Five Healthy Sounding Foods That Really Aren’t

Some foods that sound like healthy chooses, really aren’t that nutritious. These five healthy sounding foods have a lot less nutrition than you may think.

There are many reasons to eat food, and not all of them have to do with health. Sometimes, a delicious piece of chocolate cake is just what the doctor ordered. But, it’s important to know the different between a food with health benefits, and a food that you eat just because it tastes good. Some foods sound like health foods, when really, they don’t provide much nutrition at all.  Check out these five foods that not all foods that sound healthy are actually goods for us.

 

Fruit Snacks

With the first ingredient as fruit concentrate puree, they may seem like a healthy choice.  The problem is, it’s not necessarily made from fruit. Many fruit snacks are formulated from fruit juice concentrate, leaving them loaded with extra sugar while missing the fiber, phytochemicals and other vitamins and minerals that make fruit nutritious.  Many varieties also contain additives, artificial flavors, colors and even trans-fats in the ingredients list.

Veggie Chips

Veggie sticks sound like a great way to incorporate more nutrition into your diet, but sadly, that’s not the case. The main ingredient in most veggie sticks, crisps and chips are potato or corn flour, plus a little vegetable powder or puree, with the key word being little. The processing that goes into making some healthy sounding foods can destroy most of the nutrients that was contained in the regular vegetable, making them similar in nutrition to a regular potato chips. Sodium can also be a concern in this snack food. Some varieties of veggie chips and sticks contain more sodium than regular potato chips.

Fruit Juice

Juice made from 100% fruit can be a great way to increase the vitamin C in your diet, and is a great source of potassium, too. The problem is, it doesn’t fill you up the same way fruit does, and it can be easy to overdo it. Fruit juice provides a concentrated source of sugar, but it lacks the fiber that helps promote feeling of fullness.  Drinking calories can lead to over-consumption, especially for those struggling with hunger.  The serving size for most types of juice is only ½ cup (4-ounces.)  That’s equivalent of a small or medium piece of fruit.  It’s a lot easier to gulp down 12-ounces of orange juice than it is to eat 3 oranges, yet they are equivalent in calories. If you drink juice, stick to a 4-ounce serving. Juice is, however, a good option for those trying to increase their daily calories without feeling full.

Caesar Salad

Don’t let the word salad fool you.  Caesar salads are made with Romaine lettuce, topped croutons, Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing. One small salad can easily provide 300-400 calories and 25-30 g fat. Larger entrée salads even more. The real culprit is the salad dressing.  Two-tablespoon of Caesar dressing alone is ~120 calories, 12 grams of fat, 2.5 grams saturated fat, and 380 milligrams of sodium to your salad. And, many people pour on double that amount.   In addition, one-half cup of croutons contains about 100 calories and one-fourth cup of shredded Parmesan provides another 100 calories. The real issue, though, not one of the ingredients in this salad can be classified as nutrient-rich. You get a lot of calorie, fat and sodium, without a lot of nutrition. Caesar salads do taste great, though. If you want one, have it, just understand you are not eating a health food.

Multi-Grain Bread

While “multi-grain” bread may sound full of whole grain goodness, not all multi-grain breads contain whole grains.  Many are made with refined grains and lack the heart-healthy benefits of the whole grain.  To be sure you are getting the best bread for your buck, read the ingredients list.  If the ingredient is listed as bleached wheat or unbleached enriched wheat flour, you are not getting 100% whole grains with your bread selection.  Rather look for the words “whole grain” or “whole wheat.” Read more about how to find whole grains here.

ARe you surprosed by any of these healthy sounding foods?