Sometimes in your best efforts to eat healthy and lose weight, you end up eating foods that are not all that great for you. I hear from friends and family all the time about the "great food choice" they just made for themselves and how "proud" they are about it. Now most of these things are better than the drive-thru lane at McDonalds, but in my head I'm thinking, "Oh no, you can't think these are healthy!" This isn't your fault, though!! Through media and advertising, companies are making you think what you're putting in your mouth is super healthy and good for you, when in reality there are much better choices for you. It can get really confusing!! So I'm going to help you by giving you a list of foods that might make you think, "SCORE! I'm eating healthy!" And THEN I'm going to give you the real lowdown on why you may want to think twice about consuming these foods and give you healthier alternatives.
1) Granola
Granola might sound like a super healthy carb to incorporate into your diet. It usually contains oatmeal (and other healthy grains) and raisins, so how can you go wrong with that, right? You can because granola is LOADED with sugar!!! Check out a label next time you're at the grocery store.Healthy alternative:Kashi Cereal
Kashi is my absolute favorite cereal. If you want granola, choose one of their cereals to sprinkle on your yogurt or mix with your fruit, etc. You'll be saving yourself a ton of calories and sugar while loading up on healthy whole grains, fiber, and even protein.
2) Flavored Yogurts
These yogurts contain unnecessary sugar, lots of preservatives, and artificial flavors. These preservatives and artificial flavors do absolutely nothing for you and your body doesn't know what to do with them. These yogurts also don't contain a whole lot of protein.Healthy alternative: Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt
This stuff rocks!! It's clean and has 22-25 grams of protein per serving. It also has a TON of potential for every meal of the day. You can sweeten it up with ingredients like fruit and honey or make it savory by adding herbs and spices to make a rockin' dip for your veggies. Play with it and see what you can come up with!
3) Protein Bars
Not all protein bars are created equal. There are SO many bars that are extremely high in calories, sugar, and preservatives. So when you're looking for a good protein bar make sure to check your labels for ingredients. Most of the time you'll just be eating a slightly healthier version of a candy bar.Healthy alternative: Homemade Protein Bars
Making protein bars at home is really quick and easy. Plus, you know exactly what's going in them. I also think they actually taste better and less like "diet food" if you make them yourself. There are plenty of recipes you can find online or in Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet books.
4) Smoothies
There are so many people that order these from restaurants and coffee shops thinking they are choosing the healthy alternative, but this is another one that is loaded with sugar and other foreign ingredients. Most places don't even use fresh fruit in their smoothies, but rather a commercial concentrated smoothie mix. And the calories are through the roof some more in the upward numbers of 500 calories!Healthy alternative:Homemade Smoothies
Making your own smoothie is just as easy (if not easier) than stopping somewhere to have one made for you and there is an endless supply of combinations and ingredients to choose from. You can add fruits, veggies, protein powder, yogurt, honey, oatmeal, wheat germ, or flaxseed. You name it and you could probably make a smoothie out of it. Your homemade smoothie will be extremely clean, extremely tasty, and keep you satisfied.
5) Salads
You might be proud about ordering a salad for lunch with your co-workers while everyone else is ordering burgers, but I can guarantee you're eating about as many calories as your co-workers are. Yes, most salads are healthy, but what isn't is the dressing they're all doused in and the garlic bread or rolls that may be served with them.Healthy alternative: Bring your own dressing
If you can, make your own salad, but if you know you're going to be going out to lunch or dinner with co-workers, friends, or family, tell the server to hold the dressing and ask for oil, vinegar, and lemon wedges, or bring your own light or fat-free dressing. THEN you can be proud about eating that salad.
So as you can see, it's really wise to make your own foods when you can. That may sound inconvenient, but it really isn't. Take the time on a Sunday for an hour or so to make some food for the next week or two and store it in the freezer in individual portions. Then when you need it, it's as simple as pulling it out for the day.
And when it comes to all the confusion about what's healthy and what's not, keep it simple, and don't fret it. Here's some easy tips:
1) Read your labels - If there's anything you can't pronounce, leave it on the shelf.
2) Shop the perimeter - Shopping the outer walls of your grocery store (for the most part) can give you a great idea of the clean food you should be shopping for.
3) Make a list - Sticking to a list will help keep you from straying into the "unhealthy" sections of the grocery store.
4) Read The Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Reno - This book is THE BEST guide for eliminating the confusion of what's clean and what isn't.
Article written: by Sherry French
