5 Foods that aren’t as Healthy as They say They are

The quest for maintaining a healthy diet is one that is littered with hurdles you have to overcome. Conflicting information has permeated the market declaring what super-foods you need to be eating and how you can get the most nutritional bang for your buck. Companies have caught on to the health trend and are capitalizing on it, proclaiming which foods are the best foods for your diet. However, in all the hustle and bustle, the information has gotten a little skewed.

These five proclaimed health foods are silently wreaking havoc on your diet:

1. 100 Calorie Snack Packs – While each pack only contains 100 calories and claims to be the perfect afternoon pick-me-up, the majority of these calories come in the form of processed carbohydrates and empty calories. They do nothing to satisfy your hunger, leaving you ready for another snack in no time. Instead of grabbing a 100 calorie snack pack you should opt for real food, like an apple and a spoonful of peanut butter, to satisfy that mid-afternoon hunger craving.
2. Multigrain Bread – You probably bought it thinking that it was a healthier option than white bread because it has the word “multigrain” in it. However it’s just as processed and full of sugar as its white counterpart, and gives you no added nutritional value. Instead look for bread that has 100% whole wheat on the label to ensure that you’re actually getting the whole grains you’re searching for. 
3. Protein Bars – Sure, the bar may pack 30 grams of protein into one small package, but as for the rest of the nutritional stats? Consider this: most are covered in chocolate and full of processed ingredients, giving it nutritional stats that rival a candy bar. Skip the protein bar as an option for a meal replacement and instead stick to healthy sources of protein such as eggs and meats.
4. Restaurant Salads – The problem with ordering restaurant salads is that they usually come drenched in dressings and loaded with crispy toppings. Restaurant salads can be healthy, however, if you order a lighter dressing on the side and skip all of the unhealthy toppings.
5. Diet Sodas – While all of the calories may have been stripped from a regular soda to create the diet version, they’re still packed with artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners still pack on the pounds and have been linked to several other health risks. A better bet? Skip the soda entirely.

Last Few Words

The media has made diet food a bit of mystery by using words like “low-fat” and “lightened up” to describe dishes. However your best bet when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet is to stick to real foods in their original form, such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Maintain a diet rich in those foods and you’ll be on the fast track to healthy in no time.