We all know chips ‘n’ chocolate aren’t the stuff healthy
bods are made of, and while we definitely snap ‘em up every so often, this
week, we’ve got our eyes on trickier bites: those snacks we
think are healthy, but might just be
junk food in disguise. How can you spot a not-so-healthy nibble? Read on!
Good-for-you granola
Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard granola can be loaded up with tonsa
sugar, but have you looked at the other numbers on the back of the box? In an
effort to make ‘em appeal to folks who would rather munch candy bars, companies
have loaded up what was once a healthy staple with tons of fat and artificial
ingredients that really aren’t great for your bod. Be wary of long ingredient
lists and words you can’t pronounce. And instead of making a beeline for the
chocolate ‘n’ peanut butter concoctions, experiment with other yummy options
that’ll be just as tasty and way more healthy. Think: bars packed with dried
fruit and sweetened with honey instead of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Over-dressed salads
Salad is only as good as the dressing it’s slathered in, so
before ya crunch, take a look at the bottle. For a truly healthy dish, you
should try to avoid dressings that are high in sugar, corn syrup and chemicals.
Vinaigrettes and Italian dressings are usually lower in fat than ranch or
Caesar, but fruity flavors can also pack a lot of sugar. Way your options and
choose a dressing you like enough to use sparingly, then toss your salad well
in a bowl so every piece of lettuce is just lightly coated in the gooey stuff
instead of soaked. Spoon onto a plate and munch away!
Sugary smoothies
Although smoothies can be an awesome healthy snack, make
your own instead of hittin’ up your local Jamba Juice. Restaurant and fast food
smoothies often have tons of sugar, making them way less healthy than you’d
think. Instead of hitting up a restaurant or chain, try pulling out Mom’s
blender and making your own. A cup of Greek yogurt, a handful of ice cubes and
your favorite fruits will be just as tasty, and 100-percent healthy.
Sneaky sodium
The food we eat these days is super salty, and typically far
exceeds our recommended daily sodium intake. One of the major culprits is
frozen food. Sure, they’re convenient, but even the ones that call themselves
“healthy” aren’t as good as the fresh stuff.
Instead of relying on packaged frozen goods, ask Mom to make a double
batch of your favorite freezable meal—think soups, stews, lasagna, casseroles,
and even desserts like brownies and cookies—and freeze part of it in
single-serve portions. That way, you can control what goes into the dish and still have the convenience of popping it
into the microwave whenever ya want.
Protein bar power
play
We admit it, sometimes we’ll grab a protein bar for an on-the-go
breakfast or mid-afternoon snack. But these babies are tricky! Take a look at
most of the bars available at your grocery store, and we bet you’ll see more
fat ‘n’ sugar than protein and fiber—sooo not the point. Do your choosing
wisely and you’ll have a solid snack on your hands. Or, look elsewhere. A
handful of almonds, a container of cottage cheese or sliced apples with nut
butter can give ya just as much energy without a bunch of additives.
BY GL ON 8/6/2012 3:21:00 PM
POSTED IN healthy eating 101, how to cut out junk food, snack