When done the right way, snacking is supposed to be nutrient dense, with just the right amount of caloric intake as to not upset your cravings, stomach or your healthy eating lifestyle. Healthy snacking is actually essential to any diet or exercises regimen, as it helps to keep those pesky cravings at bay, and can actually provide a significant amount of nutritional sustenance to your overall diet. However, all too often some of the most common snacks, yes, even those labeled, “organic”, “natural” and are otherwise perceived as healthy, are actually jam packed with sugar, salt preservatives, additives and harsh chemicals.
Canned Peaches
Canned fruits and even canned vegetables are seemingly the best thing that you can put into your body when you’re in a hurry, right? They have all of the same nutrients and there’s no time spent peeling, boiling or otherwise preparing them. However, items like canned peaches, which seem to be a popular go to canned fruit, are loaded with excess sugar, and their overall nutrient content is generally far lower than actual fresh produce. Canned fruit has its flavor enhanced to up the appeal and overall taste, and it’s done with the help of artificial sweeteners. Even worse, many of the cans are often lined with BPA, a toxic chemical that acts as a preservative.
Rice Cakes
Another favorite amongst those who believe that eating empty calories means that it’s healthier for them. Although they are extremely low in calories, they are also produced from processed white rice, which is extremely great at raising blood sugar levels to astronomical heights.
Granola Bars
Grab and go, you’re full and you’re eating healthy. Wrong. Almost every single form of granola bar on the market today has been stuffed with processed carbs, sugary dried fruit, and even more sugar on that to help all of the ingredient stick together to form the bar itself. Many are loaded with calories too. So, just because it says made with real fruit, it also means that the fruit is layered in unhealthy ingredients.
Fat-Free Yogurt with Fruit on the Bottom
Arguably one of the more common foods that people perceive as healthy, but is actually the exact opposite. It’s important to remember that “fat-free”, doesn’t mean “healthy”. Unlike nonfat Greek yogurt, which is strained to give it its signature thick texture, regular yogurt is mostly comprised of water and sugar.
Consult your primary care physician or chiropractor for any medical related advice.