'Healthy' Or 'Diet' Foods You Should Probably Stop Eating

The cereal aisle is filled with granola options, but most are not as healthy as you think.

“Granola has had this health halo around it for years and years. Truth is, some are great choices and others not so much,” says Gans. “It’s very important to read the label on a granola package to find out if it is just packed with added sugars or actually contains any beneficial nutrients, such as heart-healthy fiber.”

The term “gluten-free” is not synonymous with “healthy."

“Just because a food is labeled gluten-free doesn’t mean it is more nutritious for you than its gluten-containing counterpart,” says Martin. “In fact, sometimes the gluten-free option ends up being less nutritious, as is the case with some gluten-free cookies, because manufacturers end up adding more sugar and/or fat to make up for the flavor and texture differences that come from having to use gluten-free flours. Unless you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there’s no need to avoid gluten.”

Picking a baked good that claims to be lower in fat may still have more calories due to added sugar.

“Fat in baking contributes to flavor and texture,” says Pankonin. “When you remove fat from a cookie or muffin recipe, you’re often replacing the fat with sugar and that will most likely increase the calories and might leave you feeling unsatisfied.”

Some protein bars are more like candy bars.

“This is not a ‘NEVER’ food, but not all bars are created equal. Some bars may have way too many calories and more protein than you actually need, especially if grabbing one as a snack,” says Gans. “And some bars may come with a lot of added sugar, making it more like a candy bar than an actual health bar.”

Plant-based foods are super popular in health food right now, but they’re not always "healthy."

“Not all plant-based beverages are created equal and unless you have a dairy allergy, plant-based beverages might not be the best option for you,” says Pankonin. “Many plant-based beverages contain less protein and more calories from sugar compared to a glass of cow’s milk which is fortified with vitamin D and vitamin A.”

Although they may contain spinach, it’s a trivial amount.

“Those green-colored ‘spinach’ wraps may appear healthy—after all, they’re green—but more often than not they contain very little veggie and are no more nutritious than other refined wheat wraps,” says Martin. “Instead, opt for whole-grain wraps.”

Processed foods labeled for the keto diet may be low-carb, but have other additives that are not good for you.

“Anything labeled ‘keto’ often is going to be lower in carbohydrates compared to their regular counterparts,” says Pankonin. “However, just because the product is labeled ‘keto’ doesn’t mean it’s healthier. These products can be higher in fat and contain sweeteners that might cause stomach upset and indigestion.”

Although the flavors are fun, they tend to be loaded with sugar.

“The low-fat label can often mislead us into assuming a food is nutritious, when oftentimes that’s not the case, especially when it comes to flavored yogurts,” says Martin. “In order to make up for the lack of fat, flavored low-fat yogurts will sometimes be packed with added sugar. For example, a ¾ cup serving of Dannon’s low-fat vanilla yogurt has 14 grams of added sugar, over half of the recommended daily added sugar limit for women of 24 grams.”

This dark colored bread has a unique flavor, but that doesn’t mean it’s any more healthy.

“Everyone thinks that pumpernickel bread is healthy because it is dark in color, so it must be packed with whole grains. However, the opposite is true,” says Gans. “It is made from rye flour and a very small amount of wheat flour. Some commercial varieties even add molasses in it for coloring. If you are looking for a healthy bread, look for one that consists of 100% whole grains.”

If you’re choosing to go meatless for health reasons, you might want to rethink these.

“The 4 oz. Beyond Meat burger contains 250 calories, 18 grams of fat, 390 mg of sodium, 3 carbohydrates, 20 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. Out of that 18 grams of total fat, 6 grams are coming from saturated fat,” says Pankonin. “Looking at a 4 oz burger made with 85% lean ground beef, this contains 230 calories, 16 grams of fat, 55 grams of sodium, 0 carbohydrates, 21 grams protein and 0 grams of fiber. In this case, the 85% lean ground beef has fewer calories, less fat and is lower in sodium and carbohydrates.”

Staying hydrated is essential, but for most people, plain water is all you really need in the beverage department.

“Although there are some excellent hydration powders on the market, many of the pre-made hydration beverages, like Bodyarmor and Vitamin Water, have close to 30 grams of added sugar per bottle,” says Martin.

Choosing a veggie chip instead of a potato chip doesn’t deliver more nutrients.

“Many brands of veggie chips are no different than regular potato chips,” says Gans. “They are made with oil and salt, and have very little fiber or other nutrients which you would expect from a veggie. And remember…technically a potato is a vegetable too.”

Regardless of if your alcoholic drink is ‘diet’, alcohol is still a high-calorie food.

“Just because an alcoholic beverage is marketed as ‘diet’ or ‘better for you’ doesn’t mean it’s healthy,” says Pankonin. “Not only does alcohol contain empty calories which might cause unwanted weight gain, but it has been shown to elevate blood pressure and impact sleep patterns.”

Salad dressings are usually fat-based thanks to olive oil or other oils, which actually can be good for you.

“Like with other low-fat and fat-free products, manufacturers often add extra sugar to makeup for the missed flavor when removing fat from their products,” says Martin. “Plus, some fat in your salad dressing isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Fat helps your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in your salad.”