May 21, 2009 8:08 pm US/Eastern
How To Eat Your Fave Foods And Still Lose Weight
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
We all want to make the right choices in what we eat, but all to often, convenience wins out.
It turns out, however, that you can have your snacks and be healthy too! You just have to know what to look for on the label.
Eating healthy often means, "eat this, not that." But you don't have to count out your favorite snacks just yet.
Just look for "something that has simple ingredients that you can understand when you're reading the label," diet expert Andrea Donnskey, of naturallysavvy.com, says.
In many cases, it's more about what's not on the label that makes it a healthier choice, like additives.
"The peanut butter aisle is one of the easiest aisles to make great decisions," Donnskey says. "When it comes to peanut butter, what we should be looking for, in my opinion, is peanuts."
In the snack aisle, if you must have your chips, go for the baked variety rather than fried. It's also important to avoid trans fats.
"If you turn it over, you'll see on the back it says, 'all natural, no hydrogenated oils, no art colors, no artificial flavors,'" Donnskey says. "So right away, it tells me there are no food dyes in it."
Cookie and cake fans should also target products with fewer additives.
Shortbreads are also short on additives, and more commercial brands are getting on the healthy bandwagon as well.
"We've minimized whole grains in our food and nutrients that used to be readily available in our diet because of over-processing in our food chain," nutritionist Paula Simpson says.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always the best option. Organic produce can be more expensive, but experts say it may be worth it.
"We don't even blink an eye about a $500 pair of shoes, but a 75-cent apple and everyone throws up their hands," holistic health counselor Andrea Beaman says.
Experts say that it's vital to teach children early about the importance of healthy snacking.
"Kids want sugar, they want all that stuff, but give it to them in healthy medium," Beaman says.
For chocolate-lovers of all ages, dark chocolate is recommended – it's loaded with antioxidants.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments