We all love food.
But when it comes to diet and healthy eating, how much do we know whether the “health foods” that we grabbed from the aisle and shelves of grocery stores are indeed healthy?
It is important to look beyond the label. Just because some healthy sounding words like ‘gluten-free’ or ‘organic’ are labelled across a product, it doesn’t mean that they get the nutritionist stamp of approval.
via GIPHY
Well, it turns out that we are easily tricked by certain ‘healthy’ food! Of course, there is no such thing of ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food, because everyone has a distinct style of diet and meals. However, watch out for 5 foods that most people think might helps tone body sculpture and lose weight but could have lots of sugars, salt, oils, and more.
1. Breakfast bowls – granola and smoothie bowls
While granola smoothie bowls sound like a perfect healthy breakfast option, it is high in calories,depending on the types of fruits it contains. Mango, banana and jackfruit consist of high natural sugar, which is not your best choice if you are trying to watch your weight and reduce sugar intake.
Some cafes and restaurants out there usually go for ‘fake’ acai or smoothie base, which are made with artificial sugar syrup or fruit powders, pre-packed with sugars and preservatives instead of using a whole fruit. Try to make your own granola at home with natural honey, adding low-sugar fruits like guava, strawberries, or avocado for a healthier, well-balanced option!
2. Salad
A salad dish is one of the most common yet excellent vehicle for getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet. But a good, healthy plate of salad can turn bad when you put fattening, high-calorie dressing and deep-fried proteins over a pile of fresh lettuce.
It is advisable to complete your salad with no additional dressing or sauce. Hard-boiled eggs, steamed tofu or chicken breast are the perfect toppings that prepare a balanced amount of protein and healthy fats in your meal.
3. Yoghurt
Many people didn’t know that the sugar content of a cup of flavoured fruit yoghurt is equivalent to a chocolate bar. Some sugar occurs naturally in yoghurt, but most are added with artificial flavours and worst, food colourings! It seems like the healthiest dessert choice but when it adds up with a variety of toppings like fruit syrup or dried fruits, the sugar quickly adds up.
Instead, cut the sugar by switching to unsweetened full-fat yoghurts such as plain yoghurt or almond yoghurt and sprinkle it with some chia seeds or pumpkin seeds for some fibre boost!
4. Sushi
The fish is fresh and raw, and it helps to build muscles and lower blood pressure. But when you’re mostly eating pearl rice (white rice) and dipping your food in sweet or soy sauce, you’re increasing your refined carbohydrate consumption and sodium levels.
Opt for more raw salmon, edamame (green beans), more vegetables and less rice for your diet meal. What is a Rice Substitute? Quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, and millet are good substitutes for rice.
5. Vegetable Chips
Although a bag of healthy chips is often labelled ‘healthy’ or ‘low in calories’, however, you’re only getting a slight touch of sweet potatoes, beetroots, and spinach in veggie chips. Most brands usually produce these crunchy snacks with cornflour and potato starch with a dusting of vegetable powders to give the chips a vibrant pop of colour.
They might also be fried with oils and salted heavily to imitate the same flavour as typical potato chips. If you want to have a fresh crunch, try a platter of real vegetable sticks like cucumber and baby carrots.
What do you think about these food? Do they improve or affect your healthy lifestyle? Let us know in the comments!
Header image credits: Naukrinama | Damn Delicious | Real Food with Jessica | MrFood | Basket
