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You are here: Home / Natural Health / Eight Healthy Foods that Aren’t Really Healthy

August 1, 2018 · 9 Comments

Eight Healthy Foods that Aren’t Really Healthy

Natural Health

Do you think you eat healthy foods and healthy recipes? Here are Eight Healthy Foods that Arenโ€™t Really Healthy.

8 Healthy Foods that Aren't Really Healthy

If your healthy diet includes lots of salads, granola bars and wraps, Iโ€™ve got some bad news. The foods youโ€™re eating may not be as good for you as they seem. Despite their nutritious reputations, many so-called healthy foods are packed with calories, fats and carbs you wouldnโ€™t expect upon first glance.

Here are a handful of the worst offenders:

    • Smoothies
      Smoothies have mastered the art of marketing themselves as a healthy alternative to other sweet treats. While thereโ€™s something inherently healthier about indulging in a fruit-based drink than a big bowl of ice cream, theyโ€™re still often packed with sugar, making them a less-than-ideal choice if youโ€™re watching your waistline. Steer clear of juice-based drinks from smoothie shops and stick to a healthier base of water to keep things balanced.

    • Granola bars
      There are definitely some good-for-you granola bars on the market, but many of them arenโ€™t too far off from candy bars in terms of nutritional content. Most granola bars are loaded with sugars and carbs, and while nuts do add a healthy element to the mix, theyโ€™re high in fat content. Stick to granola bars comprised of oats, seeds and natural sweeteners.

    • Wraps
      People often opt for wraps thinking theyโ€™re a healthier alternative to normal old sandwich bread, but theyโ€™re wrong. The flatbreads or tortillas used for wraps are far denser than regular bread and can pack twice the calories of the standard slices. Stick to normal bread โ€“ or better yet, opt for a whole-wheat pita.

    • Salads
      Donโ€™t get me wrong โ€“ when prepared properly, a salad can be an incredibly healthy addition to your diet and a great way to fill up without too many calories. However, if your idea of a salad is a bunch of iceberg lettuce drowning in dressing, you arenโ€™t doing yourself any favors.

      Most salad dressings are packed with fats and sugars, and if youโ€™re primarily chowing down on lettuce, youโ€™re eating lots of empty calories.

    • Fruit and veggie chips
      Whether you get these as chips, sticks or some other dehydrated and processed snack, these foods donโ€™t pack the same nutritional punch as their fresh counterparts.

      It can be easy to think these snacks offer a healthy alternative to potato chips and other high-carb, high-fat snacks, but many pack nearly the same fat content as standard chips, and they often come loaded with sodium, too.

    • Gluten-free anything
      Glutenโ€™s reputation has soured over the last few years, thanks to an apparent uptick in the number of people who feel they shouldnโ€™t be eating the stuff. While this is definitely true if you suffer from celiac disease or another condition that keeps your body from processing gluten, avoiding gluten in your diet needlessly wonโ€™t necessarily make you feel better.
    • Frozen yogurt
      As summer approaches, itโ€™s common to indulge in a few sweet treats now and again, and ice cream tops most folksโ€™ list of cool snacks to indulge in on a hot day. However, frozen yogurt has made a name for itself in recent years, largely by marketing itself as a healthy alternative to traditional ice cream. While a plain frozen yogurt is a little better for you than a bowl of vanilla ice cream, itโ€™s easy to go awry and overload your treat with sugary add-ons at the choose-your-own-toppings bar.

  • Microwave Popcorn
    When asked to name some healthy snacks, popcorn is one that comes to mind easily. The kernels in the ready-to-microwave bags come coated with loads of added fats and sodium, along with other fun-sounding chemicals. Steer clear of this stuff and stick to all-natural popcorn instead. Whether you invest in an air popper or prep your popcorn in a pot on the stovetop, adding your own seasonings is a smart choice.

Are you guilty of convincing yourself these foods are good for you? Which is your favorite offender on the list? Have you found any ways to make your favorite treats a little more health-conscious? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shirley says

    August 7, 2018 at 9:40 pm

    This is why I read labels. I do love my fruit smoothies but I don’t drink them to cut calories. I drink the because they are delicious. I make mine very simple with frozen fruit, juice and on a rare occasion a drop of honey. Thanks for partying with us at Merry Monday. See ya next week!

    Reply
    • Vicki says

      August 8, 2018 at 6:22 pm

      Hi Shirley! I know, I love smoothies for their taste, not anything else. I’d rather drink my fruit than eat it. Though I do tend to add spinach to them for some added benefits. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  2. Vanessa says

    August 9, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party. You are one of the features for this coming Sunday party. Thank you again.

    Reply
  3. Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies says

    August 10, 2018 at 8:54 am

    I hadn’t realised that popcorn was so unhealthy – gutted!! Oh well, another snack hits the dust! Thanks for the tips – I very much enjoyed the food porn (made me feel hungry) haha xx

    Reply
    • Vicki says

      August 10, 2018 at 10:55 am

      Haha Maria! So sorry but really it is important to know this stuff, right? ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  4. Catherine Sokolowski says

    August 12, 2018 at 8:50 pm

    Had to read your post when I saw a pic of the popcorn. I have switched to popping our own popcorn in a brown sandwich bag then adding a small amount of olive oil and salt. It now becomes a healthier snack than microwaving Orville’s!

    Reply
    • Vicki says

      August 13, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Yes! That’s so good to hear Catherine!

      Reply
  5. Jann Olson says

    August 13, 2018 at 11:26 pm

    I’ve often thought that about smoothies. I’d rather have a meal than drink one. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
    • Vicki says

      August 16, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      haha Jann! I actually would rather drink my fruit than eat it so smoothies work for me, knowing full well the sugar content from the juice.

      Reply

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Hello! Welcome to Five Spot Green Living! I am a New England mama of 3 kids, 2 dogs, 4 kitties and passionate about sharing tips for a healthy mind, body & soul. I grew up in the great state of New Hampshire and write about all things healthy and natural to help you live your best life.
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