When it comes to healthy eating, grocery shopping can make or break the best of intentions. Navigating the aisles can be tricky but, while the key is to be savvy about our food choices, reading food labels for each item can be time consuming. To help kick start things, here are eight foods to avoid while shopping at the supermarket:
- Citrus drinks — While the label sounds innocent, many citrus drinks contain high concentrates of sugar, artificial sweeteners and colorants, Reader's Digest reported. Swapping your citrus drink for water would be the best choice but if you are craving that sweet drink try diluting it in water.
- Flavored yogurt — Yogurt may have its place in a healthy diet but the flavored types are not as good as you may think. Most are packed with extra sugar and artificial flavors, Good Housekeeping noted. It is best to stick to plain, unsweetened yogurt.
- Cheese-flavored popcorn — Nutritionists often recommend popcorn as a heathy snack but they are referring to the plain variations, not the cheese-flavored brands that are loaded with salt, artificial flavorings as well as saturated fats obtained from oil and cheese, Reader's Digest noted.
- Bottled smoothies — We are led to believe that smoothies are a healthy on-the-go breakfast option but what we are not being told is that many brands cram sugar into their bottled smoothies and little else, Eat This, Not That says. Fresh-made drinks are the best option as they contain more fiber and you can control what goes in them.
- Salad dressing — The word salad is synonymous with healthy eating but most salad dressing are packed with sodium, sugar and saturated fat, which will derail any healthy eating plan, Good Housekeeping reported. Try stick to natural dressings such as lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.
- Pre-grilled chicken breasts — We know that chicken is a healthy protein source but not when it comes pre-packed. There is a reason why these items have extended shelf lives and that is thanks to copious amounts of sodium and other artificial ingredients that have been packed into the seemingly innocent pre-cooked chicken, Reader's Digest noted.
- BBQ sauce — You can be forgiven for overlooking this unhealthy item. Who would have thought that just a dash of BBQ sauce could have any negative impact on your health? According to Eat This, Not That, it is best to avoid this sauce as most brands are packed with sugar and sugar variants.
- Low-fat foods — While we may associate "low fat" with healthy eating, most items with reduced fat content have been loaded with sugar to compensate for the bland taste, Good Housekeeping noted. The full-fat versions may actually be better for your health.