Unfortunately, no matter how good a dish seems, especially when combined with trendy buzzwords like “all-natural,” “gluten-free,” and “live active cultures,” it can still be unhealthy for you.
Those words are simply a small part of a much broader food puzzle. While the phrases are correct, they do not automatically qualify the item as healthy. After all, a gluten-free, cholesterol-free, organic cookie can still be heavy in calories, fat, and sugar.
Here are some foods that seem healthy but aren’t:
1. Multi-Grain Bread
Many people choose multigrain or seven-grain breads because they believe they are more nutrient-dense. The truth is that the initial component in the majority of these breads is still unbleached, enriched wheat flour. These breads may contain whole grains, but they are an afterthought rather than the primary event. Breads with the word “enriched” at the front of the ingredient list should be avoided. The term refers to the process of stripping nutrients from grains and then adding them back in to compensate for the loss. Choose breads with whole grains as the initial ingredient, such as whole wheat.
2. Flatbread
If you choose a wrap instead of bread for your sandwich, you might believe you’re going slim. However, whether you’re eating flatbread, lavash, or tortillas, it’s likely that they have more calories than two slices of standard sandwich bread. The reason is that not only are the wraps large, but they also lack the air (or yeast!) that causes conventional bread to rise, making them more dense. Don’t be duped by spinach or tomato variants. There may be a hint of spinach or tomato flavor, but not enough to make a difference nutritionally.
3. Flavored yogurts
Yogurt has earned a place in the health food hall of fame because it is one of the few foods that is naturally high in probiotics, or “good bacteria” that safeguard your gut flora. But not all yogurt is healthy, and frozen yogurt isn’t much different from ice cream. It’s not just heavy in sugar, but it’s also frequently topped with unhealthy toppings like crumbled Oreo cookies and gummy bears. Sugar traps include yogurt-covered items like pretzels, raisins, and peanuts. Flavored yogurts, particularly those aimed at children, are often high in sugar. Select plain low-fat Greek yogurt and season with fresh berries, bananas, and other whole fruit.
4. Energy bars
Most energy bars have the same sugar, calorie, and fat content as a typical candy bar, especially those that are coated in chocolate. They may appear nutritious, with ingredients ranging from brown rice syrup to added fiber, but they are nothing more than conveniently packaged calories.
Choose bars with simple, easily identifiable components. Bars, for example, are made with a combination of nuts, seeds, and honey to keep them together. And if you’re attempting to lose weight, you might search for something entirely different. Energy = calories, and all energy bars are high in calories.
5. Crunchy snacks
Whether you’re snacking on pretzels, veggie straws, sweet potato chips, or kale chips with sea salt, you’re probably getting a lot of calories but not much nourishment. The majority of these packaged snacks contain refined grains, such as enhanced wheat flour, maize flour, or soy flour. While there may be some vegetables in these snacks, they are mainly in powdered form and are far from a full serving.
If you’re looking for crunch, cut raw vegetables into sticks or rounds, such as carrots, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers. You may make a balanced snack by dipping it in hummus or peanut butter.
6. Dried fruit
Most people know that fruit snacks packaged for kids are little more than sugar and fruit juice, but dried fruit can also be problematic. Fruit that’s dried often lacks the water-soluble nutrients of its fresh, canned, or frozen counterparts and is calorie-dense. With the water removed, it’s easy to overeat.
7. Plant-based milk
Many people believe that plant-based milk such as soy, almond, and rice milk are superior to cow’s milk. These milks, however, do not have the same nutritious profile as cow’s milk. Furthermore, many plant-based milks, particularly flavored kinds, are high in fat and sugar.
Unless you have a severe allergy or taste aversion, choose cow’s milk over fortified plant-based variants.
8. Granola
Most granola products are high in fat and sugar, whether you’re sprinkling it on your yogurt or eating a granola bar. Sure, they start with healthy components like rolled oats, dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, which are all full of nutrients. However, manufacturers wrap those ingredients in some kind of sweetener (sugar, molasses, honey, and corn syrup are prominent options) and bake them in oil.
Try some muesli! Muesli contains all of the healthy elements found in granola but without the sugar and oil. Some varieties are made out entirely of nuts, seeds, rolled oats, and spices. You can also prepare your own granola or granola bars with a small amount of sweetener and oil.
9. Reduced-fat peanut butter
These highly processed spreads contain the same amount of calories as traditional peanut butter, but the fat has been substituted with fillers and sugar. Many producers are now adding high-calorie flavorings, such as chocolate or strawberry, to these reduced-fat butter.
Choose genuine nut butter over imitations. In small amounts, the fat in nut butter is really beneficial to your heart.
10. Sports drinks
If you run a marathon or work out for more than two hours every day, you may require a sports drink to replenish electrolytes. Sports drinks, on the other hand, aren’t necessary for the ordinary American, and they’re an additional source of sugar in an already calorie-laden diet.
Hydrate with water rather than caffeinated beverages. Not only will you quench your thirst in a healthy way, but you’ll also avoid an unneeded financial hit.