HEALTHY POSERS

You make think the food you are consuming is healthy, as the media and the brand have told you that it is. However there are a number of repeat 'healthy food' offenders that are filled with sugar and lies. Below are a few to watch out for and avoid if possible. 

1. Vitamin enriched water

Judging by the name, this drink sounds super nutritious  However, this fluid is basically sugary water with a few vitamins. Yes you are getting your daily dose of nutrients, (similar to that of a multivitamin), but with a bucket load of extra sugar and calories with it. Did you know that a single serving of vitamin water can contain as much as 5 teaspoons of sugar? The American Heart Association recommends that women consume a maximum of 6 teaspoons of sugar a day and men 9 teaspoons. 

Alternative - WATER. No calories, no sugar, no worries. Or if you really need to drink water with flavouring, add some lime, lemon or orange wedges or cucumber slices. And don't stress about where you are going to get your daily vitamins from, as they are in all grains, vegetables and fruits. 

2. Muesli & Granola 

Muesli and granola seem packed to the brim with grains, oats and healthy goodness right? Unfortunately, they are also chockfull of sugar and calories. A single bowl can contain as much as 669 calories (2,800 kilojoules) and that's even before adding your yoghurt, milk or fruit topping. And don't think that muesli and granola bars are exempt from this list, because they also contain hidden added sugars, chocolate and chicory root extract, which is a sneaky way to describe inulin, a sugar made from plants that is very hard for the body to digest. 

Get creative - Make your own Muesli and/or Granola. Then you are in control of exactly how much sugar you put into your bowl and what form you use. Alternatively you can haunt the cereal aisle of your supermarket and inspect the labels of pre-packaged muesli & granola in detail - not all brands are filled with sugar. Find a muesli / granola with a low sugar content and stick with it. 

3. Diet Drinks

Often we equivalent diet or no calories with healthy, however these words do not always go together. Diet drinks are packed with artificial sweeteners and anything that is used to make dirty gravel roads sparkle does not belong in your stomach! Many studies show that consuming super sweet substances, such as diet drinks, can lead to overeating in the future. What scares me the most about soft drinks is that they can cause bone loss. Research reveals that phosphoric acid, found in dark cola drinks, has the potential to seep calcium from your bones, directly increasing your risk of osteoporosis. 

Ditch it altogether - and drink water, tea or small quantities of milk. Your bones and intestines will thank you. 

4. Banana Bread

It physically pains me to write this, as I love a slice of banana bread as much as the next person. The ugly truth is that banana bread contains mostly sugar, butter and white flour and is therefore not healthier than a chocolate brownie or dense piece of cake. The average piece of banana bread can be broken down into over 60 grams of carbs, 20-30 grams of fat and at least 4 teaspoons of sugar (remember that our daily intake for women is only 6 grams and 9 grams for men). 

Trick yourself - and place sliced banana on your multigrain or wholemeal toast or on your homemade or low sugar muesli. Or get inventive in the kitchen and experiment with making your own sugar-free banana bread. 

5. Veggie Chips

I also used to eat a fair few veggie chips, as I considered them much better for me than regular potato and corn chips. How wrong I was, as these 'vegetable' based chips are basically all equal in calories and fat to those greasy, salty potato and flavoured chips. Veggie chips are primarily made up of fried potatoes, with a hint of vegetable powder or puree thrown in there to provide its bright colouring. 

Substitute - veggie chips for fresh, wholesome vegetables like celery, carrot or zucchini. Pair these with homemade avocado dip or hummus. 

There are of course many more naughty foods posing as super healthy, such as fruit juice, some smoothies and yoghurt covered raisins, to name a few. Read labels in detail and remember that the best way to know exactly what goes into your food is to make it yourself! 

x Emily