In the pursuit of healthy eating we can sometimes forget that unhealthy foods can come from the most unlikely of places. Knowing some of the unhealthy “health” foods to avoid will save you money as well as your waistline. Below are 5 of the biggest culprits found in your local grocery store.
Pre-flavored Yogurts
Isadora Baum, health coach and founder of Live for You Now Coaching, says while yogurt is a good source of calcium and protein it is best to avoid some pre-flavored yogurts as they contain as much sugar as candy bar. Stick to plain Greek yogurt and flavor it yourself with some fruit and honey.
Vegetable Chips
While the word vegetable or “veggie” is in the name you’ll find a long list of unhealthy additives says Cynthia Sass, RD and author of Slim Down Now. Furthermore, that serving of “veggie” chips contains about the same number of calories as potato chips.
Salad Dressings
One of the more obvious “healthy” foods to avoid as they are filled with processed oils, sugar, and other additives says Megan Roosevelt, RD and found and host of The Healthy Grocery Girl Cooking Show. Your best bet is to make your own with some herbs, olive oil, and vinegar. This will be healthier for your diet and less on your wallet.
Juices
Not just any juices but cold-pressed juices. RD and nutritionist Natalie Rizzo says juicing a fruit or vegetable strips out most of the good fiber in the produce leaving you with little more the sugars. Even though a juice can contain multiple fruits and/or vegetables your body can only process a limited amount of nutrients at a time. You’re better off consuming the whole fruit or vegetable. This way you don’t miss out on the beneficial nutrients it contains.
Gluten-Free Foods
Gluten-free seems to be the new trend in “healthy” dieting but unless you have been diagnosed with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease there is no advantage to buying gluten-free packaged foods according to Samantha Lynch, RD. These types of foods tend to come at additional cost and your diet would be best served avoiding food items sold in bags or boxes.
Just because a food is perceived as healthy doesn’t mean it is. Not only is it a burden on your diet it is also just as heavy on your wallet. As they say, “don’t judge a book by its cover.”