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It’s no secret that navigating healthy food to eat is no easy task when you’re on a weight loss journey. Let’s face it, some “unhealthy” food is actually okay to eat in moderation, and food you’ve believed to be “healthy” and safe to eat while dieting sometimes does more harm than good.
There are plenty of unexpected “healthy” ingredients that cause stomach fat and unwanted bloating. Luckily for you, we’ve got all of the tips and tricks you need when it comes to foods you should avoid when dieting.
The common belief that reduced-fat versions of food is healthy for you is not always true and reduced-fat peanut butter is no exception. In an interview with TIME, registered dietitian Keri Gans says that the only ingredient in peanut butter should be peanuts.
“Reduced-fat [peanut butter] adds artificial sweeteners, only to save 0.5 grams of saturated fat per serving and 10 calories. The reduction simply isn’t worth it and the taste becomes too sweet, taking away from the delicious taste of peanuts,” Gans says. It definitely doesn’t come as surprise that artificial sweeteners are a major ingredient to avoid when you’re trying to stay on track with weight loss.
Another reduced-fat food item is low-fat salad dressing. According to Eat This, Not That!, low-fat foods can often be just as bad or even worse than their full-fat counterparts. The health website explains that low-fat salad dressings can contain a lot of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, additives, and preservatives for flavor. It’s best to choose a salad dressing with whole ingredients and ingredients you can actually read and understand.
Next, let’s move on to a popular breakfast food people tend to opt for as a healthy substitute for regular pork bacon: turkey bacon. Healthline explains it best, turkey bacon is highly processed and may contain ingredients that can be bad for your health even though it contains less fat and fewer calories than pork bacon. Maybe next breakfast it’s best to pass on the bacon altogether.
Another popular item at the breakfast table is fruit juice. Lots of bottled fruit juices contain a ton of sugar and additives. Such fruit juices can lead to weight gain, Healthline reveals. Pro tip: we recommend making your own freshly squeezed fruit juice in the morning if you’re craving something sweet.
What’s your go-to weight loss food? Let us know your favorite healthy recipe in the comments below!
