Top 15 Foods to Avoid & What to Eat Instead
One way to lose weight is to have a nutritional diet. Knowing which foods to avoid and which to eat can help a person reach or maintain their ideal weight.
In general, when trying to lose weight, it is best to reduce or avoid foods that are calorie dense. However, the number of calories in a food is not the only factor to consider. For example, low-calorie foods that lack nutrients such as fiber and protein can still leave a person feeling hungry and unsatisfied, which can make it harder to resist snacking.
Processed junk foods are everywhere, full of sugar, salt and fat, they can have devastating effects on your health - but what are the real worst foods to eat? Check out this list I have compiled to help you on your next shopping trip:
Sugary drinks: Many beverages, such as sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks and fruit juices, are very high in added sugars but often low in other nutrients.
Instead: Drink H20 Infused with Fruit and Green Tea and Acai Berry for energy.
Most pizzas: They're extremely high in calories and often contain unhealthy ingredients like highly refined flour and processed meat.
Instead make a homemade pizza with healthier ingredients is a much better option.
White bread, Pasta and White Rice: Typically high in calories (except white rice) and carbohydrates but low in fiber, protein, and other nutrients
Instead Brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread and cauliflower rice are healthful alternatives to white rice. These options are richer in dietary fiber, which can help a person feel fuller for longer.
Canned Soup: canned soups are not as bad for your health as some of the other foods featured in this top 15, but they do contain high amounts of salt.
Instead make your own soup with low sodium chicken or beef stock.
Sweetened breakfast cereals: contain preservatives to make them last longer, artificial dyes, flavorings and high amounts of sugar.
Instead eat whole grain cereals and oats.
Pastries, cookies, cakes and ice cream: often very high in added sugars, including fructose. high amounts of saturated and trans fats when you eat the treat. Doughnuts also class as empty calories, as the snack itself is high in calories and sugar.
Instead consider frozen fruit or blend frozen fruit with almond milk and protein powder
Candy: Normally are high in calorie, sugar, and fat content.
Instead try dark chocolate or frozen fruit
Processed meat: Like bacon, jerky, hot dogs, salami, and ham contain nitrates and other chemical additives to help preserve the meat for longer and enhance the color.
Instead eat lean protein sources, such as poultry, fish, and beans
Processed cheese: Like the yellow squares of American you we love on our grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers.
Instead eat Cheddar cheese, mozarella cheese, blue cheese, ricotta cheese, goat cheese, swiss cheese and feta cheese.
Table salt: Sodium
Instead try herbs, salt-free seasonings and pink Himalayan salt.
French Fries, Crackers and Potato Chips: High in calories, salt, and unhealthful fats.
Instead try baked chips, fresh peppers, raw carrots, side salad, a pickle or celery with hummus or a small portion of toasted nuts with no added salt or sugar.
High-Calorie Coffee Drinks: High-calorie coffee drinks are actually no better than soda. They're loaded with empty calories that can equal a whole meal.
Instead drink plain, black coffee which can be very healthy and help you burn fat.
Beer & Sugary Alcoholic Beverages: Are calorie dense and generally high in sugar, but they contain little or no protein and fiber.
Instead try to find low carb, low fat beer and dry red wine.
Frozen Meals: Offer little in the way of nutritional value. To turn something that sits in your freezer for months on end into an edible meal, manufacturers add in high levels of preservatives and sodium to the food.
Instead Opt for organic, low-sodium, low-sugar frozen options. Even better make your own during a meal prep and freeze it.
Charred Meats: increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic, breast, and prostate cancers.
Instead use marinades that include rosemary before grilling which can slash the production of carcinogenic properties up to 90 percent. Also don’t overcook your food.
This is a good list and I didn’t mention everything, but that's not to say that the foods featured on this list are things you should never eat again, but if you want to follow a healthy diet then try to keep your intake of these 15 foods to a minimum.