11 Junk Foods Posing as Health Foods

Eating healthy is difficult with all of the temptations we are faced with, but it's even harder when you realize that a lot of foods that you were told are good for your health are actually not as healthy as you thought. Avoid these faux health foods.

Wheat Bread or Whole Grain Bread

Wheat bread, and whole grain breads can contain as much as 70% refined flour, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, and preservatives. But since they contain some whole grains they’re often advertised as the real deal. Although, healthier than other breads such as italian and white; these breads are not necessarily healthy.

“Healthy” Breakfast Cereals

Cereal that claims to be healthy is usually highly processed and one of the worst foods you could eat for breakfast. They’re often loaded with sugar and carbs. To make matters worse, the manufacturers synthetically add vitamins so they can market the product as “healthy.” Starting the day with a high-sugar cereal will just lead to a sugar crash later in the day.

Restaurant Salads

If you think you’re being healthy by ordering a salad, think again.  Apart from the insanely large portion side, most prepared salads have hidden sugar and calories with all the fatty dressing, cheese, and extra carbs. 

Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter

You might be surprised to see that Peanut Butter has quite a lot of fat.  Some people forget that nuts contain healthy fats and go for the reduced-fat kind instead.  When manufacturers take out some of the fat in peanut butter, they replace it with a lot of sugar and artificial things.

Pre-Made Smoothies

Many store-bought or pre-made smoothies trick you into believing that they are healthy. Pre-made smoothies contain many added sugars and syrups, as well as extreme portions of fruit and vegetables.

Bars

Want fiber and protein? Then grab an apple or string cheese — they are a much healthier choice than energy, fiber, and protein bars, which are about two steps away from being candy bars. There is not much else other than those added-in nutrients in any energy, protein, or fiber bar.

Vitamin Waters

Most vitamin waters are not much healthier than sodas, fruit drinks, sweet tea, and other sugary beverages. They’re loaded with added sugars and empty calories. If you’re worried that you’re not getting enough vitamins, you’d be better off taking a multi-vitamin.

Dried Fruit

Swap dried fruit for fresh fruit. Drying the fruit reduces the water volume and increases the amount of sugar per serving. Dried fruit can also send your blood sugar spiking then crashing — bad news.

Frozen Yogurt

Yes, frozen yogurt. Even though in your mind its healthier than ice cream, that might not be true. Since, in the world of saturated fat, it is about equal to ice cream in terms of calories and simple sugars.

Trail Mix

Healthy trail mix is possible but we tend to buy the versions loaded with candy coated pieces, sesame sticks, deep-fried banana chips, and yogurt-covered raisins. Most trail mix is packed with simple sugars, trans fat, and refined carbohydrates. Not as healthy as you thought, right?

Fruit Juices

Yes, fruit juices contain some vitamins, but they also contain a high amount of calories and sugars. For example, one 8 ounce cup of grape juice has 170 calories, 42 grams of carbs, and 40 grams of sugar. You can’t build up lean muscle with that many empty calories.

Fat-Free Sweets

Fat-free cakes and cookies are very deceiving. Don’t be fooled — “fat-free” does not mean “calorie-free.” Sugar typically replaces the fat in these products so you are still consuming a high number of calories filled with sugars, flour, and carbohydrates.

Frozen Diet Entrees

Usually these diet meals are chocked full of sodium. Low in calories, yes, but low in nutrients too. For instance, many of these meals will used refined grains in place of healthier whole grains.

Muffins

Choosing a bran muffin over a doughnut? Maybe not your best decision since most commercially sold bran muffins contain roughly 800 calories, packed with pure sugar and fat. Still choose the muffin over the doughnut?