5 things that are sabotaging your healthy eating habits

Think you’re making healthy food choices? Think again. Matthew Plowman reveals the 5 things that are sabotaging your healthy eating habits

Despite what many of us may think, the healthy foods we are fuelling our bodies with may not be all that healthy. Clever marketing tactics, food packaging, clean eating bloggers, recipe books and Pinterest all lead us to believe we’re making the leanest, healthiest food choices out there – but we could actually be sabotaging our healthy habits instead. We spoke to Cardiff Sports Nutrition to find out which foods could be damaging our health, not improving it!

Eating the same healthy foods

If you’re a creature of habit, then it’s likely you could be guilty of this food sin. As healthy as eating a bowl of porridge or eggs for breakfast and a salad for lunch every day may be, you could actually be causing yourself to become deficient in essential nutrients. Consuming the same meals day in and day out will mean you’re eating the same vitamins and minerals each day too – which will do little to benefit your overall diet.

Tip: Breakfast and lunch is where many of us reach for the same foods. Try to have a handful of staple meals you can create and mix them up to create a healthy balance of nutrients.

You eat pre-packaged salads 

Did you know that pre-packaged foods are one of the biggest culprits for food poisoning? While convenient, they put you at risk of illness and are also free from the health benefits their untouched counterparts still possess. This is because they are often washed with water and chemicals to such an extent that effectively kill the salad.

Tip: Buy your salad leaves in as natural a state as possible – the less added chemicals the better.

Eating sugar-free, fat-free – everything-free!

Just because something states that is free or low in sugar and fat, doesn’t meant that it’s the healthy choice. In fact, these foods can end up being far worse for you than their supposedly ‘bad’ alternatives. Salt, MSG, additives and chemical sweeteners are all added to these foods to make up for the change in taste.

Tip: Look at the packages to see if the ‘light’ option really is better than it’s ‘fat’ counterpart.

Thinking all smoothies are healthy

Shop-bought smoothies are a massive no-no as they contain other chemicals and sugars to keep the juice fresh, and even your homemade versions could be harbouring health-damaging amounts of sugar. Filled with too many fruits and you’re essentially drinking a lot of sugar, and not a lot of nutrients.

Tip: For every cup of fruit, ensure there are at least two cups of veggies.

Going gluten-free when you don’t need to

We’re bombarded with reports that we should be reducing our carbohydrate intake and jumping on other food trends. Yet, the truth is you could be depriving your body of essential nutrients that your body requires.

Tip: Unless you need to restrict your diet for medical reasons, then don’t do it!