Food in Our Life

We cannot deny the importance of food in our lives. As it is the basic need to survive. Yet some people waste not thinking that there are still some people that do not get any of it. We should always be careful while taking a meal on our plates.

In other words, we should take only that much that our stomach can allow. Or else there will be wasting of food . In India there are many people living in slums, they do not have proper shelter. Moreover, they are not able to have even a one-time meal. They starve for days and are always in a state of sickness.

Many children are there on roads who are laboring to get a daily meal. After seeing conditions like these people should not dare to waste food. Moreover, we should always provide food to the needy ones as much as we can.

Q1. Name any two different types of cuisines available in India.

A1. The two different types of cuisines available in India are Italian and Chinese cuisine. These are famous apart from Indian cuisine.

Q2. How can we not waste food?

A2. You cannot waste food by taking only a sufficient amount of it. Moreover, people should seal pack the leftover food and give it to the beggars. So that they can at least stay healthy and not starve.

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Processed Foods and Health

Man reading the labels to compare two jarred products while standing in a supermarket aisle

Processed foods are generally thought to be inferior to unprocessed foods. The term may suggest that a packaged food item contains many ingredients, perhaps even artificial colors, flavors, or other chemical additives. Often referred to as convenience or pre-prepared foods, processed foods are suggested to contribute to the obesity epidemic and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. However, the definition of processed food varies widely depending on the source:

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines a processed food as one that has undergone any changes to its natural state—that is, any raw agricultural commodity subjected to washing, cleaning, milling, cutting, chopping, heating, pasteurizing, blanching, cooking, canning, freezing, drying, dehydrating, mixing, packaging, or other procedures that alter the food from its natural state. The food may include the addition of other ingredients such as preservatives, flavors, nutrients and other food additives or substances approved for use in food products, such as salt, sugars, and fats.
  • The Institute of Food Technologists includes additional processing terms like storing, filtering, fermenting, extracting, concentrating, microwaving, and packaging. [1]

According to these standards, virtually all foods sold in the supermarket would be classified as “processed” to some degree. Because food begins to deteriorate and loses nutrients as soon as it is harvested, even the  apples  in the produce aisle undergo four or more processing steps before being sold to the consumer. That’s why in practice, it’s helpful to differentiate between the various degrees of food processing.

Types of Food Processing

A popular system to classify processed foods was introduced in 2009, called the NOVA classification. It lists four categories considering the degree to which a food is processed and the purpose of these modifications: [2-4]

Potassium foods including bananas, almonds, dried fruit, beans, avocado, cantaloupe, salmon, spinach

Unprocessed or minimally processed foods

a bowl of olive oil an olives

Processed culinary ingredients

a can of sardines

Processed foods

a plate of soda, chips, fried chicken, grilled cheese, hamburgers, french fries

Ultra-processed foods

The NOVA system is recognized by the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization, but not currently in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration or USDA. NOVA has been criticized for being too general in classifying certain foods, causing confusion. For example, yogurt may fall into more than one category: plain yogurt is minimally processed, but fruited yogurt with added sweeteners could be labeled either processed or ultra-processed depending on how much sweetener and other chemical additives are incorporated. NOVA also does not provide comprehensive lists of specific foods in each category, so the consumer is left to guess where each may fall.

Is Processed Food Unhealthy?

There’s no doubt that at least some processed foods are found in most people’s kitchens. There are benefits and drawbacks.

  • Frozen, pre-chopped, and canned ingredients can be time-savers in the kitchen.
  • Some processed and fortified foods provide important nutrients that may not otherwise be obtained in a busy household or one that has a limited food budget.
  • From a nutritional standpoint, processed and even ultra-processed foods can provide key nutrients. Some nutrients, like protein, are naturally retained throughout processing, and others, such as B vitamins and iron, may be added back if they are lost during processing. Fruits and vegetables that are quickly frozen after harvesting can  retain the majority of vitamin C .
  • Throughout history, foods fortified with specific nutrients have prevented deficiencies and their related health problems in certain populations. Examples include infant cereals fortified with iron and B vitamins to prevent anemia, milk fortified with vitamin D to prevent rickets, wheat flour fortified with folic acid to prevent birth defects and iodine added to salt to prevent goiter.
  • Processing by certain methods like pasteurization, cooking, and drying can destroy or inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Additives such as emulsifiers preserve the texture of foods, such as preventing peanut butter from separating into solid and liquid parts. Other functions of processing include delaying the spoilage of food; preserving desirable sensory qualities of food (flavor, texture, aroma, appearance); and increasing convenience in preparing a complete meal.
  • Therefore, the indispensable role of food processing enables us to have a stable and predictable food supply and maintains food and nutrient security.

Depending on the degree of processing, nutrients can be destroyed or removed. Peeling outer layers of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may remove plant nutrients (phytochemicals) and fiber. Heating or drying foods can destroy certain vitamins and minerals. Although food manufacturers can add back some of the nutrients lost, it is impossible to recreate the food in its original form.

Currently, bread and frozen meals are some of the most consumed ultra-processed foods in the U.S. [5] While these products can be good sources of whole grains, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they can also be high in sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats. Given the variety of ultra-processed foods, it may be helpful to distinguish those with lower nutritional value from the broader category. Such distinction can be determined by evaluating a food’s nutritional content and long-term health effects. A product with an unevenly high ratio of calories to fiber and healthy nutrients (e.g., unsaturated fats, B vitamins, potassium) may be considered an “ultra-processed food of low nutritional value.” For example, soda provides high calories from added sugars and no healthy nutrients; and research supports an association between a high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. On the other hand, whole-grain bread and fiber-containing low-sugar breakfast cereals that may be fortified with nutrients such as folic acid have consistently been linked with lower rates of stroke. [6]

To help illustrate the spectrum of food processing, the table below includes ultra-processed foods of low nutritional value as its own category. We also we separate the NOVA categories of “unprocessed” and “minimally processed” foods, and omit NOVA’s “processed culinary ingredients” category, which mainly includes supplementary food components to assist in cooking and food preparation.

Whole apple Prepackaged apple slices with no additives Unsweetened applesauce made with apples, water, and ascorbic acid to prevent browning Sweetened applesauce that contains the prior ingredients plus high fructose corn syrup Apple juice drink with high fructose corn syrup and added coloring
Whole oat groats

 

Steel-cut oats, rolled oats Instant oats with added sugar and a preservative only to enhance freshness Instant flavored oatmeal with added sugar, artificial flavorings, and other additives to improve texture and freshness Low-fiber packaged oat-containing cookie (mostly made of refined flour and sugar)
Dried chickpeas Chickpea flour made from dried finely ground chickpeas; chickpea pasta Canned chickpeas;

store-bought hummus made with chickpeas, spices, and oil without preservatives

Store-bought hummus made with chickpeas, salt, spices, and artificial flavors “Chickpea” chips that are made with mostly rice or potato flour and are high in added salt and oils
Peanuts in the shell Shelled plain peanuts Natural peanut butter made with only peanuts and salt Peanut butter with added sugar, salt, and emulsifiers Peanut butter candy
Homemade veggie burger made with brown rice, lentils, sweet potato, and cooked kale Packaged frozen veggie burgers or plant-based meat substitutes with added salt and seasonings; a good source of protein and fiber
Homemade or store-bought plain yogurt with only pasteurized milk Store-bought plain yogurt made with pasteurized milk, live active cultures, and food starch (thickener) Yogurt with a small amount of added sugar, and pectins and gums to thicken/emulsify; a good source of protein and calcium Yogurts higher in added sugars or fruit concentrates, artificial flavors, and gums to thicken/emulsify; not a significant source or protein or calcium
Fresh fish Unseasoned frozen fish filets Canned or frozen or fresh fish with seasoning Breaded fish sticks

comparing two labels on cans of food

Decoding the ingredients list on a food label

  • The ingredients are listed in order of quantity by weight. This means that the food ingredient that weighs the most will be listed first, and the ingredient that weighs the least is listed last. [7]
  • Some ingredients like sugar and salt may be listed by other names. For example, alternative terms for sugar are corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, agave nectar, cane sugar, evaporated cane juice, coconut sugar, dextrose, malt syrup, molasses, or turbinado sugar. Other terms for sodium include monosodium glutamate or disodium phosphate.
  • Preservatives —ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, tocopherols
  • Emulsifiers that prevent separation of liquids and solids—soy lecithin, monoglycerides
  • Thickeners to add texture—xanthan gum, pectin, carrageenan , guar gum
  • Colors —artificial FD&C Yellow No. 6 or natural beta-carotene to add yellow hues
  • Fortified foods contain vitamins and minerals that are added after processing. Either these nutrients were lost during processing, or they were added because they are lacking in the average diet. Examples include B vitamins (riboflavin, niacin, niacinamide, folate or folic acid), beta carotene, iron (ferrous sulfate), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D, or amino acids to boost protein content (L-tryptophan, L-lysine, L-leucine, L-methionine).

Ingredients used widely in the production of ultra-processed foods such as  saturated fats ,  added sugar , and  sodium have become markers of poor diet quality due to their effect on heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure. [8,9] It is estimated that ultra-processed foods contribute about 90% of the total calories obtained from added sugars. [5]  

  • In 2015, the World Health Organization categorized processed meats as cancer-causing to humans. They defined “processed meat” as meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavor or improve preservation. The statement was made after 22 scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group evaluated more than 800 studies on the topic. The evidence on processed meats was strongest for colorectal cancer, followed by stomach cancer. [10]
  • An analysis of the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study found that a higher intake of ultra-processed foods like processed meats and potato chips was associated with weight gain over 4 years. [11] Other studies suggest that the more that ultra-processed foods are eaten, the greater the risk of a diet lacking in important nutrients. An evaluation of the dietary intakes of 9,317 U.S. participants in an NHANES cohort found that higher intakes of ultra-processed foods were linked with greater consumption of refined carbohydrate, added sugars, and saturated fat. At the same time, intakes of fiber, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E decreased. [12]
  • Another observational study among nearly 20,000 Spanish university graduates in the Seguimiento University of Navarra (SUN) cohort found that higher consumption (more than 4 servings per day) of ultra-processed food was associated with a 62% increased risk of death from any cause compared with lower consumption (less than 2 servings per day). For each additional daily serving of ultra-processed food, there was an 18% increased risk of death. Based on their findings, the researchers noted the importance of policies that limit the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet and promote consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed foods to improve global public health. [13] Other cohort studies in France (NutriNet Santé) and the U.S. (NHANES) have also found that consumption of ultra-processed foods was directly associated with higher all-cause mortality. [14,15]
  • In 2019, a randomized controlled trial looked at whether ultra-processed foods, as defined under the NOVA classification, might indeed cause people to eat more. Ten men and ten women were randomized to receive either an ultra-processed diet or unprocessed diet for 14 days, followed by 14 more days of the alternate diet. The diets were relatively equal in calories, sugar, fat, fiber, and other nutrients, and participants were allowed to eat as much or as little as they liked. The study found that participants ate about 500 calories more on the ultra-processed diet and also gained weight (about 2 pounds). [16] Most of the extra calories came from carbohydrate and fats, and the diet also increased their sodium intake. When the participants changed to the unprocessed diet, they ate fewer calories and lost the weight they gained. According to appetite surveys, the diets did not differ in levels of hunger, fullness, and satisfaction, though participants tended to eat faster on the ultra-processed diet.
  • Reviews of cohort and cross-sectional studies were conducted to assess the effect of ultra-processed foods on health. Results from cross-sectional studies found that the highest intakes of ultra-processed foods were associated with significantly higher odds  of overweight/obesity, low HDL cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. [17,18]   Results from cohort studies found an association with the highest ultra-processed food intake and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, early deaths from any cause, and depression. [17]
  • Another review looked at trends with ultra-processed foods using 100 studies from around the world. [19] The study found that ultra-processed foods (especially breads, cookies, savory snacks, juices, sodas, and breakfast cereals) tended to be eaten the most by those with lower education status and by children and adolescents. However, vegans and vegetarians were also found to have higher intakes of ultra-processed foods when classifying plant-based meat and dairy substitutes as highly processed items. The authors noted the difficulty in comparing study results due to the different definitions of ultra-processed foods (e.g., the same food may have been classified differently among studies). They also observed that most studies used food frequency questionnaires to assess ultra-processed food intake, which are not validated to do so, and therefore any conclusions drawn from the studies should be interpreted cautiously.
  • A systematic review with meta-analysis incorporating data from cohort studies including the Nurses Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study found that a higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. [20] Certain food categories were associated with disease risk such as refined breads, artificially and sugar-sweetened beverages, animal-based products, and ready-to-eat mixed dishes. On the other hand, whole-grain breads and cereals and savory snacks like light crackers and fat-free popcorn were associated with lower risk of this condition.

The Bottom Line

Food processing is a very broad spectrum that ranges from basic technologies like freezing or milling, to the incorporation of additives that promote shelf stability or increase palatability. As a general rule, emphasizing unprocessed or minimally processed foods in the daily diet is optimal. That said, the use of processed and even ultra-processed foods is the choice of the consumer, and there are pros and cons that come with each type. The Nutrition Facts Label and ingredients list can be useful tools in deciding when to include a more processed food in one’s diet. There is evidence showing an association with certain types of food processing and poor health outcomes, especially low-nutrient ultra-processed foods that contain added sugars ,  excess sodium , and  unhealthful fats . But there also exist ultra-processed foods that have low amounts of these ingredients while being fortified in beneficial nutrients such as calcium, protein, fiber, and vitamins B and D.

Research is still clarifying if any harmful health effects from ultra-processed foods arise from the higher degree of processing or simply from the poorer nutritional quality often accompanying these types of foods. There is a growing range of processed and ultra-processed foods available, and some products may be a useful addition to a healthful diet.

Put it into practice: Ideas for a day of minimally-processed meals

You don’t have to avoid all processed foods but begin by adding more fresh or minimally processed ingredients to your shopping cart. More time may be needed to prepare these foods than just opening a can or popping a frozen container in a microwave, but the rewards may be fresher flavors, increased nutrients, and eating less additives that have no nutritional benefit.

  • Look for breads that include whole grain flour as the main ingredient (it should be listed first) and that contain minimal additives and preservatives.
  • Swap out butter spreads for mashed avocado or nut/seed butters.
  • Choose breakfast cereals with less added sugar, such as plain steel-cut or large flake oats, plain shredded wheat, and low-sugar mueslis. Add nuts, chia seeds , or flaxseeds and fresh diced fruit to cereals for a heartier meal.

Lunch/Dinner:

  • Reduce takeout and prepare more home-cooked meals using fresh ingredients or processed frozen or canned ingredients that are low in added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.
  • Choose fresh poultry and fish, dried or low-sodium canned legumes , dry or frozen plain whole grains (brown or wild rice , farro, millet, quinoa ), fresh or frozen unseasoned vegetables, and herbs, spices, and vinegars .
  • Cook in bulk and freeze extra food so that you have meals ready to reheat when you are bus Dinner leftovers make a great next-day lunch! If you are not used to cooking at home, it may require some planning ahead and experimentation at first.
  • Try fresh washed and sliced fruits, raw sliced vegetables with hummus, plain or low-sugar yogurt, unsalted nuts, roasted chickpeas or other beans, edamame, overnight oats , or homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

Beverages: Your body appreciates plain water ! Try it chilled with ice, warmed, or infused with fresh mint, slices of citrus fruit, or a piece of ginger.

Restaurants:

  • Bypass the usual highly processed fast-food options of fried chicken, burgers, and fries. Visit eateries that offer fresh vegetables or salads; lean fresh protein foods like fish, poultry, tofu, or legumes; and whole grains that are simply prepared without excess salt and fat.
  • Research menus online when available, to save time when making food selectio
  • Weaver CM, Dwyer J, Fulgoni III VL, King JC, Leveille GA, MacDonald RS, Ordovas J, Schnakenberg D. Processed foods: contributions to nutrition. The American journal of clinical nutrition . 2014 Apr 23;99(6):1525-42.
  • Monteiro CA. Nutrition and health. The issue is not food, nor nutrients, so much as processing. Public health nutrition . 2009 May;12(5):729-31.
  • Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Moubarac JC, Levy RB, Louzada ML, Jaime PC. The UN Decade of Nutrition, the NOVA food classification and the trouble with ultra-processing. Public Health Nutrition . 2018 Jan;21(1):5-17.
  • Monteiro CA, Cannon G, Levy RB et al. NOVA. The star shines bright. [Food classification. Public health] World Nutrition January-March 2016, 7, 1-3, 28-38.
  • Steele EM, Baraldi LG, da Costa Louzada ML, Moubarac JC, Mozaffarian D, Monteiro CA. Ultra-processed foods and added sugars in the US diet: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. BMJ open. 2016 Jan 1;6(3):e009892.
  • Hankey GJ. B vitamins for stroke prevention. Stroke and vascular neurology . 2018 Jun 1;3(2).
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Food Labeling Guide: Guidance for Industry. January 2013.
  • Tapsell LC, Neale EP, Satija A, Hu FB. Foods, nutrients, and dietary patterns: interconnections and implications for dietary guidelines. Advances in Nutrition . 2016 May 9;7(3):445-54.
  • Poti JM, Braga B, Qin B. Ultra-processed Food Intake and Obesity: What Really Matters for Health—Processing or Nutrient Content?. Current obesity reports . 2017 Dec 1;6(4):420-31.
  • Bouvard V, Loomis D, Guyton KZ, Grosse Y, El Ghissassi F, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Guha N, Mattock H, Straif K. Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat. The Lancet Oncology . 2015 Dec 1;16(16):1599-600.
  • Mozaffarian D, Hao T, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Hu FB. Changes in diet and lifestyle and long-term weight gain in women and men. New England Journal of Medicine . 2011 Jun 23;364(25):2392-404.
  • Steele EM, Popkin BM, Swinburn B, Monteiro CA. The share of ultra-processed foods and the overall nutritional quality of diets in the US: evidence from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Population health metrics . 2017 Dec;15(1):6.
  • Rico-Campà A, Martínez-González MA, Alvarez-Alvarez I, de Deus Mendonça R, de la Fuente-Arrillaga C, Gómez-Donoso C, Bes-Rastrollo M. Association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and all cause mortality: SUN prospective cohort study. BMJ . 2019 May 29;365:l1949.
  • Schnabel L, Kesse-Guyot E, Allès B, Touvier M, Srour B, Hercberg S, Buscail C, Julia C. Association Between Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Risk of Mortality Among Middle-aged Adults in France. JAMA internal medicine . 2019 Feb 11.
  • Kim H, Hu EA, Rebholz CM. Ultra-processed food intake and mortality in the USA: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994). Public health nutrition . 2019 Feb 21:1-9.
  • Hall KD, Ayuketah A, Brychta R, Cai H, Cassimatis T, Chen KY, Chung ST, Costa E, Courville A, Darcey V, Fletcher LA. Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: an inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake. Cell metabolism . 2019 May 16.
  • Pagliai G, Dinu M, Madarena MP, Bonaccio M, Iacoviello L, Sofi F. Consumption of ultra-processed foods and health status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Nutrition . 2021 Feb;125(3):308-18.
  • Askari M, Heshmati J, Shahinfar H, Tripathi N, Daneshzad E. Ultra-processed food and the risk of overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. International journal of obesity . 2020 Oct;44(10):2080-91.
  • Marino M, Puppo F, Del Bo’ C, Vinelli V, Riso P, Porrini M, Martini D. A systematic review of worldwide consumption of ultra-processed foods: findings and criticisms. Nutrients . 2021 Aug 13;13(8):2778.
  • Chen Z, Khandpur N, Desjardins C, Wang L, Monteiro CA, Rossato SL, Fung TT, Manson JE, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Hu FB. Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: three large prospective US cohort studies. Diabetes Care . 2023 Jul 1;46(7):1335-44.

Last reviewed August 2023

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Guest Essay

A Year on Ozempic Taught Me We’re Thinking About Obesity All Wrong

A photo illustration of junk food — potato chips, cheesecake and bacon — spiraling into a black background.

By Johann Hari

Mr. Hari is a British journalist and the author of “Magic Pill: The Extraordinary Benefits — and Disturbing Risks — of the New Weight Loss Drugs.”

Ever since I was a teenager, I have dreamed of shedding a lot of weight. So when I shrank from 203 pounds to 161 in a year, I was baffled by my feelings. I was taking Ozempic, and I was haunted by the sense that I was cheating and doing something immoral.

I’m not the only one. In the United States (where I now split my time), over 70 percent of people are overweight or obese, and according to one poll, 47 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay to take the new weight-loss drugs. It’s not hard to see why. They cause users to lose an average of 10 to 20 percent of their body weight, and clinical trials suggest that the next generation of drugs (probably available soon) leads to a 24 percent loss, on average. Yet as more and more people take drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, we get more confused as a culture, bombarding anyone in the public eye who takes them with brutal shaming.

This is happening because we are trapped in a set of old stories about what obesity is and the morally acceptable ways to overcome it. But the fact that so many of us are turning to the new weight-loss drugs can be an opportunity to find a way out of that trap of shame and stigma — and to a more truthful story.

In my lifetime, obesity has exploded, from being rare to almost being the norm. I was born in 1979, and by the time I was 21, obesity rates in the United States had more than doubled . They have skyrocketed since. The obvious question is, why? And how do these new weight-loss drugs work? The answer to both lies in one word: satiety. It’s a concept that we don’t use much in everyday life but that we’ve all experienced at some point. It describes the sensation of having had enough and not wanting any more.

The primary reason we have gained weight at a pace unprecedented in human history is that our diets have radically changed in ways that have deeply undermined our ability to feel sated. My father grew up in a village in the Swiss mountains, where he ate fresh, whole foods that had been cooked from scratch and prepared on the day they were eaten. But in the 30 years between his childhood and mine, in the suburbs of London, the nature of food transformed across the Western world. He was horrified to see that almost everything I ate was reheated and heavily processed. The evidence is clear that the kind of food my father grew up eating quickly makes you feel full. But the kind of food I grew up eating, much of which is made in factories, often with artificial chemicals, left me feeling empty and as if I had a hole in my stomach. In a recent study of what American children eat, ultraprocessed food was found to make up 67 percent of their daily diet. This kind of food makes you want to eat more and more. Satiety comes late, if at all.

One scientific experiment — which I have nicknamed Cheesecake Park — seemed to me to crystallize this effect. Paul Kenny, a neuroscientist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, grew up in Ireland. After he moved in 2000 to the United States, when he was in his 20s, he gained 30 pounds in two years. He began to wonder if the American diet has some kind of strange effect on our brains and our cravings, so he designed an experiment to test it. He and his colleague Paul Johnson raised a group of rats in a cage and gave them an abundant supply of healthy, balanced rat chow made out of the kind of food rats had been eating for a very long time. The rats would eat it when they were hungry, and then they seemed to feel sated and stopped. They did not become fat.

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The Supreme Court Walks Back Clarence Thomas’ Guns Extremism

This is part of  Opinionpalooza , Slate’s coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside  Amicus , we kicked things off this year by explaining  How Originalism Ate the Law . The best way to support our work is by joining  Slate Plus . (If you are already a member, consider a  donation  or  merch !)

The Supreme Court upheld a federal law disarming domestic abusers on Friday, significantly narrowing a radical 2022 precedent in the process. Its 8–1 ruling in U.S. v. Rahimi is a major victory for gun safety laws, a much-needed reprieve after two years of unceasing hostility from the federal judiciary. Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion walked back maximalist rhetoric—recklessly injected into the law by Justice Clarence Thomas—that had imperiled virtually every modern regulation limiting access to firearms. Thomas was the lone dissenter, signifying the rest of the court’s mad dash away from his extremist position on the Second Amendment.

Rahimi involves a violent criminal, Zackey Rahimi, who beat his girlfriend, then fired shots at either her or a witness as she fled his abuse. His girlfriend subsequently obtained a restraining order from a state court that found that he posed “a credible threat” to her “physical safety.” Rahimi, however, continued harassing her, threatened a different woman with a firearm, and was identified as the suspect in at least five additional shootings. When the police searched his apartment, they found a pistol, a rifle, ammunition, and a copy of the restraining order.

Rahimi was indicted under a federal law that bars individuals from possessing firearms while subject to a restraining order for domestic violence. He argued that this statute violated his Second Amendment rights, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5 th Circuit agreed . The court rested its analysis on New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen , the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision establishing a constitutional right to carry firearms in public. Thomas’ opinion in Bruen , though, went much further than that specific holding, declaring that all restrictions on the right to bear arms are presumptively unconstitutional unless they have a sufficient set of “historical analogues” from the distant past. (He didn’t bother to clarify the precise era, but it seemed to be sometime between 1791 and 1868.)

That approach posed two fundamental problems, which the lower courts quickly encountered when trying to apply Bruen : First, judges are not historians and cannot parse the complex, often incomplete record in this area with any consistency or reliability; and second, modern problems require modern solutions , especially when past bigotry prevented lawmakers from perceiving those problems in the first place. Rahimi is Exhibit A: Men were generally permitted to abuse their wives in the 18 th and 19 th centuries, with courts hesitant to interfere with what they deemed a private “familial affair.” Countless other examples have arisen in the lower courts since Bruen , with judges creating new rights to scratch the serial number off guns and own firearms while using illegal substances .

Roberts attempted to put a stop to this chaos on Friday. His Rahimi opinion cut back Bruen at every turn. “Some courts,” the chief justice wrote, “have misunderstood the methodology of our recent Second Amendment cases. These precedents were not meant to suggest a law trapped in amber.” Rather than hunt for perfect historical analogs, courts should ask “whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition.” If old laws regulated guns to “address particular problems, that will be a strong indicator that contemporary laws imposing similar restrictions for similar reasons fall within a permissible category of regulations.” Today’s regulations should generally avoid imposing restrictions “beyond what was done at the founding,” but the modern law need not “precisely match its historical precursors.” Roberts’ test significantly broadens (or perhaps loosens) the constitutional inquiry beyond what Bruen allowed. It instructs courts to look at principles , at a fairly high level of generality, rather than demanding a near-perfect match from centuries past.

The difference between Rahimi and Bruen is perfectly captured by Roberts’ majority opinion and the lone dissent written by Bruen ’s own author, Thomas. The chief justice asserted, “The government offers ample evidence that the Second Amendment permits the disarmament of individuals who pose a credible threat to the physical safety of others.” He breezily walked through a smattering of history allowing for the seizure of arms to preserve “public order.” For proof, Roberts cited surety laws, legislation that required an individual “suspected of future misbehavior” to post a bond, which he would forfeit if he engaged in misconduct. Domestic abusers could, in theory, be subject to the surety system, as could individuals who misused firearms—and that was good enough for Roberts. To him, this evidence established a historical practice of “preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.” And disarming abusers “fits comfortably within this tradition.”

To Thomas, by contrast, surety laws “are worlds—not degrees—apart” from the law in question, because they were civil (not criminal) measures that did not actually disarm people but merely threatened them with a fine. These laws “did not alter an individual’s right to keep and bear arms,” Thomas protested, and they therefore failed to establish a relevant “history and tradition.” Indeed, “the government does not identify even a single regulation with an analogous burden and justification,” he complained in dissent. In 1791 a man like Zackey Rahimi could be disarmed only after a conviction for a violent crime. And so, Thomas wrote, that must remain the rule today.

Bruen was a 6–3 decision. Yet every justice who joined Thomas’ opinion in Bruen in 2022 signed on to Roberts’ walk back of Bruen on Friday. What happened? Aside from Justice Samuel Alito, every remaining member of the court expressed their views by writing or joining separate concurrences in Rahimi . Justice Brett Kavanaugh tried to defend his beloved “history and tradition” test, as opposed to “a balancing test that churns out the judge’s own policy beliefs,” while creating more room for “precedent” (or “the accumulated wisdom of jurists”). Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that Bruen “demands a wider lens” than the 5 th Circuit deployed, explaining that “historical regulations reveal a principle, not a mold,” and do not forever lock us into “late-18 th -century policy choices.” Justice Neil Gorsuch tried to split the difference, marshaling a defense of Bruen while subtly reworking it to limit sweeping legal attacks on gun regulations.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Elena Kagan, celebrated the majority’s focus on “principles” instead of perfect analogs. “History has a role to play in Second Amendment analysis,” she wrote, “but a rigid adherence to history, (particularly history predating the inclusion of women and people of color as full members of the polity), impoverishes constitutional interpretation and hamstrings our democracy.” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who joined the court soon after Bruen came down, warned that Rahimi will not end the “increasingly erratic and unprincipled body of law” that Bruen inspired. “The blame” for the lower courts’ struggles “may lie with us,” she noted, “not with them.” All three liberals sound ready and willing to overturn Bruen altogether if they get the chance—but will, for now, settle for Rahimi ’s compromise.

What next? The Supreme Court will have to vacate a spate of lower court decisions that used Bruen to strike down seemingly sensible gun safety laws, ordering a do-over in light of Rahimi . Some courts will gladly accept the message. Others, like the lawless 5 th Circuit , will probably interpret Thomas’ dissent on Friday as the law and refuse to change their tune. Such defiance will test the majority’s commitment to a more workable and balanced Second Amendment jurisprudence—and likely fracture the court once more. By replacing Thomas’ hard-line views with a more malleable standard, SCOTUS has ended one battle over guns. But by remaining in this area, where it has no right to be in the first place, the court has invited a thousand more.

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    663 Interesting Food Essay Topics, Examples, and Ideas. Updated: Feb 25th, 2024. 35 min. Food essays are an excellent way to demonstrate your awareness of current nutrition and health issues. Obesity is a significant concern that is present in many people throughout the world and can lead to a variety of deadly conditions.

  14. Warm-Up for Process Essays

    They take steps to finish. Even something as simple as shooting a free-throw: Stand at the free-throw line. Get the ball from the ref. Focus on the basket. Line up the shot. Shoot the ball. If you make the first shot, repeat the process. You can organize the steps of a process by making a numbered list like the one above.

  15. Process Essay Examples

    A process essay is an essay that explains or outlines the process for making something or completing a process or activity. Process essays are most often organized in a chronological or step-by-step manner, such that the reader is lead through the process of making something or completing an activity.. Because of the step-by-step nature of a process essay, transition words are critically ...

  16. Processed Food, Essay Example

    As a conclusion: the three main benefits of processed food are convenience, price and the fact that they can save time for busy people. The negative effects of consuming processed food are related to diet and health and have been examined for decades. First of all, with processing, many vitamins and minerals disappear from the original ingredients.

  17. Process Essay Example 1

    Exercise: Analyze an essay. Read one of the two Process Example Essays on the following pages to complete this exercise. Label the introduction paragraph, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion paragraph. Circle the hook. What is the general topic of the essay? Underline the thesis. Underline each of the topic sentences.

  18. Processed Food Industry

    Abstract. The current paper dwells on a number of issues connected to the processed food industry. A variety of influences are reviewed and critically appraised within the framework of this in-depth discussion. The implications of processed food on human health, the environment, and the economy are deliberated.

  19. Food Essay for Students and Children

    A2. You cannot waste food by taking only a sufficient amount of it. Moreover, people should seal pack the leftover food and give it to the beggars. So that they can at least stay healthy and not starve. Share with friends. Previous. Next. Kalpana Chawla Essay for Students and Children.

  20. Food Preparation Process Essay Examples

    Food Preparation Process Essays. Self-Evaluation Report Final. The only reason I registered in this course was to have a better grasp of the various project management strategies and concepts. In addition, I sought to learn new strategies and abilities for efficiently managing projects. My learning goals were to improve my customer service ...

  21. Essay On Food Processing

    1860 Words8 Pages. Food processing: Food processing is the transformation of raw ingredients into food, or of food into other forms. Food processing typically takes clean, harvested crops or butchered animal products and uses these to produce attractive, marketable and often long shelf-life food products. Such processed food is widely used in ...

  22. Food Processing and Health

    The Bottom Line. Food processing is a very broad spectrum that ranges from basic technologies like freezing or milling, to the incorporation of additives that promote shelf stability or increase palatability. As a general rule, emphasizing unprocessed or minimally processed foods in the daily diet is optimal.

  23. Processed Food Essay

    The term 'processed food' applies to any food that has been changed from its natural state in some way, either for safety reasons or convenience. Some foods need processing to make them safe, such as milk, which needs to be pasteurized to remove harmful bacteria. Other foods need processing to make them suitable for use, such as pressing ...

  24. Opinion

    Ms. Morgan is a food systems consultant. Mr. Bittman is a former Opinion columnist and a special adviser on food at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Whether you shop for ...

  25. He never saw himself as disadvantaged until he was asked to write an

    Joachim was writing the essay because of a decision several weeks earlier by a federal judge in Tennessee. A White woman had challenged the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business ...

  26. Opinion

    Guest Essay. A Year on Ozempic Taught Me We're Thinking About Obesity All Wrong. May 7, 2024. ... But the kind of food I grew up eating, much of which is made in factories, often with artificial ...

  27. The Supreme Court Walks Back Clarence Thomas' Guns Extremism

    The Supreme Court upheld a federal law disarming domestic abusers on Friday, significantly narrowing a radical 2022 precedent in the process. Skip to the content Games

  28. ECB Can Disregard Bumps in Disinflation, Villeroy Says

    The European Central Bank can look through one-off fluctuations in euro-area inflation statistics, according to Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau.