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There are many snacks that seem to be “healthy” until you take a closer look. These snacks can harm your perception of food in general, making you think you are making a diet-friendly decision when the reality is actually the opposite. Although you should feel free to indulge in any foods you want (whether they are considered healthy or not), it can be challenging when snacks that you assume are “good for you” are actually packed with added sugars and empty calories.
Granola is one of the worst culprits of this mislabeling. Keep reading to understand why.
Granola
Granola is often considered a healthy snack, especially among those who are aiming to lose weight. However, the reality is that granola can be a surprising source of added sugar, so labeling this snack as "healthy" might be misleading.
In fact, nutritionist Anju Mobin, who writes for Best of Nutrition, explains that loading up on high-sugar granola could even lead to a crash later in the day. She tells SheFinds, "Granola bars are often advertised as a healthy snack to fill an empty stomach. But in reality, they are rich in simple sugars that can only cause a crash after a few hours."
Besides the potential sugar crash, too much granola can also lead to other problems, particularly for those trying to lose weight and enter a calorie deficit.
When buying granola at the store, keep an eye on the nutrition labels. Many popular brands contain more calories and sugar than you'd expect, especially for something widely considered "healthy."
Likewise, if granola is your go-to snack while dieting, it's probably time to reconsider.
At the very least, you should be double checking your favorite granola brands for how much sugar and calories are in each serving and adjusting your intake levels accordingly. The next step would be to start making your own granola recipe at home, so you can control exactly what is going into your body.
One healthy granola recipe you should try is this one from Cookie and Kate. It only takes about 5 minutes of prep time, and can relieve you of the stress that goes into purchasing a so-called "healthy" food only to read the label when you get home and realize you were misled.
