“Healthy” Foods that Really Aren’t

We’ve all seen the labels, “low-fat,” “whole grain,” “gluten-free,” “baked,” “high protein,” and “low-carb,” among others, that are used to imply the foods these labels appear on are healthy, when, in actuality, they are anything but.

Processed food manufacturers have become very adept at deceiving health conscious consumers with misleading labels and key words on their packaging, knowing that the vast majority of us do not read their book-length list of ingredients.

But if you take the time to read that ingredients list, you’ll find that many are full of sugar (glucose, fructose, sucrose), salt, artificial sweeteners, saturated fats and other, not-so-healthy items. Since we’re always looking out for you here at MagicKitchen, here is a list of some of the worst offenders…

• Granola (bars or cereal) is usually made with ingredients common in processed foods, such as white and/or brown sugar, salt, vegetable oil and butter. Even raw granola is high in calories so be careful how much you consume, especially if it’s a trail mix with added ingredients such as nuts, chocolate chips or dried fruit.
• Low-fat salad dressings may be, in fact, low-fat. However, they substitute sugar, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup, and salt for the fat that’s removed. If you’re looking for a healthier option, look for fat-free or low-calorie options and take a quick look at the nutrition label to see how much salt and added sugar they contain.
• Veggie chips make it seem like you’re eating vegetables, but you’re they’re only marginally better than regular potato chips. Most contain slightly fewer calories and saturated fat than potato chips, but they may also contain more salt and about the same amount of carbs. A good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid all foods in “chip” form.
• Gluten-free treats are a necessity for those dealing with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. However, “gluten-free” does not translate into “healthy,” especially in the category of snacks. In fact, gluten-free snacks often have more calories and carbs and less fiber and protein than their gluten-filled counterparts.
• Canned soups are notoriously unhealthy. Just because you don’t have to chew as much, or not at all, does not mean that soup is a healthy alternative to solid food. Most canned soups contain an obscene amount of salt (which serves as a preservative, and not just for flavor) and more calories than one would think.

Protein bars provide your body with a whole lot more than just muscle-building protein. Many are full of high fructose corn syrup which kicks their total calorie count way up. Many also utilize artificial colors and binders to hold the bar together. There are many other healthier choices out there to get your RDA of protein.