We all enjoy food that’s bad for us. Why? Because it fills us up and satisfies us in ways where some “healthy” foods just can’t.
But if you know which foods that you should stay away from and know that are very bad for you, you may be more likely to avoid them and end up eating something a bit better for you.
The end game is to lose weight, but you can’t get there if all that you eat is foods saturated in fats and calories. Here is a list of the top foods that you should try and stay as far away from as possible when you try to lose weight, and some healthy alternatives to them.
1 – Chips are loaded in calories and fat. They are also in most cases salted, so this makes it even worse for you. Chips are what people grab when they just want to sit down and munch on something, but there is a better alternative.
While popcorn and rice cakes are not necessarily healthy for you, it takes 3 1/4 cups of popcorn to make 100 calories, while only a handful of chips could cost you 150 calories.
2 – Eating red meats is never a good idea when trying to lose weight. They are usually full of saturated fats, can raise your cholesterol level, and even bring you to a closer risk of heart attack or cancer.
A good replacement would be skinless chickens and turkey. These meats contain omega 3 fats, which are actually healthy and help your body. They also tend to have less calories then red meats as well. Fish is also a healthy choice as it contains many helpful products for your body.
3 – Doughnuts are a very, very tempting treats to most people, but they can be very dangerous. While your average doughnut could contain anywhere from 200-300 calories, there are many saturated and trans fats inside as well which can do you more harm than a lot of other foods.
A good substitute might be a bagel, or a low calorie chocolate bar. While you might end up eating the same number of calories, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by not taking in any of those unhealthy fats.
4 – Canned cheeses are among one of the top worst things you can eat, especially if it’s something that you do on a regular basis. A lot of people have really gotten hooked on this, and is one of their biggest downfalls.
The amount you would put on a cracker would equal to around 140 calories, while if you went for the real thing, and bought a soft cheese, it could reduce that dramatically.
5 – French fries are another food that contains an immense amount of calories. If you ordered a large order of fries at McDonalds, you would be looking to gain about 570 calories.
A good alternative would be to stay at home and make your own potato wedges. This way you can control how many calories you will be eating, and you won’t be putting any saturated fats into the food.
So try and stay away foods that contain a lot of salt, butter, and fats. Fruits and vegetables are ALWAYS a good alternative to anything. They will fill you up and be very healthy for you. Just work on not eating a lot of sugary foods, or foods that contain high sodium.