13 Worst Diet Wreckers It seems that every time we try to lose weight or try to maintain a healthy weight, the number of temptations around us increase. And at times we even make excuses such as “It’s totally fine to eat a dark chocolate candy bar every day – I heard dark chocolate is good for you.” Read on for a list of the worst diet threats. These 12 diet wreckers are calorie-rich, nutrient-poor and often have a high glycemic index. In many cases, these foods are among the worst choices you could make if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain off the pounds lost. 1. Breakfast Cereals It’s estimated that more than 90% of US households eat cereal for breakfast. And while whole grain, fiber-rich, low-sugar breakfast cereals are among the healthiest choices, not all breakfast cereals are created equal. Many may sound healthy but some breakfast cereals are more than 50% sugar by weight – that’s more sugar than a glazed doughnut. For example, a 1-cup serving of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks has 20g of sugar — that’s the amount of sugar in 6 Oreo cookies! Even types of cereal that sound “healthy” (such as Raisin Bran, granola and muesli) are often loaded with sugar. If you feel that you must eat cereal, look for lower sugar, whole-grain cereals such as Ezekiel 4:9, Uncle Sam, Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs and Post Grape-Nuts. 2. Muffins (Including Blueberry and Bran!) If you want to avoid a muffin top around your midsection, you may need to avoid muffins. Just one Dunkin’ Donuts muffin will cost you 460 calories, 15g fat, and 44g sugar. That’s more calories than a frosted donut or cinnamon raisin bagel with butter. What’s even more concerning is that over the years, portion sizes of muffins have more than doubled from the proper 2-oz portion to a whopping 5-oz portion — about the same weight as a small cell phone! If you must have muffins, try to make your own healthier muffins by keeping the muffins no larger than 2-oz in size, and use oatmeal, flax seed, or whole-wheat flour and fresh or dried fruits and nuts. 3. Chips (Yes, Even the Veggie Ones!) Chips are high in calories, and once you start chomping it’s difficult to stop eating them. Just 15 Lay’s Classic Potato Chips (what some might consider a measly portion) will set you back 160 calories and 10g of fat. When it comes to veggie chips, don’t let the word veggie trick you. Most varieties are actually nutritionally equivalent to one serving of potato chips. And, because veggie chips are primarily comprised of corn flour or potato flour, essential vitamins and minerals are lost during processing. If you MUST have something salty to crunch on, try whole grain Crunchmaster Sea Salt Multi-Grain Crackers. They’re gluten- and GMO-free and have 130 calories, 2g protein and 3g fiber per serving. We’ve found they’re the best substitute for a classic fried potato chip. To see the rest of the tips Join us Thin It to Win It
Posted on: Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:16:30 +0000
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