Foods that Are Not as Healthy as You Might Think
You may have read Dr Seuss' Red Fish Blue Fish, but did you ever ask yourself how they got to be that color? Never mind the green eggs and ham.
I bet, like many, you have fallen pray to food advertising. There are lots of commercials on TV that are meant to give us the impression that certain foods are good for us, good for weight loss, all natural, organic or healthy in some way. The truth is, there are few guidelines for what manufacturers can call "good."
You need to read the freakin' label (RTFL)! It is not about calories as much as it is about ingredients.
I just want to say I am not a health food or organic fanatic, however; when you get to be my age, some of the wear-and-tear of unhealthy food consumption becomes more apparent.
Here is my list of foods I thought were going to help me lose weight, get healthy and look like Arnold.
Breakfast Cereals: Cereals that are made from whole grains are the best. Even some of those have sugar, salt and chemically based minerals.
I prefer to make my own breakfast sandwich; Whole wheat mini-begal, a poached egg and a piece of salmon with a slice of cheese. I also eat a few cups of Kashi brand cereal each week for the high fiber - because fiber makes me more manly in the men's locker room.
Yogurt: There are so many choices it's mind boggling. First, non-Greek yogurts are not as healthy as Greek yogurts. Second, many of the no- or low-fat ones are loaded with sugar, and they toss in a little fruit to make you feel good about eating it.
My favorite is plain Greek yogurt; it's an acquired taste. I use it in place of sour cream, and I add my own fresh or frozen fruit, granola, or a squirt of lemon or lime juice.
Even among the better known brands such as Chobani and Fage, you still need to RTFLl! Beware, the other yogurt manufacturers are getting in on the deal, and it is harder to make good choices.
One question, when was key lime pie or cheesecake healthy? When it was yogurt! Right.
Bread: Whole grain or whole wheat really means almost nothing on a package. Dark bread can still contain trans-fats and carbs, which; can keep you from obtaining your weight loss goals.
I like Ezekiel bread, but I limit to a few slices a week if that. I also eat whole wheat mini bagels and Joseph's flax & oat pitas.
Sandwiches: It is hard to make a healthy sandwich. As I already stated, too much bread, even the good stuff is not the best use of your calories. Add to that processed meats such as turkey, ham, and other cold cuts, along with dressings, and the potential for disaster awaits. If you are going to have sandwiches, think half, and find a soup or suitable nutritious companion.
You can substitute Greek yogurt with a little vinegar for mayo, and hummus or goat cheese make great spreads. Then plop on some spinach instead of lettuce, a little tomato and onion... aren't' you hungry?
Fruit Juice: Can you say added sugars? Many, with the exception of pulp retained juice (which I think has a weird texture), offer a fraction of the value of the real fruit!
Water is your friend!
Frozen Diet Meals: I find nothing wrong with frozen fruit and vegetables. It is the dinners from the diet chains and so called "lean meals". First, most are filled with sodium. They may be 400 calories, but they lack whole grains, and many have processed meat and the wrong sort of carbs.
It's best to cook and freeze leftovers that you have carefully chosen the ingredients for.
Sports/Energy Drinks: Caffeine, sugar, and possibly some electrolytes, but not much else. It is best to fuel up for your workouts with some carbs, and replenish your body with protein when you are done. (Some folks say carbs after - no argument with me).
If you are a long distance runner or bicyclist, there are some other considerations, just not your average sports and energy drinks.
Fast Food Salads: High calorie dressings; many with sugar, croutons made with white flour and poor quality vegetables and even fried chicken - diet ouch! You are probably better off ordering a double cheeseburger!
Granola/Protein Bars: Good granola bars consist of healthy oats and sometimes nuts. The problem is what they are held together with. Some bars even contain chocolate chips which makes it a candy bar.
Cheese: This is another one that can make or break your weight loss. There are some cheeses that are low in fat, and low in sodium. Goat cheese is probably the best choice. Again RTFL!
I can assure you that Cheez-Its are not on my list!
Diet Soda: They contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Just do a little Googling.
Water is great, and sparkling water with a twist of citrus or other fruit can make it a little more interesting. My friend at work drinks it with cucumber and mint.
OK, so what are you eating that you are certain is good for you?
As always, I am humbled by the votes and comments.
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And if you are looking for super foods, HERE is my list!
Great post my friend. Many are still in the dark about what is actually healthy versus what is marketed as healthy.
The foods I eat aren't advertised.
Keep 'em comin'.
I make my own bread. I use half white flour and half whole wheat flour(because I have a very picky daughter and we are slowly transitioning her over to 100% whole wheat). I use REAL (unsalted) butter in the bread and I make it with good old water instead of milk. I am then able to slice it to my desired thickness(pretty thin actually) which makes it less calories. It is the best bread ever.
There are a few other things we do to be healthier too like eating fresh fruits and veggies as much as possible and making as much homemade things as we can.
To replace pigging out in between major meals, I'm having protein shakes. 5-6 small meals a day.
Drinking enough is a chore, so I mix it up with water, tea, lemon & stevia, and isagenix drinks.
Yogurt, cheese, red wine and cocoa on the occasion.
Weakness for chocolate & ice cream, so what else is new? :)
I pretty much shop at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or a few other small health food stores in the area. If you are shopping there, its pretty much a no brainer, you're not going to get chemicals in your foods. It takes the fear factor out of it. That doesn't mean though that the foods they sell will be fat free or low in calories, or won't have large amounts salt and sugar. It's just not going to be refined and they aren't going to use fake sweeteners, which are terrible. A few years back a study proved that the ingredients in diet soda mixed with your enzymes, chemically formulated into FORMALDEHYDE!!! Yeah, pretty scary.
If it comes from mother nature, it was put here by God for you to eat. If it doesn't come from mother nature, then you probably shouldn't be eating it. That doesn't mean genetically modified, that means, grown the way it should be. Just because it looks like a tomato, doesn't necessarily mean it is a tomato, unfortunately.