Losing weight is hard and it seems like every other day there is a new diet or “super food” that is the secret to finally getting the body you have always wanted. However, with so much misinformation, it is hard to determine which foods are actually the ones you should be eating and which ones you should avoid. To make your life easier, here are 4 foods that are often touted as “healthy” but can still sabotage your weight loss attempts.
Nut Butters
Nut butters like peanut butter and almond butter taste delicious. Seriously, most of us could probably find a million different things to spread them on and instantly make that item 10x more tasty.
But that’s actually the problem.
The 200-calorie serving size for nut butters is just 2 tablespoons which doesn’t go far when making the perfect PBJ sandwich. Due to being high in fat (even though they are good fats!) the real danger is overindulgence. That means if you are dieting and want to include your favorite nut butter you absolutely MUST break out the measuring spoon and be spot on.
With this in mind, some people may be better off just avoiding nut butters altogether or only eating them sparingly since that 200 calories could go a long way somewhere else.
Avocados
What’s not to like about avocados?
They have a smooth texture, add the perfect flavor to almost any Mexican dish, and even taste great smeared across toast. Not to mention that they are incredibly popular and ever one talks about the healthy fats contained therein.
But wait. That actually sounds kind of like those nut butters we covered above.
If that’s that what you were thinking, you’re right!
Like peanut or almond butter, avocados pack quite a bit of calories and while typically healthy, they need to be consumed in moderation. Numbers can vary, but the average avocado has between 300 and 350 calories and we know that losing weight is a function of minimizing calories.
So, make sure you only having a couple small slices at a time.
Smoothies
Often pushed as one of the “best” or most “identifiable” health foods, smoothies are almost always a go-to when someone starts a new diet or commits themselves to eating better. You take a bunch of fruit, maybe some ice or milk, and toss it in a blender. Boom, you have a healthy snack or treat.
Or do you?
The answer is not to straight-forward.
There’s two main problems with smoothies: they either have way too many items that make them calorie-bombs or they don’t contain enough sustenance to be really be beneficial.
Everyone knows fruit is good for you, right? Of course, but a smoothie is a different animal. Actually, one of the main reasons that fruit is good for you is that is contains vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fiber is usually found in the skin of the fruit and what makes it a good snack because it is the ingredient that keeps you full longer. However, when you blend all your fruit together, that property is lost. That means you’re probably going to be hungry 20 minutes later.
On the other hand, you could (and probably should) add protein powder or another source to your smoothie which will help keep you full, but you want to make sure you’re not throwing the whole kitchen sink of ingredients in. This is seen commonly when going to one of those smoothie bars where they add oatmeal, peanut butter, or countless other things to make the smoothies taste better. Many of those drinks end up packing around 500 calories or more and could easily put you over your calorie goals.
If you are going to implement smoothies into your nutrition plan, then it is best to make your own to ensure that it fits your calories.
Vegan or Gluten-Free Treats
Going vegan or gluten-free are two incredibly popular nutrition options nowadays. While both can lead to a healthy, sustainable nutrition plan, it’s important to understand that usually this is due to including more whole, unprocessed food. However, it is critical to understand that vegan or gluten free foods don’t automatically qualify as “healthy” choices.
A cookie is still a cookie, even if it is gluten-free or vegan. And sometimes those cookies may have more calories than a standard cookie!
There is no special diet or one thing you can avoid that will magically put you in weight loss mode.
I’m sorry if I just ruined it for you, but there’s no hacking a healthy diet. It comes down to being mindful, eating things in moderation, and keeping an eye on your calories. It’s not fun or groundbreaking, but it works every single time when applied correctly.
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