In a perfect world, we would snack on kale chips and vegetable sticks with a handful of nuts and seeds. Actually there are some of us who do, but for a vast majority, snacking is everything beyond the produce aisle. This is where the marketing machines are at their best alluring us with their crafty ‘buy me, I’m healthy schemes’.
It’s all too easy to be influenced by items promising the world of convenience and health. However, when you dig a bit deeper, you will find misleading labels and a promiscuous ingredients inside the snacks you devour.
The following is a list that may surprise you:
Popcorn
Popcorn should be a nutritious snack. It is high in nutrients and antioxidants. However, not all popcorn is created equal. Air popped pop corn is the healthiest. Unfortunately, pre popped popcorn bought in the shops is usually not air popped and also contains unnecessary additives that such as sugar, extra added salt, canola oil. If you are looking for a good, quick and tasty snack, pop the corn yourself or read the package.
Flavoured yogurt
Yoghurt is another want to-be healthy snack that has been violently seized by the food industry. Many yoghurts on the market are low in fat but then jam packed with added sugar and other additives such as high fructose corn syrup and modified corn starch. All sugars. For a traditional, healthy yoghurt, purchase plain (geek yoghurt is hard to beat) and add your own sweeteners such as rice syrup or fruit. Vanilla essence also proves to be a great touch!
Cheese and Crackers
This sounds innocuous enough. However, check the labelling before you purchase. Many brands contain an extremely unnecessary amount of salt and sugar.
How to Make Better Choices:
Read the labels;
Avoid products with an extensive list of ingredients;
Avoid those products with names of ingredients you have not heard of nor understand;
Look for snacks with higher nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, protein;
Never believe what is on the front label of the box, always delve deeper to the list of ingredients.
