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40 Commonly Misunderstood ‘Healthy’ Foods That Are Actually The Opposite, According To People In This Online Thread
There are so many food options out there in the world that it's often very easy to get lost in all of them. Food trends, diets, and workout plans are usually debunked or just forgotten about. We have no idea what's healthy, what isn't, how to lose weight, how to gain weight — and often, searching the internet leads to all kinds of different results. So the hype of finally 'eating healthy' gets fizzled out from the confusion and overwhelming information.
That's why when this internet user asked the question ''What food do people mistakenly consider healthy?" many people chimed in to share their opinions, and they might help you out and shine some light on deceptive foods that we think are good for us, but are actually pretty bad.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I spoke to a food scientist for work and he said (un)healthy foods don't exist, just (un)healthy diets.
Yes broccoli is good, but if you eat it for every meal, that's bad. Just as eating McDonald's for every meal is bad, but having McDonald's for dinner in itself is fine.
As long as you:
- Get all the nutrients you need
- Don't eat too much or too little of anything
- Have variety in your diet
You can basicly eat whatever you want.
Widdershins66 3 years ago
Now that IS sensible for the long term! Most (reducing) "diets" are unsustainable. Moderation in all things 🤓
We talked with Dr. Joan Salge Blake, a nutrition professor at Boston University and the host of the nutrition and health podcast, SpotOn! She answered some important questions about healthy food and the misconceptions about it. Firstly, we asked about the topic of this article — what foods are often labeled as healthy, but really aren't: "Fried, batter-dipped veggies." It seems that vegetables are not as healthy if you eat them the wrong way. The doctor also mentioned that the healthiest food is probably vegetable soup.
RELATED:
#2
Fruit juice often has as much sugar as a soda
Headless Roach 3 years ago
1 litre of apple juice is an equivalent of 2kg of apples. If you normally don't eat 20 apples in one seating, you should not drink 1l of juice 🙃 If you take more sugary fruit, the amount of sugar in one juice serving goes up.
#3
Meat substitutes. Just because it’s vegan, doesn’t mean it isn’t processed and full of unhealthy fats, etc
Ace 3 years ago
Or indeed better for the environment. the amount of processing needed to create vegan meat substitues is often equivalent to the energy and resource use of just raising the chicken and eating it.
Scrapiechick 3 years ago
From personal experience vegans don't consume these products on a daily basis but have them as a treat or when its the only plant based option available while out.
D3v1lD0ll 3 years ago
I've found that a lot of them are ridiculously high in sodium. I'm looking at you, Morningstar Farms.
Biscuitbot 3 years ago
But so are the 'meats' they're imitating - bacon, sausage, burgers etc. Other vegan staples we eat as mains and protein source (beans, lentils, tofu) aren't.
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jdtimid123 3 years ago
A lot of "substitutes" are just dumb anyway. People switch to a plant based diet and just start using "substitute" burgers, then wonder why they are disappointed that it doesn't taste like burgers. Whereas if you made yourself a black bean burger, instead of trying to get that beef flavor, you end up with something way more satisfying because it tastes like you expect. I stopped being a vegetarian a while ago, but there are a lot of recipes that are better plant based than meat based. Like avocado Reubens (replace beef with avocado slices, and sour kraut with Cole slaw, make it home made and you can control the added sugars), or vegetable lasagna, way tastier than meat and cheese ones.
Sue Bradley 3 years ago
Hi most vegans aren't disappointed that replacement foods aren't like meat, it's because they may not be nice. There are many more choices these days that are very good
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Lou Cam 3 years ago
My problem with vegan substitutes is my allergies. I have a severe wheat allergy and they tend to use wheat to "glue" the mixtures together to make fake meat. There's only a couple of products such as these I can eat and they're horrifically expensive. I tend to just have chickpeas / kidney beans mashed to make a burger patty instead.
Mourlie 3 years ago
Many brands are switching to pea protein instead. Beyond meat burgers are gluten free!
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Jared Robinson 3 years ago
Most vegetarian meats have a c**p ton of salt to make up for the missing flavor of meat.
The Problem With Censorship Is ******* 3 years ago
Yeah, I cannot stress this enough. It's garbage most of the time. I am not a vegetarian so I don't usually eat meat substitutes. However, I did develop an allergy for shell fish later in life, and I really miss my fish. So I do eat fake fish now and then, and even though it tastes okay, it's usually horribly salty and the list of ingredients is HUGE. They put so much c**p in it.
Jordan Miller 2 years ago
You can make immitation scallops from oyster mushrooms. Lobster mushroom is also very close to lobster.
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James Doe 3 years ago
Simply not true. (At least for the stuff you get in europe) source: Stiftung Warentest. They criticise the consistency and taste of some products. Some have residues of mineral oil (below EU regulation threshold).. but the absolute majority is "healthier" (less unhealthy) and MUCH better for the environment (and animal welfare, duh). https://www.test.de/Veggie-Die-besten-vegetarischen-Schnitzel-Bratwuerste-Frikadellen-5074600-0/
A. Starhawk Hunt 3 years ago
Having eaten a lot of foods made with soy powder mixed in to extend the meat. Does NOT taste like meat. I refuse to even try this hot mess .
Surya Amriza 3 years ago
Vegans don't need meat substitutes other than tempeh and tofu. Both are ingredients for delicious meals. All you need is to know how to cook them into delicious meals. People that still desire meat and dislike tempeh and tofu shouldn't become vegan.
Chris Landrum 3 years ago
You have to watch. They take away salt, sugar or fat but then. add something bad
Sierra Tide 3 years ago
Meat substitutes are just as costly as meat and just as processed. True. Some taste just as good but have less prep needed. Personally, I don't like just chicken or steak thrown on a frying pan, and the pre-seasoned meats are even more money. When I'm in the mood to really cook - definitely will buy, soak, season and cook. A lot of the just microwave cheap meals are high in sodium. So - you choose what you like and mix it up so your not just continually adding bad and no healthy
RagDollLali 3 years ago
It's not just the vegan substitutes, it's also the gluten-free or any specialty items for people with restrictions that end up being laden with chemicals, fats, and sugar. I actually teach a seminar on specialty cooking and baking, and one thing I discussed with my students is how all of these products off the shelf usually end up being worse than their regular counterparts to try and make up for the different textures and flavor. It really sucks, for example, someone who has celiacs and does not have time to bake their own bread but either buys it or buys the mix and ends up eating way more fat and sugar than they should because they don't really have another choice.
Ovata Acronicta 3 years ago
GMOs aren't like...a magical chemical that goes in stuff. Anything we've adjusted for the sake of our eating goodness is genetically modified...like bananas. Everything that came from the wild mustard plant - broccoli, cauliflower, etc - are GMO also.
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whatever 3 years ago
Some veggie burgers contain more salt than a regular one due to what they use to hold everything together.
Jay Cee 3 months ago
Vegan sausage ingredients: Water, Soy Protein, Wheat Gluten, Textured Soy Protein, Canola Oil, Seasoning, Spices, Natural Flavours, Cane Sugar, Modified Cellulose, Red Pepper, Carrageenan(From Seaweed), Wheat Starch, Natural Liquid Smoke, Salt, Yeast Extract, Potassium Chloride, Beetroot Powder, Vitamins And Minerals Blend. Oh yummy!
Anna Drever 2 years ago
This is sort of true, but as long as you don’t live on them a meat substitute is ok as a treat food. Pretty much like you shouldn’t be eating cr@p animal foods all the time either.
Michelle C 3 years ago
Yup. Beyond-brand “meat” has come under a lot of scrutiny in particular.
LillieMean 3 years ago
And they often contain an unholy amount of salt. Just reading the salt percentage on the side of the package makes me thirsty. They should be used in moderation.
Allen Packard 3 years ago
My family has farmed soy beans for generations. It's a blood bath when we plow a field. Then after we've chisel plowed it... we dump a LOT of poison into the ground to prevent weeds. Going vegan to save animals is really misleading.
Sunshine Lady 3 years ago
Usually the meat substitutes in the supermarket are far worse than the meat itself. Have you checked the list of ingredients? It's usually 2-3 rows of odd words, some of them are gum, starch and syrup. I agree that you can substitute meat if you want, just not with other junks.
Maebe Maeve 3 years ago
Per the National Institute of Health (and many other health organizations), vegans have much lower instances of cancer than non-vegans. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3565018/
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Potato 3 years ago
Not wanting to cause the death of an animal is not a scam. The food industry practices, maybe, but the purpose of wanting to be vegan is not.
Load More Replies...We also asked Dr. Joan about the foods we should try and avoid as much as possible: "You shouldn't avoid anything if you WANT it. Just eat it in small portions. Balance the meal. If you want a hearty, heavy chowder for the appetizer, order a leaner main meal and bring half of it home." So it seems that as long as you eat small portions, you can get away with pretty much anything, as long as it has the necessary nutrition.
#4
People have this idea that "the point" of eating vegetarian and vegan food is because it's healthy.
And I'm like, "Dude, french fries are vegan. Oreos are vegan."
Yali-girl with weird name 3 years ago
It’s actually not healthy, because you need at least a little bit of meat in your diet (please don’t downvote this is what primary school taught me lol)
#5
My coworker brags about how she quit drinking Soda because its so unhealthy and instead drinks 6 Gatorades a day. I don't have the heart to tell her.
Dr. Joan also shared some tips and tricks for healthy eating: "Order two veggies and sides and bring the leftovers home for the next day. If you don't like to make fish at home, order it at the restaurant and let someone else prepare it for you. Bring home leftovers for the next day's lunch."
#6
I mean a lot of the bread in the US has an unnecessary and unbelievable amount of sugar, even some of the “healthier” whole wheat breads.
Charlie the Cat 3 years ago
I have read that bread in the US is very sweet. Almost like cake. Not like that in Europe at all.
#7
1200 calorie “Salads” from chili’s and other chains. Just get a burger
Edit: I also enjoy salads and will sometimes order them for reasons other than them being “healthy”. I’m mainly referring to situations where people deprive themselves of what they really want because they feel like the “should” be eating a salad instead. Eat what makes you happy; just be cognizant of the whole picture
Headless Roach 3 years ago
If you don't drown the salad in dressing, it can still be alright. They usually give you a separate dressing pack.
All in all, every person is different and has certain needs. Just remember to not only focus on eating healthy but also to eat what makes you happy! After all, mental health is as important as your physical health, and who isn't happier after eating their favorite meal?
#9
Almost everything. The sugar industry launched a smear campaign against fat in the 80’s and it still affects people’s understanding of healthy eating
#10
Breakfast cereal. Grew up with the idea of it being "part of a nutritious breakfast". It's all lies. They might as well be donuts.
Much like donuts, doesn't prevent me from loving the stuff...
#11
VitaminWater. This has to be the biggest food scam out there. One bottle of VitaminWater provides 50-100 precent of the daily adult recommendation for sugar. It also lacks any significant nutrients and vitamins other than traces of Vitamins B and C, which coincidentally are water soluble, and are plentiful in other daily food staples.
#12
Gluten free alternatives and gluten free diet in general. Obviously healthier if you have celiac/gluten intolerance as I do. Might also be healthier if you just cut gluten products out of your existing diet without adding replacements (essentially just becomes a low carb diet). But it’s amazing the number of people who think just switching all the junk in their diet to versions made with rice flour is going to magically make it way healthier
#13
It’s not “unhealthy” in a universal sense but as someone currently on a diet I am in denial that peanut butter is about as calorically dense as actual butter
#14
“MADE WITH CLEAN INGREDIENTS “
This literally means nothing.
Yali-girl with weird name 3 years ago
Everything should be made with clean ingredients- if it isn't then we have a problem
#15
Nutella - it's chocolate flavored sugar.
#16
Not to say that Poptarts are healthy for breakfast, but being curious one day I compared a two pack to a Snickers bar. The Snickers was a far healthier choice.
#18
Yogurt, especially if it's marketed towards kids. Crammed with so much sugar.
Na Schi 3 years ago (edited)
Especially light/low fat/no fat yogurts! Just think about it, somewhere the flavor/richness on taste has to be coming from. (Edit: after seeing all the replies with regard to natural yogurts - I'm totally on your side. I was more thinking into the direction of all those fruit-yoghurt-concoctions that are claiming "Only 0.3% fat!".
#19
I read about a case where a guy was told to eat more fish, because of his heart health. But he only put on weight and his cholesterol, blood pressure and whatnot only got worse and worse. So the doctor asked a bit more carefully about his diet and the guy admitted to eating a lot of creamed fish soups, like chowder. So he was adding a little bit of seafood and a huge amount of cream to his diet.
Not a good way to lose weight or lower your cholesterol!
#20
Air fried versions of foods that are normally fried in oil
“This was air fried, meaning no oil, so it’s healthier!”
They’re still dinosaur nuggets, Sandra.
#21
Most granola bars. My daughter-in-law freaks out if her 3 year old eats a bit of chocolate candy, but she regularly gives her chocolate chip granola bars and a chocolate "protein shake" for breakfast.
#22
According to the food pyramid when I was a kid, grains/bread.
Six to ELEVEN servings a day?!
#23
Canned soup. That s**t is ridiculously high in sodium.
#24
12" Subway sandwich. It's a loaf of bread.
#26
Fruit Juice over eating the fruit
You are getting rid of a lot of the fruit's nutritional valiue, and with a lot of store-bought juice they are adding sugar and other junk
Na Schi 3 years ago
I've read once that fruit smoothies even can enhance the chances of developing diabetes. This is because all the sugar of the fruits is instantly available (whereas in whole fruits your digestive system has to work to get to/extract the sugars). This instant availability floods your body with a massiv sugar rush. Probably not harmful, if you enjoy a small smoothie every other day or once in a while. But drinking large amounts or even replacing whole meals with it can be contradicting to a healthy life style. (Sorry that I can't provide you with the link - if one of you Pandas have it or have newer information please comment).
#27
Frozen Yogurt.
It might be better for you than ice cream but you still need to have it in moderation.
Ashley Schriber 3 years ago
It's from the "fat is the cause of all evils" days. Given that sugar is likely more overconsumed than fat and it doesn't really solve that problem, it's just inferior ice cream as far as I'm concerned.
#28
Completely excluding (natural) fats, sugars, etc. from their diets. You want a balanced diet, and excluding these often lead to eating more processed foods or a lack of protein or vitamins.
Lola Atkinson 3 years ago (edited)
That may be true, but Agave syrup, coconut oil and many more 'natural/ unprocessed' foods are not much better. There's a misunderstanding in the hype - too much 'natural' fat and sugar can still make you fat and diabetic, but may contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals that are 'healthy'. People just think in black and white - healthy/ unhealthy.
#29
Every"light" alternative. Sometimes they fill food with chemicals and s**t to replicate the flavor of the original one
#30
Those butter substitutes
JoJo Anisko 3 years ago
I confess that, while I buy/use butter almost exclusively, once in a blue moon I get a craving for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. I can't explain why, because it's true it Does. Not. Taste. Like. Butter.
#31
I know someone who thought eating Subway would make her lose weight. The problem was she would only get meatball subs.
#32
I grew up thinking all soup was healthy. I guess because there were usually vegetables inside? I didn't question that thought until later in life when I went to a real ramen restaurant and they asked how much lard I wanted in my broth. My face that day ...
Lakota Wolf 3 years ago (edited)
We are given soup when we are sick. Our grannies cook giant soups for the whole family. Soup cans always have fabulous-looking veggies on the labels (not if they're like Chicken and Stars soup, but you know what I mean XD ). It's no wonder we tend to automatically think of soups as "healthy". And they CAN be, but canned versions (and even the ones that you're deceived into thinking are "freshly made" because they're in a transparent plastic tub in the deli section) are usually loaded up with salt and probably sugar. But soup CAN be healthy - my ex makes a beef-neckbone vegetable soup from scratch. Ingredients: only the beef neckbones and vegetables (fresh spinach, broccoli, carrots, water chestnuts, opo melon, cucumber, Brussels sprouts, peas, enoki mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms - and whatever else was in the fridge). SO delicious.
#33
Muffins have more calories in them then a small fry at McDonald’s
#34
Grains and bread. In moderation most things are fine, but the terrible food pyramid that the US government has peddled for decades is partially responsible for the high obesity rates in the nation today
Haute Momma 3 years ago
Agreed, except the US government actually replaced the pyramid years ago with my Plate
#35
Salad. Not the vegetables, but when people load on the salad dressing, they are basically eating 80% of their calories in sugar and fat.
#36
Veggie chips
Yali-girl with weird name 3 years ago
Honestly the baby veggie chips taste sooooooooo good. Like im not weird don’t judge till uve tried them. Like when did baby food get so good?
#37
red wine and alcoholic kombucha. Those same "heart healthy" benefits can be found in a serving of red grapes without your liver having to prepare for battle and it doesn't count if you're drinking 4 servings of wine in one setting. Same with alcoholic kombucha; you can't get any nutrients or benefits when your body is prioritizing processing alcohol.
#38
sugary cereals "brings out the tiger in you" Breakfast habits in general. Maybe all the processed food....
#39
The shocking one for me was the peanut butter. I’m one of those people who will just grab myself a heaping spoonful as a “snack”. And I’ll think “Welp, a bit of protein would be great!” I’m probably downing fucking 500 calories with one mouthful.
#40
Tic tacs. They’re considered zero sugar not because they contain zero sugar, but because the serving size(1 mint) contains less than 0.5g. It is allowed under FDA labeling requirements to then label as having no sugar.
#41
Fruit smoothies. Just massive amounts of sugar and people drink way too much.
#42
Sweet potato fries… still fried… some more vitamins than regular fries but calories and fat about the same…
#44
People who drench their salads with ranch
#46
Processed foods that are low in fat or sugar are not always healthful.
#50
Dried fruit is shockingly unhealthy
Agfox 3 years ago
I was sceptical about this general claim & looked up dried vs fresh apricots, because I eat both, & found the following: "...weight for weight the dried form contains more of the antioxidants, minerals and fibre than the raw original. So dried apricots are recommended, including by the NHS for their health benefits which include important levels of Vitamins A and C, fibre and minerals". There are also numerous other references to dried apricots being the healthier option
#51
Not a food but a drink, orange juice. Stuff in the grocery stores is loaded with sugar
#53
A lot of fresh juice people make and "green smoothies" have a lot of sugar. Also rice.
#54
Corn, it doesn’t really do anything for you except for a lil fiber. If you’re going to have a veggie with dinner you should prolly choose something else
Lakota Wolf 3 years ago (edited)
I'll die on this hill. Corn is DELICIOUS, I don't care that I shoot the kernels out my heiny nearly in the same form that they were consumed in. One shouldn't drench cobs in butter and salt (or cheese - I'm adopted into a Mexican family and elote is a constant side dish), but just adding plain kernels to soups etc. can really add a delicious flavor boost. Or just wrapping the plain ears in foil and grilling them. And now it is 3:30am and I want CORN
#55
Cow milk
Jan Rosier 3 years ago
So true, and please stop using the 'calcium excuse' for drinking milk. If you like milk, go ahead. But same amount of calcium can be found in vegetables and water but without the fat.
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Haute Momma 3 years ago
Most every post is an unqualified statement.👎 I don't know why I expected anything more from BP
juice 3 years ago (edited)
these are all just opinions from random people on Reddit, so yeah. this is what BP does.
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Mim“the Swede”Sorensson 3 years ago
Huh? No, the consensus is that you can eat everything - in moderation. There is no getting around that in moderation part ever, it’s better to just learn to live with it.
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Tabitha Martel 3 years ago
Okay so here's the thing. Too many fall under this statement so I put it here instead. With Calories, you have to also consider QUALITY over QUANTITY. Same with fats and sugars. Whole fruit sugar is not the same as a candy bar. Avocado fat is not the same as grease fat/oils(most). Whole grains versus plain grains etc. as much as we like to make things black and white, it's never that simple.
Jane Alexander 3 years ago
So many confuse animal fat with vegetable oil. How do they do that?
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Suzy Creamcheese 3 years ago
I've said for years that there's no such thing as "unhealthy" food (no such thing as a "superfood" either, but that's for another post). It's nice to see a professional confirm that, even though it's a given that a good many armchair pundits with no qualifications to do so will disagree.
Mondo Cane 3 years ago
All the junk food in the world is healthier that this list of random unqualified people talking about what they don't know
Phil Vaive 3 years ago
Remember folks - not a single one of these comments came from a doctor or nutritionist. They are all random people on Reddit, and it's super annoying that boredpanda promotes this type of nonsense. We need to stop getting health advice from the internet.
ConstantConstance 3 years ago
These just seem like opinions from random people which only apply in the US
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 3 years ago
I joke it isn't a PROPER salad bar unless it has pepperoni on it 😆
Elsker 3 years ago
I normally wouldn't do this, but for those interested in healthy food? I'm reading "the glucose revolution", by Jessie Inchauspe. She's on Insta as well: glucose goddess. She had studied blood sugar management, it's effects and how to use it to manage your sugar levels. It is a real eye opener for me, though I already know a bit about food. Using her techniques you can prevent cravings and make it easier to eat healthy. So if you're trying to change your eating habits, I can really recommend her insights.
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
You know what, I'm just gonna eat whatever I want. Healthy and unhealthy. It's all about moderation.
Haute Momma 3 years ago
Most every post is an unqualified statement.👎 I don't know why I expected anything more from BP
juice 3 years ago (edited)
these are all just opinions from random people on Reddit, so yeah. this is what BP does.
Load More Replies... Mim“the Swede”Sorensson 3 years ago
Huh? No, the consensus is that you can eat everything - in moderation. There is no getting around that in moderation part ever, it’s better to just learn to live with it.
Load More Replies... Tabitha Martel 3 years ago
Okay so here's the thing. Too many fall under this statement so I put it here instead. With Calories, you have to also consider QUALITY over QUANTITY. Same with fats and sugars. Whole fruit sugar is not the same as a candy bar. Avocado fat is not the same as grease fat/oils(most). Whole grains versus plain grains etc. as much as we like to make things black and white, it's never that simple.
Jane Alexander 3 years ago
So many confuse animal fat with vegetable oil. How do they do that?
Load More Replies... Suzy Creamcheese 3 years ago
I've said for years that there's no such thing as "unhealthy" food (no such thing as a "superfood" either, but that's for another post). It's nice to see a professional confirm that, even though it's a given that a good many armchair pundits with no qualifications to do so will disagree.
Mondo Cane 3 years ago
All the junk food in the world is healthier that this list of random unqualified people talking about what they don't know
Phil Vaive 3 years ago
Remember folks - not a single one of these comments came from a doctor or nutritionist. They are all random people on Reddit, and it's super annoying that boredpanda promotes this type of nonsense. We need to stop getting health advice from the internet.
ConstantConstance 3 years ago
These just seem like opinions from random people which only apply in the US
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 3 years ago
I joke it isn't a PROPER salad bar unless it has pepperoni on it 😆
Elsker 3 years ago
I normally wouldn't do this, but for those interested in healthy food? I'm reading "the glucose revolution", by Jessie Inchauspe. She's on Insta as well: glucose goddess. She had studied blood sugar management, it's effects and how to use it to manage your sugar levels. It is a real eye opener for me, though I already know a bit about food. Using her techniques you can prevent cravings and make it easier to eat healthy. So if you're trying to change your eating habits, I can really recommend her insights.
ZuriLovesYou 1 year ago
You know what, I'm just gonna eat whatever I want. Healthy and unhealthy. It's all about moderation.
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