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By Sarah Klein
It really is a shame. Some of the best-tasting foods are actually some of the worst in terms of fat and calories. But it can be hard to avoid them, especially in places—like food courts—where nutrition information usually isn’t available.
So we did the work for you; take a look at a list of foods you should think twice about—and what you should pick instead—at a mall, restaurant, or grocery store.
(A 2,000-calorie-a-day diet should have no more than 66 grams of fat, less than 20 grams saturated; 2,400 milligrams of sodium; and 300 grams of total carbohydrate, including sugars.)
Comments (49)
WOW. This author apparently walked through the supermarket and randomly targeted products. For every ‘diet buster’ they talked about, there are a million other products just as bad and much worse. These ‘eat this not that’ articles are always lame…read the labels on everything you purchase in the grocery store, and avoid fast food entirely and you will be fine on your own.
I respectfully disagree regarding the ‘lameness’ of the article. It’s a wake-up call to have all of us overweight American’s think even more about the food we buy. Just look at the Vitamin water example, they are tricking us and more importantly our youth.
no one is tricking you. if you are an adult, then you have the means to inform yourself! don’t play victim. you choose the food you buy, no one else does! If you’d like, I could offer you a grocery list with a one week menu that is healthy, meals made at home. It’s never been a secret that eating out, whether a coffee drink or a cinnamon roll, are bad for you. I suggest you read Food, Inc. as well. Good researchers there.
I agree. No mention is made of any and all soft drinks, which are full of highly-refined, fattening sugars and have NO nutritional benefits whatsoever.
thank you. finally someone taking responsibility for themselves. Self-accountability is the foundation of self-respect.
I have to put a word in defending Amy’s Thai coconut soup. The saturated fat is from the coconut, which is naturally high in saturated fat but is still an extremely healthy fat. It’s not at all in the same league as standard saturated fats like bacon! This is like the anti-fat years when people everywhere stopped eating avocados because those are naturally high in fats. They’re high in healthy fats that do our bodies (and brains and skin…)good, just like walnuts and other great foods.
So very, very true! I agree with what you said about coconut and avocado.I LOVE raw virgin coconut oil for everything from my skin care and hair care to cooking with and eating. So many other countries and cultures (Philipinnes and India to name two) use coconut oil exclusively for their cooking and they don’t have the obesity issues that America has. We are so “tainted” by “diet” ideas concerning fats that we don’t always know the “truth”.
Because many Indian folks fry food (regardless of oil used), there is an increased rate of heart disease in the culture.
Exactly. It’s not about naturally occurring fats as much as processed food. The countries you talk about historically haven’t been squirting ketchup on everying, adding high fructose corn syrup to food, and eating old “fresh” fruits and veggies shipped from hundreds of miles away. Eat local, fresh food without preservatives and additives and hormones and you’ll be so much better off!
I totally agree, and posted another comment about the same thing
Thank goodness others picked up on the coconut!
Do I detect a bit of the low-fat mantra still in the air with this? Funny how once America got throttled by the low-fat craze, we became an obese nation! In our home, we replaced almost all animal fats with those from plants – saturated and unsaturated and not only is my skin holding up through menopause, but my weight is slowly coming off.
Interesting that the article didn’t include the products from the BIG McFood manufacturers – Like Coke and PepsiCo.
*note: When Warren Buffet, the CEO of Berkshire-Hathaway looked at CocaCola Co. as an acquisition in the early 80’s, he decided it would be a most profitable firm, because as he wrote “It’s cheap to make and legal, because best of all, it’s ADDICITVE..”
Why do you think the billionaires put this stuff on the market?
Avacados are high in poly and mono UNsaturated fatty acids, not saturated fats… UNsaturated fats are “healthy” fats thought to lower cholesterol as well as protect against many diseases including cancer. The saturated fats in coconuts may be structurally different than those from animals, but they are certainly not “healthy”.
“A 2,000-calorie-a-day diet should have no more than 66 grams of fat, less than 20 grams saturated; 2,400 milligrams of sodium; and 300 grams of total carbohydrate, including sugars.”
Wow, if that’s your daily ratio of fats to carbs it’s no wonder you need a diet. And no mention of protein?
Our bodies haven’t evolved to eats the dairies and grains that make up the majority of the standard American diet. Look to the 84 remaining hunter-gatherer tribes of the world to see what’s possible with proper nutrition.
Right, I’ll look to the 84 remaining hunter-gatherer tribes and see that their average life-expectancy is 35 years.
Life expectancy in the Western world is less from diet and healthcare and more about work safety. Look at the history of labor and when job safety improved across the board, life expectancy rose accordingly. People today have NO idea how dangerous work in the past was.
not true. in fact, their lifestyle has survived much longer than ours. and check your stats, man! here in the great U.S., we have some of the Worst health stats in the world!
How can one even consider any of these items food? Keep it simple. What some call the Paleolithic diet really makes sense. Whole foods, unmolested, unrefined, not cooked are where you will find the optimal nutrition and overall health benefits. Nor will you ever gain weight eating a diet consisting of these real foods. And get some exercise by growing some of these foods on your own. That way you can ensure they are Organic and you aren’t getting harmful pesticides in your body. Treat your body like a temple not like a trash can!
Unfortuently-not all of us can go out and buy bread that is twice the price. Some of us can’t go out and afford organic this and organic that. Not to mention-some of us live in the city where we can’t grow any of our own products
You can however, buy plain veggies. Organic isn’t necessary – but UNREFINED is.
I’ve read letters where people will complain that they can’t buy juice because it’s too expensive, so they buy soda instead.. and my question is, if health is SO important, why don’t you buy water? It’s 79 cents a GALLON for the distilled, and then a slice of lime or lemon and it’s better for one’s health.
There’s being serious about health, and then there’s making excuses so we don’t HAVE to change.
Where do you come down on this?
I can see keeping these types of foods to a minimum, but it’s hard for me to believe that there are foods that you should NEVER eat. Well, deep fried Oreos, maybe.
I don’t understand why you would not give the same nutition information for each item. Halp the time you left off carb but then it was there on some.
Although, I do think people need to watch what they eat-to simply tell someone not to have something is ridiculous. How about we start teaching people that they are more then welcome to eat these items, but in moderation. Not to mention-not every can afford organic cocoa puffs. If you want to list an alternative, how about you start with the average family. I certainly can’t be buying organic foods. I am an extremly healthy eater, and I am a regular exerciser, but I have also learned portion control. I thought this entire slideshow was kind of a waste of time.
As a young man of 84 and a little overweight I find that to be the best advice,,IN MODERATION AND PORTION CONTROL WITH EXERCISE
Being a diabetic, it is often difficult to find a suitable snack and what is in them. Articles like these are very helpful. I especially appreciate the alternative snack being listed with its stats also. I can see that if an item is low fat, they often add a lot of sugar to increase the flavor. Please keep posting these things.
portion size and calorie count are the secret to losing weight ! stay away from whole grain bread ,and pasta , soy products are not good for males especially younger males , and anyone who is taking in 300 grams of carbs per day is going to have trouble losing weight ! but yes, most of the items she listed should be on the only once in a great while list !
lots of restaurants are aware of the bad food list. check out a great place to eat for this holiday season at http://www.10BestRestaurants.com
I think this is a good list except for the inclusion of the Amy’s soup. It is true that the saturated fat is high, but because it is from coconut, a plant source, and not an animal source, it is used in the body completley differently.
Being a senior and a diabetic, I find most of the offerings listed not to be friendly foods. I use prepared packaged food minimally and do not eat anything from Fast Food restaurants; especially burgers, fries etc. cannot be good for anyone. Our children are so obese (all they eat is fast food, probably because their parents don’t stay home and cook)these kids will become obese adults and wonder Why! Organic is too expensive also.
The overwhelming evidence is in. The real culprits to weight gain and heart disease are sugar, in all forms, and refined carbohydrates. Get some good science for a change.
my duagther is 8 years old weigh 56k.,how can i reduce her weigth,i need an advice.
More fruits and veggies instead of bready/grainy type snacks. No chips and fried foods. Also get rid of soda-pop, that’s something that you have on special occasions like birthday parties. Have milk or water ONLY in the fridge. No juice – in too many cases, it’s just as loaded with sugar as soda. I grew up on whole grain bread and peanut butter (the REAL kind, that oil separates in, NOT that crap JIF or Skippy with sugar in it..) and jelly sandwiches and was skinny as a rail until I hit my mid 30’s.
EXERCISE!!!!!! and don’t buy chips, candy bars, etc. you control what foods are in your home. take responsibility.
I am really trying hard to eat only whole foods rather than processed junk. Our family including our small children really love and prefer fruits and vegetables too which is wonderful! We also make sure to take our daily vitamins especially our Vidazorb probiotics since they help with so many things like skin, digestion, our son’s Eczema and food allergies etc!
Thank you for keeping me abreast of healthy choices; I have been a loyal ‘Cooking Light’ reader since ‘forever’. My father-in-law gifted me with your magazine back in the 80s. I started reading ‘Health’ a couple of years ago and I gift it to my daughter-in-law and to my best friend; they both love it!I love your exercises, health tips, recipes and recipe ‘ideas’. This email version just adds to the plethera of necessary knowledge that you provide through the two (2) best health related magazines in the world! Just keep it coming…
To get the best results, less sugar , less fried foods, a few work outs.
I agreee with Grendel, portion control.
That power bar is not a diet bar. Like the label says it’s HIGH PERFORMANCE… like for a triathalon. The reason it’s high in carbs is because you actually need those carbs and sugar to get through a marathon or bike tour. Energy bars are for athletes.
Just get and read “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and M. Campbell II, it will open your eyes to the food / marketing / health care industries in this country.
Instead of the Vitamin water try Sobe Lifewater o calories o sugar
What’s wrong with PLAIN water?
I was shocked to learn that so many of the things that people think are healthy, aren’t! I try to stay away from fast food or pre-packaged foods just because I know that there are a lot of things in them that we aren’t being told about. Luckily my husband cooks because my grandma raised me and I know that we weren’t eating healthy. It’s tough!
This article is a real wake-up call. Its hard to avoid these foods when you are on the go. Preparation is the key to staying on track and staying healthy. If you know you will be on the go, make sure to take a snack and mentally prepare for temptation. Also keep this article’s healthy alternatives in mind when you do eat at these places.
MyEatingHabits.com
New to the site. I have bought book after book to try and figure out the healthy foods to eat. The ones teens will eat to. One child is overweight. One underweight.I wish there was a simple lable decoder like this buy only if it has less than this many carbs,sugars,and so on. I already get no sat or trans fat now what
We should be reasonable, this article could be 10 miles long,
yes some items are just slightly better than those indicated,
but I learned something, appetizer’s can outweigh a full course
meal 2 to 1 at Chili’s, and a vitamin water subsidized by an
infamous crack dealer is actually bad for you, thanx 50 cents!
well ok coulda guessed that one.. I think
But the government should disallow any misleading information,
a bottle under 32oz is not 3 servings of anything, that’s just garbage…
How many personal bottles of liquid (Not 2 liter) do you share with 3 people?
Exactly…, Servings should be individual wrapped whenever possible and if
slightly misleading information seems innocuous, it isn’t…
When you look at a label you don’t look at it every single time, and you could
very easily misread something and not realize it until 50 servings later…
The point of this article is to point out foods that don’t automatically register in our minds as bad for us. There are other foods on the market, like has been pointed out in the comments, that the average consumer already knows is unhealthy. This article does a good job of reminding us to actually think about what we’re buying and eating.
I’m pretty surprised at the list but of course for most of it I have yet to try. I believe in cleansing and refreshing the body added to a good exercise routine on a daily basis.
ExerciseToday.net
Obesity comes from ingesting more calories than you expend. Simple as that. Want to lose weight? Eat fewer calories and exercise more.
Particular types of fats, triglycerides, cholesterols, sugars, etc. affect health irrespective of weight. This is a different topic – the two should not be conflated.
i want 2 reduce my weight upto 10kg, right now im 95kg and my height is 6″,please give any good formula to reduce my weight.
thank you
A good place to start is to determine just how many caleries are needed to maintain your weight. Factors include, sex, age, weight, height and lifestyle. The basic formula is as follows:
Step one: calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR):
Women: 655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)
Men: 66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) – (6.8 x age in years)
Step two: activity;
•If you are sedentary : BMR x 20 percent
•If you are lightly active: BMR x 30 percent
•If you are moderately active (You exercise most days a week.): BMR x 40 percent
•If you are very active (You exercise intensely on a daily basis or for prolonged periods.): BMR x 50 percent
•If you are extra active (You do hard labor or are in athletic training.): BMR x 60 percent
Add this number to your BMR. The result of this formula will be the number of calories you can eat every day and maintain your current weight.
In order to lose weight, you’ll need to take in fewer calories than this result.
It takes 3,500 less caleries to drop one pound. So that translates to 500 less caleries a day (3500 / 7 = 500) to drop a pound in one week.
For example, if your BMI is 2150 caleries a day, your should eat no more than 2150 – 500 = 1650 calories a day to drop one pound per week. More exercise allows more caleries a day to be eaten -or- faster weight gain.
Never drop below 1200 calories a day (exercise more).
That’s all you need to know to lose weight.
Ok, I should have used a spell checker. In the 2nd to last paragraph it should have read -or- faster weight LOSS.
(Sorry about that).