Five Foods You’ve Got to Avoid
Steer clear of these nutritional disasters—and replace them with our healthy treats.
-Kathryn H. Cusimano
We know that some of our favorite foods are not exactly good for us, but we often wonder: which ones are really, really bad ? We spoke to Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, to find out which foods to leave off your plate.
BREAKFAST
Greek yogurt. It’s super popular right now, but some brands can have more than half of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of fat! Gerbstadt says there are enough benefits in Greek yogurt that you don’t have to pass on it completely, but you should be sure to check the calories and fat content. “Some have cream added,” Gerbstadt says. She notes that while some Greek yogurts may be higher in calories (with well over 200 per serving), many actually have less sugar than lower-calorie yogurts. “A lot of these flavors don’t have a lot of sugar added, unlike those that have that sort of jam on the bottom.” Gerbstadt suggests trying low-fat or fat-free yogurts if you’re looking for great flavors with fewer calories. But if you’d rather avoid the sugar substitutes that are in those yogurts, consider buying plain yogurt and adding fresh fruit.
Read Can a Plate Help You Lose Weight
LUNCH
Cheeseburger and French fries. It’s a classic American pairing, but it’s also likely to give you nearly 60% of your RDA of fat. If it’s too tough to give up altogether, make this meal at home. Use 96% fat-free ground beef and switch the sesame bun for whole wheat. Gerbstadt also recommends no-fry French fries. Start by slicing up a potato – use thick wedges for steak fries or thinner slices for pommes frites. “I brush the [cookie sheet] with olive oil and add a little bit of chopped onion or seasonings,” Gerbstadt says. Pop them in the oven for 20-30 minutes (or until they reach the consistency you prefer) and you have a healthy alternative to the fast-food favorite. We promise you, they’re at least as good as (if not better than) the originals.
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These are great replacement suggestions – I can’t wait to try those potatoes!
Yes, the potatoes sound great.
what?! but i love cheeseburger and fries. yikes
Marbling is the SOURCE of flavor in meat. Compounds in fat, not flesh, break down and stimulate the “umami” taste buds. Check some food science sources. That is what makes the porterhouse so flavorful.
what’s your point lnkls
give up cheese!? you crazy!
We make potatoes like that all the time–best of all is when you mix in sweet and purple potatoes. They are DELISH and beautiful to serve, too.
Your comments on cheese are DEAD WRONG! The harder the cheese, the HIGHER the fat content! Telling us to opt for Parmesan, is possibly the worst advice I’ve ever heard. Parm is one of the hardest, and therefore one of the fattiest.
Check the link: http://www.weightlossforall.com/calories-cheese.htm
And check your facts.
I’m wondering what other falsehoods this article contains…
Not sure why this link didn’t post correctly
http://www.weightlossforall.com/calories-cheese.htm
Whatever… not only is the advice messed so is this site… just google: “hard cheese vs soft cheese fat content” and see for yourself.
Check u facts before u recommend the “wrong foods”. Eating no fat Greek yogurt is such a healthy breakfast food with fruit added. I am afraid that you have tainted greek yogurt in the wrong vain?
noooo! i loooove cheese!
If you think it isnt correct..Dont read it ..gezzz
As a former executive chef and caterer I would like to speak to the health benefits of the home fries. To understand the science of fries, they are washed in a running water bath to remove the natural starch in the potato. This allows them to absorb the grease like a sponge and the salt. This is what makes them taste so good. By cooking potatos in the microwave until they are slightly underdone leaves them steaming as you slice them. The starch and the steam seals the surface preventing the absorption of oils and salt. I too cook them in olive oil and people rave over my home fries and tell me that they like them better than commercial fries. The fries have a crisp outside and a soft inside and have a wonderful mouth feel as well as taste.
If you want to try a bunch of great low fat healthy good food, youtube Bethanny Frankle’s food demonstrations for her recipe’s – quick, low-fat, low calorie dishes that are very good. She even low cal’s alcoholic drinks too! She has her own channel, I book marked it and get ideas for the week before I go shopping and it’s all easy to do.
no way in hell am i giving up CHEESE!a good diet is not giving up foods,its having a good balance of food,and eating a variety!not giving up!geez!
Thanks, aliciao!