If you’ve been watching your sugar intake you may already know that a candy bar probably is not the best choice. A standard Snickers® bar contains 27g sugar, the equivalent of 7 tsp. But some of your “healthy foods” or at least ones you think are a better choice pack a larger sugar punch than a Snickers®. Here’s a list of some offenders.
- McDonald’s Fruit and Maple Oatmeal. If you’ve been swapping your Egg McMuffin for the oatmeal, you may not be making a healthy choice. The oatmeal has a whopping 32g sugar and is loaded with sugar, dried fruit, and brown sugar without any fat or protein. Eat this and you’ll be reaching for a snack well before the noon hour. Opt for this 100-calorie Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal with 14g protein.
- Stonyfield Organic™ Blends Fat-Free Blackberry Yogurt. Organic is all the rage in the health and wellness circles, but organic doesn’t always mean healthy. This yogurt packs 28g sugar into a small 6-oz serving. Opt for plain, Greek yogurt and you’ll save yourself over 20g sugar.
- POM Wonderful® Pomegranate Juice. Pomegranate seeds are a super food so drinking their juice should be healthy, right. Wrong. An 8-oz bottle contains 31g sugar! You are better off eating the seeds. If you opt for the juice, dilute it with seltzer water.
- VitaCoco® Coconut water with Pineapple. One of American’s newest health crazes, coconut water, has quickly found its way into mainstream supermarkets. It is packed with more potassium than four bananas, fat free, and super-hydrating. It also can be super sugary. The VitaCoco® flavor contains 30g sugar per 16-oz container! Steer clear of flavored coconut water and opt for the natural option to save 20g sugar.
- Clif® Bar. Energy bars are portrayed as a healthy snack for the endurance athlete in all of us. The reality is they are loaded with unwanted sugar. One Chocolate-Chip Clif® Bar has 23g sugar. Try this bar to get your quick energy for only 3g sugar.
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be an exhaustive examination of the subject matter nor a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your primary care physician or healthcare provider before beginning any diet or exercise program.
Active Medi-Weightloss® patients should consult the experts at their location on whether the foods and recipes mentioned are appropriate for their stage of the program. When enjoying pomegranate seeds (from Week 2 on), count them as a fruit serving. One serving = ½ cup.