No one eats perfectly all the time and if you’ve sort of fallen off the bandwagon, it’s time to start again. What you choose to eat and what you choose to skip has a direct impact on all aspects of your health, including warding off diseases, looking young and healthy and ensuring that you can have children when you’re ready. There are some foods that just don’t have a place in a healthy meal plan. If you want to be the healthiest you’ve ever been, stop eating these foods right now.
1 No More Processed Meat for You
Processed meat is loaded with salt and nitrates, neither of which is good for your health in any way. At the same time, processed meat has a lot fat and calories. In other words, it doesn’t really have much going for it. Nix it in favor of fresh fish, chicken, beef and pork, which will save you lots of fat and calories and offer nutrition in a healthy way. Processed meat includes hot dogs, lunchmeat, sausage, pepperoni and salami.
Frequently asked questions
2 Stop Eating Potato Chips with Your Sandwich
Because potato chips are fried at very high temperatures they contain a carcinogen called acrylamide. Experts say that a diet that contains a lot of acrylamide may be linked to many cases of cancer each and every year. If you want a crunchy side dish for your lunchtime sandwich, have carrot sticks or sliced bell peppers.
3 Stay Away from Frozen Dinners
A frozen dinner might be the only thing keeping you from having lunch or dinner, but it’s time to reconsider your choices. The truth is that frozen meals are usually way too high in fat, calories and salt to be healthy for you. If you find yourself tight on time to prepare meals, try making double batches of soups and casseroles and freezing some that you can reheat when time gets tight.
4 Quit Having That Donut for Breakfast
Yes, donuts are delicious and they make a fast and easy breakfast with your cup of coffee. However, donuts are fried, which means they are full of fat and calories, not to mention all the sugar they contain. Starting your day like this sets you up for a blood sugar crash, which will totally interfere with your energy levels and productivity. Have a fruit smoothie and a hard-boiled egg instead.
5 Go for the Real Butter over the Margarine
You might think you’re doing the virtuous thing by opting for margarine instead of butter, but experts are increasingly recommending just having the butter in small portions. Why? Because margarine is often made with partially hydrogenated oils, which increase your risk of heart disease and cancer. You might also consider using olive or coconut oil, both of which contain healthy fats that your body needs to stay healthy.
6 Your Soda Habit Needs to Come to an End Today
A nice cold soda is something I crave from time to time, but when it comes to food and drink, soda is one of the absolute worst. It’s got a ton of sugar, which can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance. At the same time, soda contains a whole lot of empty calories, which leaves you less room to eat the good stuff. Diet soda isn’t any better so make the switch to water or green tea today.
7 Most Kinds of Fast Food
Burgers, fries and nuggets aren’t well known for being health food. Most of what appears on fast food menus is really unhealthy and full of fat and calories. People who make it a habit to hit the drive-thru are at a higher risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer. Prepare your own meals – it’s easier to control the ingredients and it tastes way better too.
8 Ice Cream
This delicious summer treat is incredibly delicious, but so unhealthy. High in calories and loaded with sugar, you'll have to stay away from ice cream and opt for a healthier alternative, like full-fat yogurt and fruit.
9 White Bread
Highly refined and containing lots of added sugar, white bread can spike blood sugar levels and lead to weight gain and obesity. Swap your white bread out for wheat, or skip the bread altogether.
10 Pizza
Everyone loves pizza! It's hard to say no to the most delicious food on the planet, but it's high in calories and most likely contains refined flour and processed meat. Commercially made pizzas are the most unhealthy and full of sugar, so if you must have pizza, make it at home with healthier ingredients.
Which of these foods do you need to remove from your diet? How will you do it without feeling deprived?
