I recently watched the documentary, Fed Up, and was reminded of the fact that many Americans do not have a good understanding of what it really means to eat a healthy diet.

In fact the word “healthy” has been completed manipulated. When people say something is “healthy” are they referring to the fat content? The calorie content? The nutritional profile? It’s anybody’s guess.

I look back on my diet before diving more and more into this world as a profession and I was in the exact same boat that many Americans are today. I got my information from the multi-billion dollar food advertising industry and became a victim of the system.

I was eating “healthy” foods but I could NOT get my body to change no matter what I did. I was a classic case “elliptical at the gym, diet food at home” kind of girl. I never saw results, I never felt satisfied and I had no idea what I was doing wrong.

So I thought it would be interesting to share some of the foods I remember eating that I honestly thought were “healthy.”

1. Special K. I used to eat this all the time. Why? Because the commercials told me I would lose weight. It’s low calorie and low fat, a great option right? Wrong. Turns out it’s also low in nutrients, high in refined carbohydrates and leaves feeling ravenous in about 15 minutes.

2. Vitamin Water. If you still drink Vitamin Water because it seems healthy, it’s time to pull the plug. We may as well call this sugar water. One bottle contains 33 grams of sugar which is more than what an average woman should have in a whole day.

3. Coffee Mate Sugar-Free Creamer. Sugar-free = healthy right? That’s what I used to think. Because healthy to me was all about weight loss and I thought that using this instead of half & half or sugar would help me lose weight. Read the ingredient list on this product and you’ll be frightened. Corn syrup and partially hydrogenated soybean oil top the list and it’s best to steer clear of such ingredients.

4. Lean Pockets & Lean Cuisine. The diet food industry had me wrapped around their finger for awhile. Does anyone EVER feel satisfied after eating one of these?

5. Reduced Fat Wheat Thins. Whole grains and low fat? Major score! Wrong again. The way the body metabolizes these bad boys is much like it metabolizes sugar. There is little to no nutritional benefit and the carb count is just too high for what you get.

Looking back, it’s no wonder I could never see results. I was sabotaging myself with fake food and I didn’t even know it.

Do you recognize any of your favorite foods above? If so, I’m not here to condemn you. But it may be worth spending some time re-evaluating what your idea of “healthy” is and if it’s truly serving you and your health goals.

What are some foods you used to eat that you thought were healthy? Let’s talk about it!

xo,