These foods are secretly ruining your healthy eating plans

It’s true; added sugar, sodium, and trans fats taste amazing and are secretly placed in almost everything we eat. Bread, sports drinks, yogurt, salad — you name it! In fact, sometimes these ingredients are so secretly placed we have no idea they’re interfering with our diet plans! Don’t allow yourself to be blindsided. Protect yourself by avoiding these not-so-healthy “health” foods:

Sugary smoothies

Not all smoothies are considered healthy. In fact, Jamba Juice’s Peanut Butter Moo’d smoothie in a medium size contains a whopping 770 calories, 20 grams of fat, 490 milligrams of sodium, and 109 grams of sugar. That’s over three times the recommended amount of sugar in one day! Instead of purchasing a sugary smoothie, try making your own at home by incorporating natural ingredients like spinach, chia seeds, bananas, and strawberries.

Granola Bars

Did you know that some granola bars contain as much sugar as a candy bar? When purchasing granola bars at the supermarket, be sure to check nutrition labels and only purchase products that contain eight grams of sugar or less. Be careful with packaged granola as well; some brands contain as much as 400 calories per cup.

Cream-based soups

While some may think soup and salad is a healthy lunch combination, stay wary of cream-based soups. These soups are high in sodium and saturated fat. Not to mention, a salad with unhealthy dressing and croutons isn’t very diet-friendly either. When too much sodium is consumed on the daily, you’re also more likely to experience serious health problems including high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain.

Good luck with your healthy eating plans! With a little practice, you will be feeling great and performing your best in no time.