Guest guest Posted June 3, 2004 Report Share Posted June 3, 2004 > > Diet Food Imposters > > 10 low-fat treats that can wreck your diet > by Tannert > > You've been eating smart all summer long despite the weekend movie trips > and backyard cookouts. But some of those low-fat meals and snacks may not > be as slimming as you think. Before you sabotage your diet, check out > this gallery of diet food impostors, and be sure you're really making > healthy choices! > > > 1. " Real fruit " beverages. > That Fruitopia drink at the mall was a great way to get in a serving of > fruit, right? Wrong. These drinks are only 5% fruit juice, and because > they're full of sugar, a 20-oz bottle packs 300 or more calories--as much > as a cream-filled doughnut! Have a box of 100% juice instead. > > 2. Poultry hot dogs. > Unfortunately, just like pork and beef hot dogs, poultry dogs often > include skin and fat, so they're no healthier than their " authentic " > counterparts. Opt for low-fat or fat-free franks instead. And no matter > what variety you get, check the Nutrition Facts label for the real skinny > on fat content. > > 3. Sugar-free cookies and candy. > " No sugar " must mean fewer calories--or at least that's what the > manufacturers want you to think! But most sugar-free brands have as many > calories as the regular kind. And too much of the sugar alcohols used to > sweeten these products can cause loose stools, diarrhea, and cramping. So > indulge in the full-sugar brands; just do so in moderation. > > 4. Nutritional energy drinks. > The body derives energy from calories, so (surprise!) that's what these > shakes deliver: 240 extra calories a day, enough to make you gain 1/2 lb > a week. Take a daily multivitamin to get the vitamins without the spare > tire, and have a real milkshake once in a while. > > 5. Complete salad kits. > Salad-in-a-bag has been a lifesaver in many a busy mom's kitchen, but > they can pack a caloric wallop: 510 calories and 45 g of fat in one > package of Dole Caesar Salad Kit. Buy the light variety instead, or add > your own low-fat or fat-free dressing at home. > > 6. Vegetable pizza-for-one. > The veggies are healthy, all right. But the gobs and gobs of cheese > they're sitting on aren't; they're full of artery-clogging saturated fat. > Look for low-fat versions, and be sure to check the saturated fat content > so you can compensate elsewhere in your daily intake. > > 7. Bags of air-popped popcorn. > Air popping adds no fat, so this is perfect for a night in front of the > TV, right? Sure, if you pop it yourself. But manufacturers add the fat > after the popping is done; that's why the popcorn is butter- or > cheese-flavored. Air-pop your own instead, or buy the light microwave > kind. > > 8. Trail mix. > It's the perfect midafternoon snack, full of fruits and nuts, fiber, > heart-healthy fat, and trace minerals. Why not down a whole bag? Because > each 6-oz pack contains at least 800 calories. You could have dinner for > that! Make sure you're only eating one serving (about 3 tablespoons) each > time you snack. > > 9. Fat-free ice cream topping. > Much like sugar-free cookies and candies, fat-free ice cream toppings are > still full of calories, usually as many as their full-fat counterparts. > And calories count no matter where they come from. Use a carefully > measured portion of whichever topping you prefer, or look for the light > varieties, which really do have fewer calories. > > 10. Reduced fat peanut butter. > The fat that's removed is replaced by carbohydrate filler, so there's no > reduction in calories. And the fat in peanut butter is the healthy > monounsaturated kind. So scoop out your 2 tablespoons (about the size of > a golf ball), and stick with the full-fat varieties. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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