5 Really Bad Foods That You Think Are Healthy

There are certain foods out there that you know are good for you. However, there are also some foods that you assume are healthy, but they really actually aren’t. Here are five of those bad foods:

Fat-Free Salad Dressing

You would assume because this salad dressing is advertised as fat-free that it would be a healthy food option. However, it isn’t.

If you take a closer look at the ingredient label, you will quickly see that this salad dressing is made basically from sugar water with some flavor thrown in.

So, you are better off creating your own vinaigrette. It will not only be much more satisfying and taste better, but it will be much healthier for you.

2. Cream of Wheat

While it is true that you could do worse for breakfast cereal, cream of wheat just doesn’t have the most fiber in it.

This means that you are going to want to eat more, which is the last thing you want to do if you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight.

Plus, if you don’t like cream of wheat straight-up and you go for the flavored packets, you will be getting a considerable amount of added sugars (specifically hydrogenated fats as well as caramel color, which has been connected with cancer).

Your best bet is to opt for mixed grains or oatmeal. If you must add flavor, make sure to do it yourself (puree some fruit or just add some chopped pieces of fruit to the mix).

3. Store-Bought, Pre-Made Smoothies

Because smoothies are supposed to be healthy, you would assume that even the store-bought ones are good for you.

However, in many cases, these pre-made smoothies can have up to 1,000 calories in them – potentially more than a cheeseburger.

This is because of the larger portion of fruits and vegetables as well as the added sugars and syrups.

You are better off making your own smoothie from home with your own ingredients.

4. Energy Bars

Some people swear by energy bars, especially those who are constantly at the gym.

However, these bars are often filled with added sugars, saturated fat (which can clog your arteries) and high fructose corn syrup.

Plus, some of these bars can contain over 350 calories, which is more than the average snack size that you should be eating.

Ultimately, it is just better to avoid these and stick to some whole-grain crackers with some low-fat cheese.

Or you can create your own granola bears so that you know exactly what is in them.

5. Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter

Believe it or not, reduced-fat peanut butter is not necessarily healthier than traditional peanut butter. In fact, if you look

at the labels, you’ll see that both of them contain roughly the same number of calories.

The difference is that low-fat peanut butter actually contains more sugar.

So, be careful when you’re picking your peanut butter off the shelf. Look for a natural-grade butter that doesn’t contain added oils, or make your own at home.

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