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If you're trying
to lose weight, you've probably
been avoiding cheesecake and fries.
Although this is a good start, there
are many foods out there that may
seem "safe" when, in fact,
they are actually very high in calories
or fat. The following foods are
actually not as good for you as
you may have thought.
1. Frozen
yogurt
You really have to read the label.
While some brands are relatively
low-calorie, others have even more
calories than light ice cream and,
thanks to added sugar, some premium
brands pack up to 185 calories per
half-cup.
2. Falafel
Vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean
that what you're eating is healthy.
Falafels are chickpea-and-herb balls
fried and covered in creamy dressing,
which means that a falafel pita
can contain up to 550 calories and
32 grams of fat.
3. Fat-free snacks
Most of these snacks have almost
no fiber and are easy to eat in
huge quantities because they're
not satisfying. Many have even more
calories per serving than the regular
version in order to compensate for
the lack of taste, so you could
end up consuming a lot more calories
than if you just ate a reasonable
portion of the high-fat food you
were craving in the first place.
4. Popcorn
Skip the popcorn at the movies.
The smallest bag, without the extra
butter, packs up to 300 calories
and 20 grams of fat. The microwave
kind can be even worse; many brands
have almost 400 calories and 26
fat grams per bag. Choose air-pop
or a reduced-fat microwave version.
Try seasoning with garlic chili
powder.
5. Olive oil
With less than two grams of saturated
fat per tablespoon, olive oil is
healthier than most vegetable oils
and it may even reduce your risk
of heart disease. However, keep
in mind that it's still oil; one
tablespoon contains 120 calories
and 14 grams of fat.
6. Frozen diet meals
They may be convenient, nutritious
and low in fat and calories, but
most are full of sodium, which can
raise both your blood pressure and
risk of heart attack.
7. Protein bars
These were designed for hard-core
athletes. Although they're not bad
for you, they can contain up to
300 calories and more protein than
you need in an entire day.
8. Fast-food grilled chicken
Although grilled is definitely better
than fried, most fast-food grilled
chicken sandwiches are full of fat
due to all the cheese and creamy
toppings they're smothered in. Burger
King's BK Broiler chicken sandwich,
for example, contains 530 calories
and 26 fat grams.
9. Granola bars
Most granola bars contain lots of
hydrogenated oil, which means that
two-thirds of a cup adds up to about
380 calories and 20 grams of fat.
10. Tuna salad sandwich
The tuna itself is very healthy;
besides the fact that it is low
in calories and fat, it is a great
source of protein and healthy omega-3
fatty acids. The problem is all
the mayo that usually goes into
it. A typical restaurant tuna sandwich
contains up to 720 calories and
43 grams of fat.
11. Muffins
Most muffins are nothing but cake
in disguise. Even bran muffins,
which don’t usually contain
much bran, will bust your diet with
up to 600 calories and 25 grams
of fat. Fat-free muffins often contain
lots of sugar to compensate.
12. Salad
The culprit in most salads is the
dressing. In fact, if your salad
is drowned in creamy ranch or blue
cheese dressing, you could be getting
as many calories as you would with
a huge plate of fries. Not surprisingly,
the most popular salad in the U.S.,
Chicken Caesar, is also the most
fattening. According to the Center
for Science in the Public Interest,
a typical chicken Caesar salad contains
660 calories and 46 grams of fat.
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