5 Foods That Seem Healthy, But Aren’t

Navigating what is healthy and what is not can be tricky sometimes. Foods that sound and are even marketed as healthy can be full of calories, fat and added sugars. This is one of the reasons that cooking at home can be so wonderful. When you make your own meals, you have full transparency of what ingredients and quantities are going into your body. Here are a few dishes that may seem healthy, but will actually cause you to pack on the pounds:

1. Quinoa Bowls

This may seem like a healthy gluten-free option, but quinoa bowls are usually packed with a ton of carbs. According to Tanya Zuckerbrot, creator of the F-Factor diet, a quinoa bowl with 2 cups of quinoa and sweet potatoes is equivalent to 8 pieces of white bread in carbs! A great way to replace quinoa, without losing out on the texture is cauliflower “rice”. Most grocery stores sell prepackaged cauliflower “rice” so all you have to do is sauté it for a few minutes and voila – less carbs, more fiber!

2. Gluten-Free Potato Pancakes

Potato pancakes are a traditional recipe that many of us love. Unfortunately, they are not so figure friendly. Most recipes are made up of breadcrumbs, flour, and are fried in oil! These ingredients are a big no-no if you are trying to fit into your skinny jeans. On average, one potato pancake has 200 calories and 11 grams of fat, and who can stop just after one? I know I can’t. Instead try these deliciously fluffy zucchini pancakes that won’t leave you feeling bloated.

3. Skinny Starbucks Drinks

Many Starbucks drinks are loaded with artificial flavors and way too much sugar. If you want a healthy pick me up, try this flavorful matcha latte. Matcha also has great health benefits! It is full of antioxidants (7 times more than green tea), vitamins and polyphenols.

4. Fruit Flavored Yogurt

The tiny yogurt you eat for breakfast and leaves your stomach rumbling until lunch is packed with more sugar than you would suspect. Most yogurts have 15 grams of sugar or more! Switch to plain Greek yogurt or Siggi’s and make yourself a delightful homemade parfait.

5. Instant Oatmeal

This may seem like a good option when you are rushing in the morning, but those single serving packs of flavored oatmeal are packed with more sugar than you may realize. Stick with the plain flavor oats and add your own berries and spices, like cinnamon, for extra flavor. Try this healthy berry oatmeal next time you are making breakfast.