Just because a food says it is healthy doesn’t mean it is so. Labels can be deceiving and a consumer’s perception of a product is sometimes opposite of what the food’s nutritional value actually is. Here are ten foods that appear to be healthy but are actually not very good for you.
- Reduced Fat Peanut Butter – Peanuts contain protein but are not a healthy option when they are mixed with sugar. Choose an almond butter or natural peanut butter instead. Then, pour off the oil and add a bit of olive oil instead.
- Multigrain Bread – Multigrain bread can contain plenty of white flour, despite its healthy name. Choose the Whole Grain bread for a healthier slice of toast!
- Fat Free Dressing – Any reduced fat or fat free salad dressing will contain more sugar than its counterpart. Try a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead.
- Smoothies – Packed with fruit and protein mix? Delicious. But take note of the sweetness of your smoothie. It is probably packed with plenty of sugar too.
- Fruit Juice – Fruit is wonderful, but it is even better without the sugar. Read labels before buying any fruit juice.
- Enhanced Water – They sound healthy, but probably contain more sugar and calories than you bargained for.
- Baked Beans – Legumes are heart healthy, but when canned as “baked beans” they are swimming in a sea of sugar.
- Low-Fat Milk – Did you know that whole milk contains 8 grams of fat while low-fat milk contains 5 grams? Skim milk has zero fat and will still give you the calcium you need.
- Low-fat Granola – As with most foods, low-fat can mean high sugar.
- Energy or Meal Bars – Look at the calorie content of any “health bars” you plan to buy. You might be surprised at calories.
