Milk: Milk should never be cut out of a diet! Milk is healthy, especially whole milk. Many people who feel that milk is not healthy, are those who drink too much milk and in return have weight gain from doing so. Following portion sizes, as well as trying to replace half of your milk intake with Soy or Almond Milk can greatly improve health habits as well as weight loss.
Butter: Three words, EAT.REAL.BUTTER. Stop eating hydrogenated vegetable oil and eat real butter already. This goes back to portion control, many things can be used in place of butter. Olive Oil for cooking and Coconut Oil for baking. However, eating real butter, and controlling how much of it you eat, is NOT bad for you. Its far better to eat real rather than processed fake butter.
Juice: Juice is great for you! This should always be on the list, especially if you eat smoothies often. However, juices with added sugars should not make it on to that grocery list. When ever possible, try finding juices with OUT the added sugars, organic, or even making it yourself if you're into that.
Soda: Soda is bad for you, there are no two ways about that. It should be avoided for the most part, however, some people simply can not do that. And that is just fine, but there are a few solutions to soda that can be tried. If its the carbonation that you like, try carbonated waters. If its the caffeine, try drinking black coffee, its zero calories and actually has some health benefits. When you do consume soda, try to consume clear sodas, and STOP drinking DIET sodas! Its been proven several times that diet soda is no better for you.
Bread: White Bread? No. Whole Wheat Bread? From where? White Bread has added sugars, bleach and other added ingredients. Whole Wheat Bread is always better, however, many store bought brands are no better than the white bread. The best bread is typically found at bakeries. Whole Wheat Bread with the least amount of ingredients, without added conditioners , bleaches, and chemicals is best for you.
Cheese: Cheese (especially here in Wisconsin) is something that we just cant go without. Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not bad for you. Granted you shouldn't be eating it daily or in large amounts, sprinkling some cheese on those veggies, and having REAL cheese on your sandwich wont hurt. It highly depends on the kind and amount of cheese. If you're going to consume it, get REAL cheese, not fake cheap cheese filled with ingredients that preserve it, and make it bad for you. A real block of cheese can last quite a while, and its better for you.
Ice Cream: No. No. No. Ice cream isn't all that bad for you, but it should for sure not be a staple on a grocery list, and should only be eaten every so often. Frozen Yogurt is better, but rather than eating any of that, why not try making a frozen smoothie? It tastes good, you can make any flavor you'd like and its always healthy.
Chips: Regular potato chips aren't good for you, but that's not saying that rice cakes(Such as Quacker), quinoa chips and natural sweet potato fries aren't good for you. If you're a chip lover, simply try replacing those chips with a healthier option.
Lunch Snacks(Fruit snacks, cereal bars, crackers, etc.): These are something that everyone buys because they're easy, but the truth is that they aren't that great for you. Eating fruits and veggies rather than quick grab and go prepackaged lunch snacks is a simple change. You can even prep everything in small snack baggies to make them easy to grab and go.
Fruits & Veggies: Always! Buy a lot and eat a lot of fruits and veggies! Organic is always better when it comes to pesticides and what not, but regardless, eating fruits and veggies is the best for snacks and sides.
Deli Meat: Always get fresh deli meats, not those prepackaged ones. Fresh is the best.
Other Meats: Local and Organic meats are said to be best, but lets be real here, we cant all afford that. Sticking to lean meats is best, consumed in normal amounts and not over eating when it comes to meat is just fine.
Cereal: This is a big one. When it comes to cereal, stick to as natural as possible. Rather than Captain Crunch and Fruity Pebbles(dyes and added sugars galore!), try Special K and Raisin Bran type cereals(much more natural approach). There are many cereals that aren't bad for you, you just have to find the one that you like the best, and do your best with portion control on these.
Pop Tarts: There isn't much I can say about these. I used to eat them ALL of the time. And when I say that, I mean almost daily! Pop Tarts are terrible for you, but if you use them as a dessert every so often they aren't bad. But stay away from using them as a quick grab and go snack or breakfast item.
Frozen Food Items: Avoid these where ever possible. Many of these items can be made at home for cheap and frozen yourself. By doing that you know exactly what went into them. Pancakes, veggies, waffles, stir fry's, hash browns, and many other items can be made at home and frozen to be used in future meals.
Box Meals: There is no need for that boxed mac and cheese. It takes just as long to boil those noodles and add those packages of cheese as it would to boil some whole wheat noodles and melt some real cheese with added seasonings. No dyes, added preservatives and honestly, it tastes far better! Many boxed meals have very simple ingredient and can be made easily at home much healthier than eating it from that box.
Butter: Three words, EAT.REAL.BUTTER. Stop eating hydrogenated vegetable oil and eat real butter already. This goes back to portion control, many things can be used in place of butter. Olive Oil for cooking and Coconut Oil for baking. However, eating real butter, and controlling how much of it you eat, is NOT bad for you. Its far better to eat real rather than processed fake butter.
Juice: Juice is great for you! This should always be on the list, especially if you eat smoothies often. However, juices with added sugars should not make it on to that grocery list. When ever possible, try finding juices with OUT the added sugars, organic, or even making it yourself if you're into that.
Soda: Soda is bad for you, there are no two ways about that. It should be avoided for the most part, however, some people simply can not do that. And that is just fine, but there are a few solutions to soda that can be tried. If its the carbonation that you like, try carbonated waters. If its the caffeine, try drinking black coffee, its zero calories and actually has some health benefits. When you do consume soda, try to consume clear sodas, and STOP drinking DIET sodas! Its been proven several times that diet soda is no better for you.
Bread: White Bread? No. Whole Wheat Bread? From where? White Bread has added sugars, bleach and other added ingredients. Whole Wheat Bread is always better, however, many store bought brands are no better than the white bread. The best bread is typically found at bakeries. Whole Wheat Bread with the least amount of ingredients, without added conditioners , bleaches, and chemicals is best for you.
Cheese: Cheese (especially here in Wisconsin) is something that we just cant go without. Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not bad for you. Granted you shouldn't be eating it daily or in large amounts, sprinkling some cheese on those veggies, and having REAL cheese on your sandwich wont hurt. It highly depends on the kind and amount of cheese. If you're going to consume it, get REAL cheese, not fake cheap cheese filled with ingredients that preserve it, and make it bad for you. A real block of cheese can last quite a while, and its better for you.
Ice Cream: No. No. No. Ice cream isn't all that bad for you, but it should for sure not be a staple on a grocery list, and should only be eaten every so often. Frozen Yogurt is better, but rather than eating any of that, why not try making a frozen smoothie? It tastes good, you can make any flavor you'd like and its always healthy.
Chips: Regular potato chips aren't good for you, but that's not saying that rice cakes(Such as Quacker), quinoa chips and natural sweet potato fries aren't good for you. If you're a chip lover, simply try replacing those chips with a healthier option.
Lunch Snacks(Fruit snacks, cereal bars, crackers, etc.): These are something that everyone buys because they're easy, but the truth is that they aren't that great for you. Eating fruits and veggies rather than quick grab and go prepackaged lunch snacks is a simple change. You can even prep everything in small snack baggies to make them easy to grab and go.
Fruits & Veggies: Always! Buy a lot and eat a lot of fruits and veggies! Organic is always better when it comes to pesticides and what not, but regardless, eating fruits and veggies is the best for snacks and sides.
Deli Meat: Always get fresh deli meats, not those prepackaged ones. Fresh is the best.
Other Meats: Local and Organic meats are said to be best, but lets be real here, we cant all afford that. Sticking to lean meats is best, consumed in normal amounts and not over eating when it comes to meat is just fine.
Cereal: This is a big one. When it comes to cereal, stick to as natural as possible. Rather than Captain Crunch and Fruity Pebbles(dyes and added sugars galore!), try Special K and Raisin Bran type cereals(much more natural approach). There are many cereals that aren't bad for you, you just have to find the one that you like the best, and do your best with portion control on these.
Pop Tarts: There isn't much I can say about these. I used to eat them ALL of the time. And when I say that, I mean almost daily! Pop Tarts are terrible for you, but if you use them as a dessert every so often they aren't bad. But stay away from using them as a quick grab and go snack or breakfast item.
Frozen Food Items: Avoid these where ever possible. Many of these items can be made at home for cheap and frozen yourself. By doing that you know exactly what went into them. Pancakes, veggies, waffles, stir fry's, hash browns, and many other items can be made at home and frozen to be used in future meals.
Box Meals: There is no need for that boxed mac and cheese. It takes just as long to boil those noodles and add those packages of cheese as it would to boil some whole wheat noodles and melt some real cheese with added seasonings. No dyes, added preservatives and honestly, it tastes far better! Many boxed meals have very simple ingredient and can be made easily at home much healthier than eating it from that box.