Non Organic Chicken
“We’ve been conditioned to look for low-cost food instead of the high-quality food. Now, to eat organic seems like a luxury when it really isn’t. For both moral and health reasons (it’s free of growth hormones), I always buy and eat free-range organic chicken.” — Dan Roberts, celebrity trainer and creator of Methodology X
Cream of Mushroom Soup
“Although I love them, I try to stay away from cream-based soups. They not only bother my stomach, but are also loaded with empty calories and often have concerning fillers like hydrolyzed proteins, food dyes and corn syrup that I find out about later!” says, Dr. Taz Bhatia, integrative health expert and author of The 21-Day Belly Fix.
Protein Bars
“Although protein bars are packed with energy, they’re not as good for you as you think. They’re often high in excess calories, sugar, fat and carbohydrates and are filled with an endless list of chemicals. Frequently I’ll see people treating protein bars as “snacks” when they really should be considered a meal replacement. Eating bars in this way can lead to weight gain.” — Lori-Ann Marchese, fitness celebrity and owner of Body Construct LLC
Alcohol
“For starters, alcohol negatively affects the entire body: the brain, liver, heart and emotional well-being. And because it makes you sluggish and dehydrated, it can also make your cardio and weight training less effective and slow your progress. Although alcohol is a carbohydrate, it does not convert to glucose like other carbs. Instead, it becomes a fatty acid, which is more likely to be stored as fat.” — Jim White RD, ACSM HFS
Canned Vegetables
Americans typically eat only one-third of the recommended daily intake, so you may be surprised to hear us knock any form of vegetable. Unfortunately, we’ve got to go there. Why? Some veggies of this variety are stored in cans that are laced with BPA, an industrial chemical used in various food and beverages containers. “There is a lot of controversy around BPA,” says Consalvo. “It is thought to pose some health risks in fetuses, infants and young children’s brain development.” She notes that there are many brands that are now using BPA-free cans and hard plastics.
Fruit Juice
“Talk about turning a good food bad,” says Leah Kaufman, MS, RD, CDN a New York City-based Registered Dietitian. “When you transform produce into juice, you take away its fiber—one of the major benefits of consuming whole fruits and vegetables. What you wind up with is a drink that’s so concentrated with sweetness, it can have as much sugar as a soda.”