Are you one of the many people today who are genuinely interested in finding ways to promote better health? An important way to maintain good health is by choosing healthy foods to eat. Be careful, as you sort through your choices though. There are some common mistakes people make as they shop. Educate yourself, read labels, and research your options as you seek out genuinely healthy foods to eat. There are many healthy foods that can actually be bad for you:
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Peanut Butter - Many of the brands of peanut butter on the shelves today contain sugar, salt, and other ingredients. Reduced fat peanut butter has removed the healthy monounsaturated fats that your body needs. They replace it with other ingredients that render the peanut butter unhealthy. Shop for natural peanut butter with nothing extra added. It tastes better, fills you up more, and very little is needed for a satisfying taste.
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Fruit - We know that fruit is healthy for us, but that depends on what time of day that you eat it, how much sugar is in that particular fruit, and whether or not you are an active person. Fresh fruit is always best, and a much better option than fruit cocktail or other canned fruits that are loaded down with sugar. Stay away from dried fruits that have all their good qualities sucked out of them. They have been loaded down with sugar and sulfur to preserve them longer. Research your fresh fruits to discover what your best options are. Keep your portions minimal and enjoy this natural healthy food.
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Wheat Bread ~ Most brands are made with wheat, but that doesn't necessarily make them healthy. Unless it's 100% whole wheat bread, it can contain enriched flour that has been stripped of all its nutrients. Multi-grain or sprouted breads are usually a good choice when those are the first ingredients listed on the label. Make sure that your bread is not sweetened with high fructose. There are only four ingredients needed to make bread - flower, yeast, water, and salt. Any other ingredients are unnecessary.
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Trail Mix - Try to skip this high energy snack. Most of these are filled with salted peanuts, M&M's, and sugar coated raisins containing over 300 calories. You are better off to measure out a small portion of unsalted nuts such as almonds for a healthy protein snack between meals.
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Yogurt - Most yogurt on the market today is packed with 15 grams of sugar or more, even when combined with fruit. Skip the fat-free brands that remove what's good in the yogurt. Start with Greek yogurt, add some fresh fruit of your choice, and the little honey or agave for sweetness if you prefer. Blueberries are one of the highest in powerful antioxidants and taste delicious mixed in.
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Protein Bars - Most of these are simply glorified candy bars with some protein thrown in. If they have more than 200 calories and 8 grams of sugar, avoid it. You're better off eating a small portion of beans, humus, or other vegetables for your snack.
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Granola/Granola Bars - Eating a granola bar as a meal replacement is a good idea but they are loaded with sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. A better choice would be fruit or a small piece of dark chocolate to satisfy your cravings.
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Organic Snack Foods - Simply placing the word organic or gluten-free on a product doesn't necessarily make it something healthy. Items can have organic ingredients and still be loaded with calories, sugars, and other not so healthy ingredients.
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Flavored Soy Milk - Soy is a wonderful source of protein and potassium but when you choose vanilla or chocolate flavored soy milk, you are adding more than 10 grams of sugar and more than 50 calories per cup. If you are trying to get away from dairy products, try regular soy milk, hemp milk, or almond milk for an alternative.
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Sushi - Wrapping fish (usually salmon or tuna) and rice in a seaweed wrap is a healthy snack with only about 120 calories. When you add house sauce, cream cheese, or spicy mayo on a Philadelphia roll to the mix you have now added over 500 calories to the picture. It's all those extra spicy and crunchy things that ruin an otherwise healthy meal.
The trained professionals at Jax Sports Nutrition in Jacksonville, FL, can help guide you in the right direction for eating healthy foods. Be very aware that most processed foods have been loaded down with dozens of unhealthy ingredients and cost a lot more money for the convenience of having something already prepared and ready to microwave for use. At Jax Sports Nutrition, you have the option of getting a free diet consultation to help you assess your personal diet needs. Careful planning ahead can give you plenty of good healthy foods to eat and add to your diet. Contact our certified sports nutritionist today for your personal evaluation.
