Almost anything from a fast food restaurant, or in a box that you microwave, or in a use-once bag / single-serve container is considered ultra-processed. These

Almost anything from a fast food restaurant, or in a box that you microwave, or in a use-once bag / single-serve container is considered ultra-processed. These tend to be a lot less expensive (because making them is much more efficient for the manufacturer) than regular foods, and are more readily available and time-convenient when compared to other foods. That's how you can easily get to 50% or more of your daily intake with them. If you're already short on time, or if you have several family members at home who need to be fed quickly, or if you have a lower income and cannot easily afford fresh food items and the utensils with which to prepare them, you will buy and eat lots of ultra-processed foods.