There are many foods out there that may seem Ok but are actually high in calories or fat. Ten of them are:
- Rice Cakes—they can contain considerable amounts of high glycemic index carbohydrates. When eaten, foods rated high on the glyemic index will cause a rapid rise in your blood sugar level. These simple carbs may stimulate unwanted fat storage and slow your body’s fat-burning capabilities.
- Fruit Juice—it is not only calorie-dense, but also high in sugar. By drinking water instead, you can save between 110-200 calories per cup as well as reducing your sugar intake.
- Flavored Oatmeal—sugar is usually high on the indredient list in flavored oatmeal packets. It’s better to cut down on the packets or use unflavored oatmeal.
- Alcohol—although it doesn’t contain fat, it is loaded with calories.
- Salad Dressings—salads can be an ideal food for supporting weight loss. They may not be your best choice when you add fat-loaded dressings. A typical dressing has between 6-8 grams of fat and 75 calories. A person usually puts on 3-4 teaspoons equaling 30 grams of fat and 300 calories. The best choice is a low fat dressing…such as vinegarette.
- Muffins—they can be very calorie-dense. Beware of the low fat muffins, many of them contain more sugar to compensate for the lack of fat.
- Breaded Chicken or Fish—they may contain ample servings of protein, but also lots of unwanted fat. Opt for grilled or broiled.
- Frozen Yogurt—it has long been one of the most popular “health foods” available. What many don’t realize is that while non-fat frozen yogurt might have less fat, it is not calorie free. It can still contain carbohydrates that can be converted to fat. Many of the frozen yogurt varieties are low in protein and calcium.
- Deli Meats—may commercial deli meats are high in fat and sodium. Some may also contain sugar. Your best choice is lean turkey or chicken.
- Regular Sodas—a 16-ounce glass of regular soda contains 197 more calories than a diet soda. The majority of these calories come from simple sugars. If you have to drink soda, stick with diet.
Some of these items have been an eye- opener for me. I’m going to start reading all the ingredients on what I buy.
We as americans cannot seem to have self control when it comes to food. We really cannot eat anything as americans without getting fat. I think (very oddly) that the food factories and the diet market are combined forces for money. I will not go into much detail but I am sure you can understand my point.
Rice Cake: I bough Quaker brand rice cakes in different flavors, but after I realized I gave my option to have so many snacks, I tend to eat more. I let my sister finish them, but I did not know these cause unwanted fat storage.. I guess one should try not to eat so many in a day because they are low in calorie and quite tasty in flavors.
Fruit Juice: What bothers me is the fact that a lot of fruit juices have so much sugar and aren’t even truly fruit juice. With 100% juice such as prune and cranberry, I use about 1/3 or 1/2 a cup and mix the rest with water just to have a bit less sugar and calories.
Flavored Oatmeal: Yes, flavored oatmeal has a lot more calories. Compared to plain oatmeal (100 cal), my favorite peaches and cream has 130 calories and the brown sugar has 160 cal. Although the packaging looks about the same size, I assume the weight in grams for the flavored ones are a bit higher because of the added flavorings. I suggest once to buy plain and add their own treated to it. Add a bit of nuts, 1/4 cup of dry cereal (I eat mine with a bit of MultiGrain Cheerios) or fruits.
Alcohol: An unnecessary treat I do not bother drinking.
Salad dressings: This one is a tough one to avoid but I try using low calorie ones like Balsamic vinegar types.
Muffins: These things are oily, buttery, big and delicious, and filled with sugar and fat. As much as I love muffins and ate the ones being sold at Costco, it is extremely calorie dense, probably ranging from 500-600 calories depending on the type.
Breaded Chicken: Unfortunately, grilled was not available or expensive for little amounts, so my mother buy the breaded chicken because it was a club pack. At 150 calories per serving, it is pretty high compared to about 100 calories for a grilled option at the same serving size.
Frozen Yogurt: It may sound more healthier than ice cream, but many popular ice cream brands have frozen yogurt that has just about the same amount of calories, fat and sugar as their regular ice cream.
Deli Meats: Depends on what kinds of deli meat you buy. The Hillshire turkey breast is pretty low in calories, and not too bad. But salami, bologna, and other varieties may be more fattening.
Regular Soda: Thankfully, soda is not in my diet because I can never finish a can or even a cup of soda, and it goes flat. I also hate the sweet and artificial aftertaste of soda.
So, I buy my own organic yoghurt with organic blueberries and freeze it. It satisfies my craving for ice cream. The nutritional info on the container says it’s 90 calories. Is that as bad as the frozen yoghurt this article talks about? Just trying to figure out if my good intentions are on the right track…
Thanks for the recommendations shared on the blog. Yet another thing I would like to convey is that fat loss is not about going on a celebrity diet and trying to lose as much weight as you can in a couple of days. The most effective way to lose weight is by consuming it bit by bit and using some basic tips which can allow you to make the most from the attempt to lose fat. You may recognize and already be following a few of these tips, although reinforcing awareness never does any damage.