“Bad” Foods That are Actually Good for You!

You’ve given up your favorite candy bar, favorite fast food restaurant and many of your favorite fatty meals.  Being on a diet’s no fun, right?  Wrong!  Once you learn that it’s not about being on a diet but rather learning to live a healthier lifestyle you’ll come to realize you don’t need to eliminate every vice from your diet – it’s all about moderation. 

Believe it or not, some of your favorite foods are actually good for you when consumed in moderation. 

Nuts: Nuts get a bad wrap because they’re high in fat and calories.  Fortunately, nuts are also high in monounsaturated fats, which are good for the heart.  They are also a great source of protein and vitamins such as A and E.  Because nuts contain mainly protein and “good fat,” you will feel full for a longer period of time because these nutrients take longer to digest.
Best Bet: Have a handful (25 nuts) between meals to stave off hunger.  Or, try adding a handful of nuts to your salad for an extra boost of flavor.

Chocolate: Chocolate is a weakness for many people, especially those trying to lose weight.  Although chocolate is high in calories and fat, it also contains antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease.  In addition, a recent preliminary study suggests cocoa may also help lower blood pressure.  Stay away from candy bars filled with caramel or marshmallow – not only do they have more calories, but there’s no nutritional benefits in these components either.
Best Bet: Go for dark chocolate, which contains less fatty cocoa butter.  If you enjoy chocolate, go ahead and indulge – just choose a smaller portion such as a Hershey’s Kiss or a fun-size candy bar.  Also, there are a variety of sugar-free chocolates available that taste great without a lot of calories!  Five pieces of sugar-free chocolate (sweetened with sucralose) in place of five pieces of regular chocolate can save you 50 calories.  That’s five pounds over the course of a year!

Red Meat: To lose weight you don’t have to consume chicken or turkey everyday for the rest of your life.  Red meat is a great source of protein and iron.  Some cuts such as prime rib pack a lot of calories and fat so choose lean meat instead.  If you’re a vegetarian, make sure you’re getting enough protein from foods such as nuts, beans and legumes.
Best Bet: Go for a serving (size of a deck of playing cards) of lean meat.  Look for words such as “round” or “loin” in the name, such as round steak or sirloin, which means the meat is leaner. 

Cheese: You don’t need to eliminate cheese from your diet if you’re hoping to lose weight.  Cheese can be high in fat and calories but it’s also a great source of calcium.  Calcium helps keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis, and it’s especially important for women.  Cheese is also a great way to add flavor to a dish without using a large portion.  
Best Bet: Use cheeses that have a strong flavor such as feta and blue cheese.  You will use less and still enjoy the flavor of the cheese in your meal.  Also, there are numerous low-fat cheeses that taste delicious.  Many of them are even great for cooking!

It’s not practical to think of foods as “forbidden” while you’re trying to lose weight.  Sure, some foods are better for you than others but it’s okay to indulge yourself every once in awhile as long as it’s in moderation.  As you can see, many popular foods often considered “bad” due to their high calorie and fat content can actually provide health benefits if used in moderation. 

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