When it comes to eating right, there are so many things you need to consider. It is essential that you understand that all kinds of food being labelled as being healthy are not actually healthy. So here’s us bursting the bubble and presenting the actual facts on why you should be avoiding eating certain kinds of foods which are actually going to cause you to have a very poor appetite and will affect your diet and lifestyle in the long run. Social Diary is giving you the top 10 food choices which you probably should be avoiding:
Microwave popcorn
Packaged popcorn can have high levels of a chemical called diacetyl and not to mention the unnecessary sodium. Stick to the old-fashioned style and pop your kernels on the stove.
Light salad dressing
Although the label may say “light”, the ingredient list on light salad dressing is still packed full of preservatives, sodium, and sugars. It’s best to try substituting your dressings with extra virgin olive oil or balsamic vinegar.
Trail mix
Prepackaged or not, a “yummy” trail mix is going to be filled with salt and sugars from flavored nuts and chocolate. Read the labels carefully, a small handful could be as much as 300 calories!
Flavored, fat-free yogurt
Although it may be fat-free, from just one 6-ounce serving, there could be 15 grams of sugar. As an alternative, garnish a fat-free Greek yogurt with fresh fruit or honey.
Low-fat foods
Low-fat foods have the fat reduced during the manufacturing process. But removing the fat also removes the flavor. To boost the flavor, low-fat foods are often packed with added sugar and salt. As such, reaching for low-fat foods is not as healthy as you might think.
Wheat bread
Bread that is actually healthy for you will say “100% whole wheat” as well as have at least two grams of fiber per slice. If the bread doesn’t say it’s completely whole wheat, there’s a chance the majority of the bread is white flour with just enough wheat flour to pass with looks.
Gluten-free products
Having the label “gluten-free” doesn’t automatically mean a product is healthy. Instead, stick to naturally gluten-free foods such as fruits, vegetables, and brown rice.
Frozen dinners
Although the idea of having portioned veggies, meats and grains made up for you sounds like an easy way to be healthy, it really isn’t. Compared to fresh foods, fruits, and vegetables, frozen meals contain preservatives and often, too much sodium.
Pretzels
They might seem like the perfect, healthy, “fat-free” snack on-the-go, but pretzels actually have close to zero nutritional value. Once eaten, pretzels spike your blood sugar levels and leave you hungry for more.
Veggie chips
Veggie chips are not really vegetables at all. In fact, after all of the processing that the vegetables are put through, almost all of the nutritional value from them is no longer present. If you’re looking for a crunchy snack, try roasting some of your favorite vegetables.
Protein bars
Although the word “protein” is included in the name, that’s not a reason to deem any food healthy. Most protein bars are only a few calories and grams of sugar away from being categorized as a candy bar.
Smoothies
Using fresh fruit, veggies and nutrient-based additives, such as flaxseed, smoothies can be a great way to make a healthy breakfast smoothie. However, this isn’t how they’re usually made outside of your own kitchen. Artificially flavored powder, extra sugar, and even ice cream are sometimes used.
