(1) CEREAL
Cereal boxes often contain healthy advertisements on the front, promoting “whole grain,” “gluten free,” “high fiber,” “vitamins and minerals,” and other things like that can be quite misleading. With cereal, it is very important to read the labels. In general, cereal is high in sugar and even sodium and contain nutrient-poor calories. The serving sizes of cereals are usually between 3/4 of a cup and 1 cup, which is often far exceeded in a typical breakfast meal. For breakfast, instead of cereal, opt for an option high in protein, such as egg/eggwhites with a side of otameal and fruit added for natural sugar.
(2) GRANOLA BARS
Granola bars are a healthy snack…or so I was told my entire childhood. Not true most of the time! Most granola bars are really sugary sweets and not healthy treats. Granola bars are convenient, especially on the go, but if you take a look at the label, they are often sugar-packed and contain a plethora of artificial ingredients. The vast majority contain corn syrups – a major blood sugar raiser. Try to avoid these grab and go options and reach for something like fresh veggies instead.
(3) YOGURT
Yogurts are another go-to I see a lot because they are sweet and taste. The reality is some yogurts contain up to 20g of sugar. Natural or not, that’s a lot! The fat free advertisement on the front doesn’t make it any healthier…added sugar, corn syrups, and artificial sweeteners are common in yogurts. While Greek yogurt is high and protein and even something I enjoy on occasion, I’ve found dairy protein (lactose) to be something that irritates my belly and the bellies of many others, causing bloating, so I suggest yogurt in moderation.
(4) FROZEN MEALS (lean Cuisine, Smart Ones, etc.)
I was once someone who “dieted” off Lean Cuisines and felt great knowing I only ate 320 calories for dinner. Calories are just one facet of the meal; frozen meals, while often low in calories, are typically very high in sodium. Between the additives, preservatives, and process foods, there isn’t much healthy about this convenient option. Instead, I suggest food preparation (pre-preparing your meals 1-2x per week) as a better option to have a grab and go meal when needed.
Dried fruits are also thought of as healthy foods when in fact some have a high sugar ratio.
Awesome to add!
ahhh I remember my younger days of eating 100 calorie packs of oreos, slimfast bars, and "diet" versions of everything thinking I was being so healthy! makes me laugh to think back on my naive ways but we all start somewhere and it definitely is quite a journey!
Shelley,
Haha I did the exact same thing too! Except those darn 100 calorie packs were never enough so I'd have 2-3 lol. It is pretty cool to look back, and I also think in a few years, I may look back on this moment and think "what was she thinking eating this instead of that." It's a fun journey!
How do you feel about Brown Rice Pasta? I saw it in your picture on Instagram and bought some at trader joes the other day…after reading the ingredients itseemed great. But then I did a bit of research and realized that it's not better if not worse than whole wheat. What are your thoughts? http://youtu.be/GvzcNgTmbQE
http://www.prevention.com/which-healthier-whole-wheat-or-gluten-free-pasta
Great points made! I totally agree with everything. I feel like people really buy into marketing tricks. Whole grain, organic, gluten-free.. it doesn't always mean healthy/nutritious.
Thank you – I'm glad you liked it! I totally agree with your label comment – when I was experiencing gluten problems, my mom and I would go through the grocery store to find gluten free items, she would pick up chips and say "it says gluten free" lol…still doesn't make it healthy! Great comment!
XO
Awesome, awesome post, Lauren. I see that so much, everywhere. Like low cal = healthy. It's amazing. I've been eating real foods, and big portions because you can eat more when it's whole & natural! Thanks so much for this 🙂
Thank you…I'm glad it was helpful. I agree…I eat more nutrient dense food because I'm counting nutritional benefits not calories!
XO
Oh I used to eat granola bars all the time as a kid. We are cutting dairy out of our family's diet because it can be so hard on your stomach. And to think that people still think low cal = healthy is amazing to me.
Hi Tiffany,
Good for you! That's amazing! I know what it's like to think low cal is healthy, and it was not only completely unhealthy, but also a miserable way to live lol.
XO
It's so crazy how differently you view "foods" when you actually pay attention to what it truly is!
Very nice post. I believe that we should always pay attention to what we eat and not just rely on its label. I was guilty of that before, I never read the nutritional content of the food I buy as long as it has the word healthy on the packaging, Now I can say I've become more smarter in terms of my food choices because I also experienced gaining weight from foods that I thought was healthy and will help me lose weight. Being healthy takes a lot of effort, reading the labels and its nutritional value is just one of them.
Regards,
Olivia