Heathly Foods That Aren't

I didn't really know any of this until Erik told me and until I started getting interested in health and nutrition myself. Now I love to read things like this. So after doing a bunch of reading on my own and learning from Erik, I decided to compile some healthy foods that aren't: (more to come later) ...

Most granola bars ...
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"Most granola bars are simply candy bars in disguise, with very little fiber, lots of processed carbs, and a ton of sugar. You're better off making your own healthier version from raw oats, chopped almonds, cocunut flakes, raisins and a dollop of raw organic honey" -- I don't often eat granola bars these days but when I do, it's usually Quaker chewy granola bars with proten or with less sugar.



Supermarket Cereal



"Most supermarket cereals are fiber lightweights and are also loaded with sugar. Check the labels and choose cereals that have fewer than 5 grams of sugar and more than 5 grams of fiber per serving." -- (Not to mention the fact that most servings sizes of cereals are actually usually aonly about half a cup). I personally love Original Fiber One cereal with some frozen berries, cinnamon, and almond milk.



Apple Juice, and other fruit juices












Most apple juice and other fruit juices is nothing more than sugar water with apple flavoring. One cup of apple juice has no fiber, 117 calories and 27 grams of sugar. And most peopel consume way more than a cup at a time. Stick to fiber-rich apples and skip the juice. -- (You can enjoy the real fruit for longer and it seems like you're getting more anyways.)


Diet Pop










"When it comes to misleading consumers about weight loss, one the worst offenders is diet soda. Sure, there are 0 grams of fat, carbohydrates and cholesterol, but there are also 0 grams of protein and dietary fiber, nutrients essential for maintaining good health. The sole item with any value listed on the nutrional label is sodium, and most diet sodas have around 30 milligrams of it. Experts believe a diet high in sodium may contribute to developing high blood pressure. And some research has inked diet soft drinks to weight gain. As on occasional treat (or to wean yourself off the regular stuff), diet soda may be okay, but the best beverage for weight loss in general is water."


Muffins








"Bran muffins are comprised of two things your body doesn't want in the morning: sugar and refined flour. Both will work to spike your blood sugar, which signals your body to start storing fat and sets you up for a mid-morning crash. And with only trace amounts of fiber, there's nothing healthy about this misunderstood muffin. "




Yogurt with fruit at the bottom










"You wouldn't start your morning with a can of Coke, would you? Then you should pass on these troublesome yogurt cups, since they contain as much sugar as a soft drink. Almost all of that comes directly from the "fruit", which is mostly high-fructose corn syrup. Yogurt and fruit can be a great way to start your day, but do it by mising a cup of nonfat plain yogurt with a half cup of mixed berries."



Caesar Salds and Other Restaurant Salads










"Caesar salads suffer the consequences of two natural disasters: a flood of fatty dressing and a blizzard of Parmesan cheese and croutons. Even a Caesar side salad before a meal can cost you up to 500 calories. Skip the emporer treatment in favor of a simple grilled chicken breast tossed in a bed of mnised greens tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette. The vinaigrette is a vast inprovement over the treacherous Caesar dressing, and the absence of a Parmesan sea means that you'll save nearly and entire meal's worth of calories by making this simple swap."