Snacks that aren't as healthy as you think

There is nothing wrong with cheat meals - they actually keep me sane and I try to follow the rule of eating an 80% clean diet - but it's important to know when you are actually eating a 'cheat meal' and when you are actually eating healthy.. you COULD be eating badly and don't even know it!

Don’t let these 'healthy snacks' fool you.

Granola and Cereal Bars

Granola is usually thought of as an outdoorsy health snack. But that little bar is loaded with sugar, saturated fat, and pretty high in calories for what you're getting.

The better option: Find raw varieties. Muesli is a good option - it's just raw granola and it has less sugar than most brands, but just in case, always read the label.

Frozen 'Diet Meals'

Frozen dinners are not even close to as healthy as they advertise. Yes, they are low in calories (on average around 240–400 calories), BUT they are highly processed, lacking in nutrients, and extremely high in sodium. They may seem easier than other meals, but you are giving up a lot in exchange for that convenience.

The better option: Pick a day of the week to prepare healthy meals in bulk - it may seem like it takes a lot of time, but it will be easy to prepare your meals the rest of the week to deter you from having to choose other convenient options that are unhealthy (including fast food). Shakeology is also a great option since it's quick and easy, but packed with nutrients.

Sports Drinks

I used to drink blue Gatorade every.single.day... so weird that my jeans started to get tighter very quickly! These drinks are designed to replenish carbs, electrolytes and other nutrients during intense efforts (hence the word 'sports' in the name). If you are aren't playing a full 3 hour football game, you are basically just putting sugar water into your body.... you might as well drink soda.

The better option: You’re probably better off with water. However, if you’re eating at a calorie deficit and you’re having a hard time making it through your (at least 60 minute) workout, a little extra blood sugar might help, and you can experiment with a diluted sports drink.... just read the labels and stay away from high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes.

“Fat Free” Products

People see the words “Fat Free” and automatically think that will help them to lose weight... but your body actually needs fat, it's not the enemy (even though we've been told so our whole lives)! Plus, most of these products are just replacing fat with carbs, salt and processed junk. You are pretty much going from pouring a little bit of unsaturated fat on your salad to pouring on a bag of sugar.

The better option: Stick with simple dressings that aren't cream based, balsamic vinaigrette is a great option, or ask for your dressing on the side so that you are able to control how much you’re using.

Muffins

Muffins are hardly healthy. I love blueberry muffins, BUT most of them are about 460 calories with 15 grams of fat, and are made with refined flour, tons of sugar, and who knows what preservatives - completely the opposite of what you should be eating.

The better option: If you are really craving a muffin, you can make clean muffins from coconut and almond flour. There are lots of recipes on pinterest (or google). Otherwise, there really isn't a healthy alternative.

Sushi

Now, I am not saying that sushi is bad for you or is a junk food, but try to stay away from or moderate your intake of rolls that are deep fried and coated with mayonnaise.

The better option: Try to choose rolls made with brown rice or ask for the the sauce on the side so you can dip a little bit without overdoing it. Or, you can stick with sashimi.

Pretzels

Pretzels may be easy to eat and low in fat, but this carb and calorie heavy treat has almost no nutritional value and is also high in sodium... you get an entire day’s worth of sodium in one cup of pretzels.

The better option: Stick to snacks like almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.

Veggie Chips

It's easy to confuse these snacks as healthy since they contain the word “veggie”.. Veggie Chips are often extremely high in fat and sodium and, honestly, not much better for you than potato chips.

The better option: Eat your veggies raw, you can dip them in hummus, salsa, or avocado if you want to add flavor.

Tea

Most people drink bottled teas that includes through the roof amounts of preservatives, sugar and additive content.

The better option: Tejava is all-natural option that just contains brewed tea.. you can also stick to unsweetened teas, or just brew your own - it’s easy!

Need more help with your diet? Learn about my Clean Eating Challenge!

#nutrition #cleaneating #healthysnacks