Foods can be tricky. They often don’t come with a handy little calorie counter with them to clue us in on a food’s real nutritional value. You could think you were on a super-strict diet and find out that you’re not at all. Here are some of the “sneaky foods” out there that aren’t nearly as healthy as you think.
- Caesar salads. Do you know what’s in Caesar dressing? Eek. It’s not good. Tasty, sure, but not good for your body when your salad is drowned in it. You can still eat your beloved Caesars, but definitely go easy on the Parmesan and dressing. If you’re at a restaurant, ask for the dressing on the side.
- Fruit smoothies. Fruit smoothies are great when you make them at home with nonfat yogurt and fresh fruit. Fruit smoothies at the store? Oftentimes, it’s made with sugary syrups rather than fresh fruit. You don’t need that extra sugar. Go with a fresh-made one at home–it’ll be cheaper, too.
- Enhanced water. “Vitamin water” adds vitamins to water– what’s so wrong about that? Well, many also add sugar, too. Check the nutritional label. You want a drink with 0 calories.
- Chicken burritos. Low carb, lean meat, rice, and beans. That’s plenty of grains, right? Well, you’re forgetting about the overstuffed portions, the cheese, and the sour cream. Opt for smaller portions or make ‘em at home.
- Turkey hot dogs. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that hot dogs are terrible for you, right? Seems like a no-brainer. You may think you’re doing your body a favor by eating turkey hot dogs. This is like choosing the lesser of two evils– both are really terrible for your body.