Eating Healthier
When it comes to grocery shopping, it’s easy to think everything with a “healthy” label or bright packaging is good for you. But nutritionists know better. Many items we toss into our carts every week are loaded with hidden sugars, refined grains, or subtle preservatives that sneak past our radar. Here’s 35 things you shouldn’t be eating if you want to live a healthy, nutritionist-approved life.
Sugary Breakfast Cereals
Nutritionists steer well clear of cereals loaded with sugar and artificial coloring. Even the ones labeled “whole grain” often pack more sweeteners than fiber. Some people believe that the availability of these brightly colored cereals has contributed to obesity in the United States, even.
Processed Cheese Slices
Individually wrapped cheese slices are way more “cheese product” than actual cheese. Packed with fillers, emulsifiers, and artificial color, they don’t offer much nutrition and some people find they taste horrible. What’s wrong with actual cheese?
Bottled Smoothies
Pre-made smoothies are marketed as a quick health fix, but nutritionists don’t buy it. Most are loaded with fruit juice concentrates and sugars that make them more like liquid candy than anything else. Instead, a nutrition-wise person will blend their own smoothie at home with veggies, real fruit, and protein sources like nut butter.
Processed Deli Meats
Nutritionists skip packaged deli meats like ham, bologna, or turkey slices. They may seem like an easy protein option, but they’re often full of sodium, preservatives, and nitrates linked to health risks. Don’t risk it – roast your own meats at home.
Soda
Whether it’s regular or diet, you really shouldn’t bother with soda. Regular soda is pure sugar that spikes blood sugar, while diet soda comes with artificial sweeteners that can mess with cravings and digestion. Leave it on the shelf and train your body to drink plain water for hydration.
Granola Bars
Nutritionists know that most granola bars are candy bars wearing a “healthy” disguise. Packed with added sugars, syrups, and chocolate coatings, they give a quick burst of energy but crash you later. Snacking on a handful of nuts and fruit is much healthier.
Flavored Instant Oatmeal Packets
Those little instant oatmeal packets sound like a good idea for those on the go, but they’re usually loaded with sugar, artificial flavors, and barely any fiber. Nutritionists and health food lovers prefer old-fashioned rolled oats they can flavor themselves with fruit, cinnamon, or nuts.
Microwave Popcorn Bags
Nutritionists avoid those convenient microwave popcorn bags like the plague, because they’re often coated with artificial flavorings, unhealthy oils, and extremely questionable chemicals. Some of them however make popcorn the old-fashioned way - on the stove or with an air popper.
Frozen Dinners
Frozen dinners might be quick and easy, but nutritionists will tell you they’re usually high in sodium, low in nutrients, and packed with preservatives. Even the so-called “healthy” versions are terrible for you. Why not learn to cook at home instead? It could open up a whole new world for you.
Muffins
Store-bought muffins are okay as a rare treat, but you definitely shouldn’t be eating them every day. When it comes down to it, they’re basically just cupcakes without frosting. They’re full of sugar, refined flour, and unhealthy oils that won’t keep you full for long.
White Bread
So many people eat white bread without a thought, but not nutritionists. They’ll go for whole grain or sprouted breads instead. White bread is made from refined flour that’s stripped of nutrients and fiber, which means a quick blood sugar spike followed by a crash.
Instant Noodles
Sure, they’re cheap and easy, but instant noodles are loaded with sodium, additives, and very little actual nutrition. You should skip them because they’re basically empty calories. Try whole-grain pasta instead – it’s not as cheap, but it’s much better for you.
Canned Pasta
Sticking with the pasta theme – canned pasta isn’t good for you either. That humble tin is full of odium, sugar, and cheap and nasty ingredients. As with the previous entry, you should buy yourself some whole-grain pasta (in bulk, maybe?) and stick with that.
Cheese Puffs
If it’s bright orange and crunchy, nutritionists and doctors steer clear. Cheese puffs are basically nothing but flavored air with lots of sodium, artificial colors, and oils. They don’t satisfy hunger and they’re dangerously easy to overeat. Cut them out of your diet entirely and you might feel your health improving.
Fruit Snacks
Those chewy little packs marketed to kids? They’re just candy dressed up with a “fruit” label. Most are made with corn syrup, artificial dyes, and barely a trace of real fruit. Don’t eat them, don’t let your kids eat them, and put out a variety of apples, oranges and the like to snack on instead.
Packaged Cookies
Store-bought cookies might taste good, but they’re packed with refined flour, sugar, and trans fats that nutritionists avoid. They know those treats don’t provide lasting satisfaction and often trigger overeating which leads to obesity. If they want something sweet, a single square of dark chocolate usually satisfies that craving.
Ice Cream
Ice cream just isn’t a good idea, especially if you like the heavily processed ones with stabilizers and corn syrup. Many YouTubers these days will show you how to make “nice cream”, where you can choose the ingredients that go in and regulate yourself.
Canned Fruit in Syrup
Nutritionists pass on canned fruit swimming in heavy syrup. While fruit itself is healthy, drowning it in sugar completely cancels the benefits. If they do buy canned, they’ll pick versions packed in water or 100% juice. Better yet, they’ll stick to fresh or frozen fruit.
Flavored Coffee Creamers
You need to steer clear of those colorful bottles of coffee creamer. They’re usually packed with sugar, artificial flavors, and hydrogenated oils. Basically, it’s liquid dessert in your morning cup, and you don’t want that. A nutritionist might recommend that instead you go with real milk, or unsweetened almond milk.
Veggie Chips
Despite the name, veggie chips aren’t fooling nutritionists. Most are just potato flour and starch with a dusting of vegetable powder for color. They don’t deliver the same vitamins and fiber as real vegetables – which is what you should be eating instead.
Pizzas
A frozen pizza can have as many vegetables as it wants on top, it’ll still never be healthy. They’re typically really high in sodium, refined carbs, and processed cheese. You can try making your own pizza at home with fresh ingredients, but even then it should be a once-in-a-while treat.
Sweetened Nut Butters
Peanut butter with honey swirls or chocolate-flavored almond butter are wildly popular choices, but nutritionists leave them on the shelf. They know those jars usually hide added sugar and oils that drown out the natural health benefits.
Energy Drinks
Stay away from energy drinks, even the ones marketed as “clean” or “natural.” They’re usually loaded with caffeine, sugar, and stimulants that give a quick jolt followed by a crash. Many people have reported feeling terrible after adding them to their diet.
Frozen Fried Foods
Nutritionists skip the freezer aisle favorites like mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, and onion rings. They’re usually loaded with sodium, unhealthy oils, and preservatives. Kids love them of course, but it may be time to steer them away and get them eating healthier.
Canned Soups
Those quick canned soups may seem harmless or even healthy, but unfortunately they’re sodium bombs with little protein or veggies. Even the “healthy” labels often hide additives and too much salt. Why not try making your own soup at home instead?
Sugary Condiments
Ketchup, barbecue sauce, and their friends pack in more sugar than you’d expect. Even just a couple squirts of the sauce can sneak in a day’s worth of added sugar. You can try looking for low-sugar versions, but in some places they can be hard to find.
Pastries
Nutritionists avoid those snack cakes and pies in brightly colored packaging. They’re full of refined flour, trans fats, and preservatives designed to sit on shelves for months. Health-conscious people can bake treats at home with better ingredients - or skip pastries altogether in favor of fresh fruit and yogurt.
Pre-Made Salad Kits
Salad kits might look like a shortcut to healthy eating, but nope, unfortunately, this is another case where everyone is fooled by good marketing. The lettuce is often limp, and the included dressings and toppings are usually high in sugar, salt, and preservatives.
Pop-Tarts
Please don’t start your day off with a Pop-Tart, there are so many better options out there. They’re basically sugar-filled pockets made with refined flour, artificial flavors, and cheap oils, and they absolutely won’t set you up for the rest of the day.
Flavored Yogurt
Those little fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts sound healthy, but you should know they’re basically dessert in disguise. Many have as much sugar as a candy bar, plus added thickeners and artificial flavors. Try plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt instead – you may find you prefer it.
Bottled Salad Dressings
Most bottled dressings - even the “light” or “fat-free” ones - are full of sugar, cheap oils, and preservatives. Nutritionists prefer mixing their own with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs. It takes just a minute and tastes fresher.
White Rice
A hidden “bad food”. Nutritionists often skip plain white rice because it’s stripped of fiber and nutrients. It spikes blood sugar and leaves you hungry fast. There are a lot of other options - brown rice or quinoa for example.
Packaged Crackers
Those buttery or cheese-flavored crackers are convenient, but nutritionists know they’re full of refined flour, salt, and oils. You can get healthier whole-grain ones, so why not try those, maybe with a bit of hummus on top?
Potato Chips
Classic potato chips are everywhere – and usually by the tills so you’ll pick one up for an impulse buy. But they’re high in sodium, refined oils, and calories with almost zero nutrients. You should avoid them altogether and look for healthier, vegetable-based snack options.
Sports Drinks
Unless you’re running marathons on the daily, you don’t need sports drinks. They’re basically sugar water with artificial colors and a sprinkle of electrolytes. For the average person, they just add empty calories. Again, what you really need for hydration is plain and simple water.
