We have all been there. Disgusted with ourselves for the unhealthy snack we just ate, or the last sugared soda we drank, we decide we are going to eat healthier, once and FOR ALL! Bloated with God knows what, we vow to take control of our health by controlling what goes into our bodies. We tell ourselves that the first step is to make a healthy food choice for our next meal. After that, healthy food choices will become a habit.
Good job, with a caveat. Gildshire is proud of your overall decision, but we want to make sure you know what is really healthy to eat, and what is really unhealthy hype. Here are some foods, and a few drinks, that are known for being healthy. As it turns out, they aren’t.
Granola Bars
Granola bars aren’t health food, and some of them are downright unhealthy. Repeat after me, chocolate chips, and/or frosting are not healthy choices. Granola, on its own, is bad enough. But, these things are even worse.
Granola
“Did someone call me?” Yes, but you may not have heard us over the calories, oils, and sugars with undecipherable names being poured into you. That evaporated cane juice midway down your ingredient list is nothing but sugar with a cute name.
Couscous
A healthy food choice should probably not start with balls of semolina pasta.
Rather than whole grain or something else good for you, couscous is just little balls of white semolina pasta, pictured above. When did balls of white pasta become the new best thing in healthy food? When marketing stepped in.
Almond Milk
Actually, we should have said “some” almond milk. Read the label carefully to make sure the word “carrageenan” isn’t in there. That’s a belly-bloating polysaccharide sure to show up tomorrow on your tummy.
Baked Beans
“Come on now. Beans are good for us.” While it is true that beans in their unprocessed legume state are one of the healthiest foods out there, baked beans aren’t those. A half-cup of Bush’s Baked Beans is 140 calories. That’s not too bad. But that same serving includes 550 mg. of salt and 12 grams of sugar. That’s more sugar than what’s in a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!
Agave Nectar
The search for a sugar alternative that tastes good continues. Some people claim to have found it in agave nectar. However, don’t look there for a healthy fix for sugar cravings. Agave nectar is 90% fructose and is therefore linked to insulin resistance and obesity.
Energy Drinks
Most people know by now that their energy drink is great for a quick boost, but it isn’t a healthy drink. But, for those who haven’t heard, an 8.4-ounce Red Bull has 27 grams of sugar. An 8.4-ounce Sprite has 27 grams of sugar. That should be enough to give you pause. But, the Red Bull adds enough caffeine to make a sensitive person’s heart race.
“Honey” Roasted Nuts
This is a tough one for Gildshire because it is our airplane snack of choice. However, often there is a lie in the title itself. The “honey” coating is usually a mix of butter and brown sugar. Fat and calories in one heartbreaking fib.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
“What? This has not one, but two vegetables right in the name!” It does, and that’s what makes this a tricky one. But, your favorite restaurant offers this as an appetizer, and here are the stats. It has 950 calories, and some recipes call for a jar of alfredo sauce. With this as an appetizer, you had better skip lunch tomorrow. Dinner, too.
Egg White Omelettes
You may think you’re being healthy and noble by ordering an omelet without the egg yolk, but here is what else you are leaving out. Energy-enhancing Vitamin B12, Mood, and weight control vitamin D, and a path to raise your good cholesterol. Opt instead for an omelet with one egg white and one egg yolk.
Don’t you feel healthier already? You were right in believing that a healthy food choice is a start to the best you. But, making the right healthy food choice will make your journey that much easier. Good luck from your friends at Gildshire. We will be rooting for you.
