All of us have decided, at some point in our lives, that we need to start making better food choices and start eating a healthier diet. This is followed by finding ways to revamp healthy foods that may bore our palettes by adding dressings, switching to organic, or using different types of sweeteners. What most people don’t realize is that these seemingly “healthy” switches oftentimes lead us to have worse diets than before. Don’t you fret, we are here to help you on your health journey by identifying the top 10 foods that aren’t as healthy as you may think!
Granola
Granola is seen as a healthy breakfast option or even a good snack. Unknown to most consumers, it is high in calories and sugar content. Many of the granolas that you can purchase at your local grocery store are made with butter, vegetable oil, and white sugar, making them 400+ calories in just a cup. If you are looking to switch out your breakfast cereals for granola, it is better to make it at home.
Green Juice
Pressed juice that you buy in the health-food section of your local grocery store may contain high amounts of fruits and vegetables, but it is loaded with sugars as well. Juicing takes out all the fiber in the fruits and vegetables that make you feel full and then condenses all that sugar into one bottle that you drink in just one sitting. When looking at green juices, look at the label and make sure it has less than 15g of carbs and only one serving of fruit. Make sure it is mostly just vegetables.
Veggie Chips
There are veggie chips out there that really are just dried vegetables, which are great. More often than not, however, veggie chips are regular potato chips with vegetable powder added in for coloring. These kinds of veggie chips are just as fattening as the potato chips you are trying to substitute, along with high sodium and carbohydrate levels. If you are wanting to switch out potato chips for veggie chips, choose to make them at home. Just thinly slice your vegetable of choice, drizzle with olive oil, and bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
Smart Cereals
There are numerous cereals that claim to be “smart” and “healthy” but when their ingredients are exposed, they are not much different than the sugary cereals that kids eat. The cereals that claim to be “whole-grain” contain more sugar and calories than the whole-grain foods that don’t sport the claim on the front of the box. Always look at the ingredients, don’t take these health claims at face value.
Quinoa Pasta
Quinoa, in itself, is a natural superfood packed with protein and few carbohydrates and sugars. Sadly, most quinoa pasta contains more cornflour in their ingredients than anything else. This means that it has more calories, more carbs, and less protein than regular wheat pasta. When looking at quinoa pasta, make sure it contains just one ingredient, quinoa flour.
Pre-Prepared Salads
While salad, in any form, is healthier than fried chicken or a candy bar, that doesn’t mean it is healthy. Most pre-packaged salads contain over 1,000 calories and are packed with sodium in the cheese, croutons, meats, and dressing. Read the ingredients listed and the sodium content before buying. It is also always healthier and cheaper to make your own salad at home and pack it for lunch.
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is a go-to sweet for many health-conscious people. Unfortunately, they are full of sugars and preservatives that extend their shelf-life and are bad for your body. Be sure to read the nutrition facts on dried fruit before buying.
Sugar-Free Foods
“Sugar-Free” does not mean there are no added sweeteners, it just means they are artificial. Aspartame is the most widely used sugar-replacement and is linked to weight gain and stomach issues. When changing your diet to include less sugar, opt for zero-sugar products over sugar-free.
Hummus
Though it is made from chickpeas, which are healthy, store-bought hummus is also filled with salt and fat. It is also chronically overeaten, a serving size being a small 2 tablespoons. Most store-brand hummus dips contain more salt than what is recommended by the FDA.
Protein Bars
More often than not, the protein bar you are eating to supplement your workout or use as a meal replacement has just as much sugar as a regular candy bar with a few extra grams of protein. You are getting in some extra protein, but it is packed with an extensive amount of sugar and trans fat. If you are looking into adding more protein into your diet, it is better to add in eggs, beans, fish, or poultry after your workout.
