5 Foods to AVOID Even At Whole Foods
It’s easy to believe that just by shopping at Whole Foods or other natural grocers that you’re automatically buying healthy food no matter what you put into your basket.
Often times once we’re through the doors of a health food store we stop reading labels and assure ourselves that everything here is good for us!
Sorry to burst your All Natural bubble but, depending on your health and fitness goals there may be some ingredients you will want to look out for, maybe even items you definitely want to avoid:
- Gluten Free Products
Not all gluten free foods are healthy—they’re just free of gluten, a protein found in certain grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Crackers, breads, cookies, cakes, and other processed baked goods are just as full of sugar and devoid of fiber and nutrients as their “regular” wheat filled counterparts.
Takeaway: Health food store or not, limit or avoid processed baked goods.
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- “Healthy” Drinks—Tea, Soda, Juice, Smoothies
Just because a drink is sweetened with organic sugar, agave or other “healthy” sweeteners doesn’t mean it won’t have an impact on your blood sugar, energy, and overall health. Many of these so called healthy drinks are just a hard on your system as regular soda. If you’re just dying for a sweet flavorful drink add 8-10 oz. water or club soda and split it with someone. You’ll get half the calories from sugar but enjoy a sweet treat every now and then.
Takeaway: Choose unsweetened drinks, infused waters, or make your own Ice tea and soda at home where you can control the portion, type, and amount of sweetener added.
- Multi-Grain Products
Labeling terms can be totally misleading, getting you to think you’re eating grains with greater nutritional value when you’re not. Words like “multi-grain, stoneground and cracked wheat” essentially mean nothing. The bread could very likely be enriched white flour with some brown coloring and a few crunchy seeds sprinkled in to get the visual look of wheat bread.
Takeaway: Look for products with minimal ingredients in their whole form and follow my Rule of 3—less than 3 g of sugar, 3 g or more of fiber, more than 3 g of protein per serving.
- “Vegan” Desserts
While these desserts are no doubt “healthier” they are still dessert. Sugar is a major problem in our society—don’t be fooled thinking ‘vegan’ food items give you a free pass to pig out!
Takeaway: No matter what you are eating, eat with mindfulness and watch portion sizes.
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- “Organic” Snacks
“Organic” is a term that seems to confuse many. Organic refers to the method of growing foods and raising animals without hormone, pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified organisms. It is not synonymous with “healthy, eat as much as you want”. While organic products are highly recommended, don’t be fooled by yogurt covered pretzels, chocolate covered gogi berries, and beet chips. Most of these “junk” foods—organic or not—are full of sugar, low in fiber and super easy to overeat.
Takeaway: Save organic junk food for special occasions and eat appropriate portions—if this is impossible, simply don’t buy it.
It’s important to set and keep boundaries around food—even “healthy” food. Your mind, body, energy and waistline will thank you!