Surprisingly Not-So-Healthy Foods

Sometimes things are too-good-to-be true, because they are! When scouring the supermarket for healthy foods, we often assume that if foods sound healthy, then they probably are. But think about it. With consumers trending towards healthier food alternatives, you wouldn't expect companies and restaurants to advertise the unhealthy aspects of their foods, right? Here are some foods that sound healthy, but may not be:

1. Baked potato.
   Baked foods and potatoes are healthy, so baked potatoes are healthy, right? Well, sometimes they're not. Watch out for potatoes that are loaded with toppings such as heavy cheeses, bacon bits, and sour cream. They can turn spuds into duds!
   

2. Energy bars.
   Our homes, cars and bodies need energy. So "energy bars" are a good thing, right? You might be surprised. Some energy bars are full of sugar, saturated fat, and high fructose corn syrup. Also, energy cars can contain hundreds of calories, which basically means that you'll need to exercise more to work off the food you just ate. Some healthy energy-boosting alternatives include trail mix, and low-fat cheese on whole-grain crackers.
   

3. Prepared salads.
   When we think of salads, the connotation we usually have is of garden salads full of fresh veggies. It's not the veggies you should worry about. Be wary about prepared salads that are loaded with meat, mayonnaise, and dressings. Such salads can actually contain tons of calories and fat! Also, avoid toppings such as bacon bits and croutons, to keep your salads as healthy as possible. Substitute heavy dressings, with a light vinaigrette variety.
   

4. Reduced-fat peanut butter.
   When tend to think of fat as a bad thing. But it's the saturated fat and trans fat that we should avoid. While nuts are high in fat, it's of the healthy monosaturated fat variety. Reduced-fat peanut butter has a higher sugar content than the regular stuff, but also contains less of the "good" fat from peanuts. Better options include small amounts of full-fat crunchy peanut butter, or health food store peanut butter. If you have the time and equipment, you could also make your own.
   

5. Smoothies.
   The essence of smoothies tends to be healthy. They usually include fresh fruit and low-fair milk or cream. It's the extra stuff that restaurants add to it, which really cause the calories and fat to pile up. That includes ingredients such as sugar and ice cream. Those types of add-ons can actually add hundreds of calories to the smoothie!
   

6. Whole wheat and multi-grain.
   Whole wheat bread and whole wheat products in general are healthier than "refined grains". In whole grain foods, the structure of the wheat kernel is intact. What does it all mean? Whole grains haven't lost much of their nutrients, unlike refined grains. But not every product that includes the term "whole wheat", or "multi-grain" on its packaging, actually is. To make sure, read the ingredients of the product. If the flour is "enriched" or "bleached", then it's less-than-whole grain.
   

Remember that "healthy" foods can sometimes be unhealthy. Make sure to read products' ingredient labels in supermarkets, and ask about food preparation methods in restaurants.