7 Most Pointless Foods to Avoid

As a fan of real food, some of the things I see on sale completely baffle me. This is my list of the seven most pointless “foods” on sale in a store near you…

1. Packet egg whites.

Where to start with this one? What’s wrong with the poor victimised yolk and all of the nutrition it offers? And exactly how hard is it to crack open an actual real egg?

2. Coconut oil spray.

I wrote a whole post about this one – the point of spray oil is to make sure we have a low fat diet – so given that we aren't scared of fat, coconut oil in a spray can is a complete contradiction…

3. Avocado spread.

My avocados turn brown not longer after I've cut them – yet this stuff stays mysteriously green…

4. Mashed pumpkin.

How hard is it to cook up a pumpkin and mash it?

5. Light coconut milk.

I eat coconut milk and revel in what an incredible fat source it is. They reduce the fat? In coconut milk? There would have to be a national shortage in coconut milk before I’d buy this.

6. Meat in a can.

I just don’t get it?

7. Fruit sugar.

Given that fructose is the sugar we want to avoid – they've cleverly separated it so we can get a huge hit in one go.

Do you agree with my list? What would be on your list of the most pointless foods – and why?

Why These Products Exist – And What That Says About Modern Food Culture

As ridiculous as these “foods” may seem, there’s a reason they exist: convenience, marketing, and in many cases, misinformation. The rise of ultra-processed convenience products is often less about nutrition and more about appealing to people who are short on time, overwhelmed in the kitchen, or bombarded with outdated health myths. The paleo lifestyle calls us to question the status quo, especially when it comes to what we put on our plates. Understanding the drivers behind these pointless foods helps us spot the red flags on supermarket shelves—and avoid falling for the hype.

Convenience Culture vs Real Food

Take mashed pumpkin, for instance. It’s not difficult to prepare at home, yet supermarkets are full of pre-mashed, plastic-sealed options. Similarly, “avocado spread” is targeted at people who believe preparing an avocado is somehow too difficult. This reflects a growing dependence on food manufacturers to do the work for us—at the cost of freshness, nutrition, and often, taste. Real food doesn’t need to be complicated, but modern convenience culture has trained us to believe otherwise.

Cracking an egg, opening a coconut, mashing a pumpkin—these are not difficult tasks. But as soon as there’s a packaged alternative, many people will opt for it, regardless of how compromised that option is. Unfortunately, those decisions often result in inferior food quality, questionable additives, and an increased price tag.

Healthwashing: When Marketing Masquerades as Nutrition

Healthwashing is rampant. It’s the reason we have “light” versions of inherently nutritious products like coconut milk. The logic is deeply flawed—removing fat from something that’s meant to be fatty in its natural state doesn’t make it healthier. It makes it less satiating, more processed, and often full of synthetic thickeners to compensate for the missing richness.

Likewise, “fruit sugar” sounds wholesome. Who doesn’t love fruit? But it’s pure fructose—exactly the sugar we aim to reduce on a paleo or real food lifestyle. The name tricks people into thinking it’s natural and therefore better. In reality, it’s just a marketing spin on an isolated and highly concentrated form of sugar.

Reclaiming the Kitchen: Real Food is Simpler Than You Think

One of the key benefits of following a paleo lifestyle is the reconnection with food preparation. Cooking doesn’t need to be complex or time-consuming. In fact, most real meals can be prepared with just a few fresh ingredients, a sharp knife, and a basic understanding of flavour. Yet we’ve been conditioned to fear the kitchen, outsourcing even the simplest steps to corporations with vested interests in convenience.

Rather than buying pre-mashed pumpkin, you could steam a batch of cubed pumpkin in under 15 minutes and mash it with some olive oil, salt, and herbs. Instead of using coconut oil spray, just scoop a spoonful into your pan. Not only is it less wasteful, but you also avoid propellants and synthetic additives often found in spray cans.

The Environmental Toll of Pointless Products

Many of these unnecessary foods come with excessive packaging, contributing to plastic waste and environmental damage. A tin of “light” coconut milk or a plastic tub of avocado spread may seem harmless on its own—but multiply that by millions of units sold worldwide, and the environmental cost quickly stacks up. Real food usually has a lower environmental footprint when sourced locally and prepared at home.

Choosing whole, unpackaged foods is not only a better choice for your health—it’s a conscious decision to minimise waste and reduce reliance on single-use plastics. That packet of egg whites might shave 30 seconds off your cooking time, but it adds to the landfill problem and strips you of the most nutritious part of the egg.

What to Buy Instead

If you’re trying to stick to a paleo way of eating, skip the supermarket middle aisle full of processed “health” products and instead head to the fresh food section. Here are a few simple swaps that make a big difference:

• Swap packet egg whites for whole eggs from pasture-raised hens. Enjoy the yolk for its rich vitamin A, D, E, and healthy fats.
• Skip avocado spread and buy whole avocados. Mash just before serving and add lemon juice to reduce browning.
• Avoid canned meat and buy fresh cuts. Roast extra at dinner and use leftovers for lunch instead of reaching for a can.
• Say no to “light” coconut milk. Instead, buy full-fat versions with no additives or simply make your own by blending shredded coconut with hot water.

Don’t Fall for the Trap

One of the best defences against these pointless products is education. When you understand how food is made and what goes into processing, it becomes easier to make informed choices. The more you read labels, research ingredients, and think critically about your food, the less likely you are to be swayed by shiny packaging and buzzwords.

Most of these items rely on the fact that people are time-poor or under-informed. But if you value your health, it’s worth asking: am I paying more for something that actually gives me less? Less nutrition. Less freshness. Less satisfaction.

Your Turn: What Would You Add?

There are plenty more “foods” that could be added to this list—from powdered peanut butter and instant scrambled eggs, to cauliflower in a bag and ready-made zucchini noodles that cost three times more than a whole zucchini. Supermarkets are full of examples where common sense has been replaced by marketing spin.

Have you come across a baffling product lately? Something that made you do a double take? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear what makes your list of most pointless “foods” and why. Let’s keep shining a light on food fads that make no sense—and keep championing real, whole, nourishing food instead.