Read the Labels or Gain the Weight

There are several things customers should look for when shopping for healthy eats. A recent article on MSNBC published several red flags you should look for – reduced fat peanut butter, for example.

Though it is lower in fat, it tends to have so much extra sugar and starch that it has the same number of calories as regular peanut butter. Another big issue is the super size syndrome that America is plagued with. A normal sized muffin may provide fiber, but the enormous muffins served in restaurants and sold in many grocery stores can easily have twice as many calories as a normal sized muffin. Make sure to keep your portions in check.

All hope is not lost though. Low fat meats and dairy products typically have fewer calories and contain less fat. In addition, you can still eat foods that contain more fat, but knowing which foods to pick is the key. Nuts and seeds provide many nutrients and are generally unprocessed. The healthy fats found in these and other foods are part of a balanced diet.

Don’t lose hope on eating healthy, there are exceptions to every rule. Just becuase something is low fat, doesn’t make it healthy. Read the labels and keep an eye on your portions.

Written by: Donnell Peavy