Sometimes it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what’s preventing you from achieving your weight loss goals. Maybe your goal is not even weight loss; maybe you’re looking to simply feel better overall, have better digestion, more energy, and better focus.
Keep an open mind when it comes to eating healthy. Changes can sometimes feel overwhelming, but usually all it takes is to make a commitment and then find new foods you love to replace the not so great ones you were eating. Let your body guide you. If you feel great after eating something then it’s usually good for you, whereas if you feel sluggish and bloated, then it’s was likely not the best choice for you.
Don’t know where to begin? Here are 3 ‘healthy’ foods that suck at getting you to your health goals:
1) Cereal
Cereals are a great time saver, I’ll give you that, but unfortunately most are loaded with sugar and contain very little nutrition, not to mention the artificial flavours and colours that are contained in the non-healthy varieties.
“High fibre”, “low calorie”, “gluten-free”, “sugar-free”, “high in vitamins”… the list of claims goes on and on, but the reality is that most cereals are high glycemic, so they are not a great source of lasting energy. The manufacturing process (extrusion) also destroys the natural vitamins and protein in the grains, making it very hard for your body to find any real nutrition. You’re so much better off eating a bowl of white rice for breakfast than crispy rice cereal for example.
You want quick, easy and nutritious? Stick to good old eggs which are packed with nutrition and are a great source of protein and healthy fat. If you really enjoy the occasional cereal style breakfast post workout, oatmeal (not quick oats) is a much better option.
2) Healthy Energy Bars and Protein Bars
The energy bars at the health food store are colourful and beautifully packaged, with seemingly harmless ingredients like nuts and fruits. But flip to the back and look at the ingredients and you’ll see that the first ingredient is typically some sort of sugar: cane sugar, brown rice syrup, agave syrup, etc… These forms of sugar may seem like healthier alternatives, but the way your body reacts to them is the same as regular sugar.
Protein Bars are usually no better. In general they are a concoction of sugar, artificial flavours, sweeteners, and denatured protein. See my breakdown here http://bestbodybootcamp.com/blog/2012/05/deconstructing-labels-protein-energy-bars/
The next time that you feel compelled to reach for an energy bar, reach for raw nuts and fresh or dried fruit instead. And if a protein boost is what you’re after, a home made smoothie made with a healthy source of protein, such as Sun Warrior, or Great Lakes Gelatin is a better choice.
3) Gluten Free Products
Gluten-free has become a bit of a trend these days. I’m a huge fan of people going gluten-free, but replacing all the processed foods and breads with their gluten free counterparts is not a very healthy choice. Many gluten-free products are still highly processed, high in sugar, and most contain an array of preservatives and artificial flavors.
So if you decide to embark on the gluten free journey, replace it with whole foods and the occasional, preferably homemade, gluten-free treat.
Here’s to getting closer to your goals!
Have a happy and healthy day.
Daniela