“Healthy” Foods That Are Wrecking Your Diet

Don’t let the words “fruit” and “vegetable” on juice labels fool you! Fruit juices, including ones made from 100% fruit juice, are high in calories and sugar. And while vegetable juices are a good way to get more vegetables into your diet, the process of juicing strips the fiber from whole vegetables.

Granola Bars – Made with rolled oats, dried fruit, and nuts, granola bars may seem like healthy on-the-go snacks. But if you don’t read the labels carefully, some bars are packed with so much sugar that they’re not so much different from eating a candy bar.

Foods Labeled “Made with Whole Grain” – Many times, these foods are not made with 100% whole grains and have refined grains in the mix, so you’re not getting the full nutritional benefit of whole grains.

Premade Smoothies – Most premade smoothies are made with canned fruit with added sugars, simple syrups, full-fat yogurt, whole milk, and sometimes even ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Frozen Yogurt – Frozen yogurt may seem like a healthier alternative to ice cream or gelato, and it’s lower in saturated fat in most cases, but in terms of calories and sugar, they’re all not much different than you think.

Frozen Diet Entrées – While frozen diet entrées are low in calories, they tend to be high in sodium. Moreover, they are made with refined grains and ingredients, which can cause swings in blood-sugar levels.

Gluten-Free Sweets and Snacks – While there are plenty of healthy gluten-free foods out there, some gluten-free snacks and sweets are loaded with sugar and fat to make up for the flavor.

Trail Mix – Generally made with nuts, honey, dried fruits, and candies. A serving of trail mix contains the same amount of calorie as candy bars.