By Betty Gold and Grace Elkus While it's true that many shelf-stable foods are often loaded with preservatives (think condiments, lunch meats, and bags of chips), there are a number of good-for-you foods that last for a long time, too—au naturel. "In general, the more processed a food, the higher its content of fat, salt, sugar, calories, and/or cholesterol and the lower its content of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber," says registered dietitian Elizabeth Somer.