When you look at the following foods you will think, what the heck is she talking about? All these foods are healthy, or so we have been told. I like you, until I discovered the information I will share with you today thought the same thing. Fact is I have consumed many of these foods because they have all been marketed as healthy. However I will be eliminating them from my diet now that I know better and I hope you will as well.

Low fat yogurt was my go to, after all eliminating unhealthy fat in my diet is my main goal. However when you remove fat from yogurt it tastes very bland. To combat the bland taste, manufacturers add lots of sugar or artificial sweeteners which we know have adverse health effects. In reality low fat yogurts are less healthy than regular yogurt. Try adding honey, berries, or vanilla to plain yogurt as a healthy alternative.

Without a doubt if you have gluten intolerance, gluten free foods are a necessity. For those of you who are not gluten intolerant, and use gluten free products, you are missing out on nutrients critical in a healthy diet. Whole grain bread contains fiber and natural vitamin B. Cutting gluten from your diet is not necessary if you are not sensitive to it.

I will admit my bread of choice is multigrain, after all my thought process was I am getting more grains than one so it has to be the best. To my surprise products advertised as being whole grain do not contain whole wheat grain, which is the highest in fiber and vitamins. Multigrain products are usually refined and therefore have less nutritional value. Check the ingredients for 100% whole wheat or whole oats to assure you are getting the healthiest product.

Typically I make smoothies at home, I am single and its difficult to consume all the berries, bananas, and other fresh produce I purchase before it goes bad. I freeze them and use them in my smoothies. There are numerous smoothie bars that have cropped up lately, its the newest hype for healthy drinks. But, be aware many store bought smoothies contain a large portion of fruit juice with sugar added, making them high in calories. Your stomach regards liquid calories differently than solid calories, which results in a I’m not full sensation. The best thing to do is just eat fruit, it is much more nutritional and filling.

Who doesn’t like a frozen diet entrée? Buyer beware, the fat and calories have been removed in these products but they are loaded with sodium. Aside from that fact, highly processed frozen entrées will rarely fill you up. Eating more than one will send your sodium intake soaring. Avoiding processed foods, even the ones advertised as “healthy” is your best choice.

One of the best foods that is supposed to increase your energy for an active lifestyle is granola. Like many of the foods we have discussed thus far, most granola products are loaded with sugar. Consuming a small bowl, not including the milk , can have as much as 600 calories. Before you buy, look at the nutritional information and choose products that are high in fiber and low in sugar.

You see a lot of adds for nut butters, and although nuts are a great source of healthy fats and nutrients, all of that is lost in the process of making them into nut butter. On top of that, all the good nutrients are replaced with, you guessed it, sugar and salt. The better options would be almond butter, walnut butter, and soy nut butter.

An easy snack that you can carry around is dried fruit, but take heed. The manufacturers have duped us again. To make it sweeter sugar is added to dried fruit products. As well sulfur dioxide is added as a preservative. Take the time to cut up regular fruit or pack some berries and carry it with you for a healthy snack.

This next product I would not consider to be healthy and I personally don’t use it. When the big weight loss push hit and everyone wanted to be thinner, margarine was introduced as a healthy alternative to butter. Manufacturers have cut out most of the trans fats in margarine but it still contains refined vegetable oils. Use regular butter in moderation, it is a healthier choice and tastes so much better than margarine products.

Diets low in carbohydrates can lead to weight loss, but the low carb snack foods that are abundant on the shelves today contain a list of additives, chemicals, and refined ingredients. None of which are healthy for you. Yes, true these products do not contain carbohydrates, however they also don’t contain anything that is nourishing to your body.

Overall the healthiest thing to do is to stick to natural products. Oh, by the way that means non GMO products, which are anything but natural. I hope this information has enlightened you and helps you to make the healthiest choice.

Until next time,

Love, Peace, and Blessings