Knowing what foods are good for you and which foods aren’t good for you can be a challenge. Studies seem to contradict each other, and misinformation is everywhere. To add fuel to the fire, some food companies work hard to disguise their food as a healthy choice, whether it is or not. When it comes to food, don’t be fooled by false health claims, always read the food labels. You will be more than surprised to see what useless unhealthy ingredients are often used.
1. Canned soups
Cracking open a can of soup might be the first step towards a less healthy diet. While many soup brands claim to be a great choice for the weight-conscious, they are often loaded with excessive amount of salt, sugar and preservatives. Thus, always read their labels and the listed ingredients before buying, but I would suggest to have fun and make homemade soup. For inspiration follow on Instagram @sssssoupsssss who makes the most delicious, savoury and unique soups.
2. Salad dressing
Bottled salad dressing are often rich sources of saturated fat, calories, sodium and added sugar. You’re often eating salad for good health, and to enjoy a savoury light meal, but you may be undoing the benefits when you use a store-bought salad dressing. Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or extra virgin olive oil and vinegar, while ceasar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest.
3. Veggie chips
For many consumers, veggie chips are a dream come true. Crispy and salty like potato chips, but made from vegetable chips, veggie chips might seem like the perfect blend of taste and nutrition. Not so fast!Yes veggie chips are made from real vegetables and potato chips are made from real potatoes, but that doesn’t make them healthier. You will get small amounts of key nutrients when you eat veggie chips, but you also need to consider the fat and sodium content of the snack before digging in.
4. Processed cereals
Breakfast cereals are among the most popular processed foods that are high in added sugars. In fact, most cereals list sugar as the second or third ingredient. Starting the day with a high-sugar breakfast cereal will spike your blood sugar and insulin levels and your energy levels will drop shortly after.
Choose healthier versions, such as our Clemi's Market crunchy and plant based granola, made with only natural ingredients, high in fibres, source of proteins and refined sugar-free.
5. Protein bars
Protein bars are a popular snack food designed to be a convenient source of nutrition. Given the wide variety of protein bars on the market, it is important to know that not all protein bars are created equal. Many protein bars also contain high amounts of added sugar and use unhealthy sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, which adds excess fructose to your diet and may be an unnecessary source of excessive protein.My recommendation is to always examine the label of each protein bar to determine whether a protein bars meets your personal goals and needs. My favourite bars are from @rawbite_official
6. Fruit juices
During processing operations, canned fruit juices undergo pasteurisation heat treatment. This treatment destroys all enzymes in the juices, which help in digestion and other natural bodily functions.Additionally, in canned juices, skin is removed, fibre is extracted and a lot of sugar and preservatives are added to increase the shelf life.Therefore, drink moderately fresh juices rather than canned juices and start prioritising veggie juices whom actually are packed with key nutrients.
7. Yogurt
While yogurt mat be touted as a superfood for weight loss and gut health, it’s not quite the cure all you might imagine. Flavoured yogurt is loaded with potentially carcinogenic artificial colours, flavours and loads of sugar. Make sure to buy natural white (plant based) yogurts with no added sugar. My go-to yogurt options are from @sojasun_officiel and @sojade_officiel
Long story short - to avoid being fooled read carefully food labels and start cooking more at home.
Thank you for reading this! Speak to you soon!
Clemi
