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Top 10 List
how we choose
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Bacon
Is bacon really all that bad for you? Probably not every once in a while,
but studies consistently prove out that you shouldn't make it a staple of
your diet plan if you want to be healthy. For those following low carb
diets, it might be best to mix it up with some leaner meats as well. One of
the main problems is all that
smoking and curing
of the bacon before it ever reaches your grocery store shelf. So, the rule
of thumb here is to eat bacon in moderation. | |
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Canned Chicken Soup
The main problem with canned versions of this classic recipe is the sodium
content. One cup of canned chicken noodle soup can give you a whalloping
1000 milligrams of salt. Yikes! You're much better off cooking up your own
version of this soup. You can always freeze in single serve portions, if you
like the convenience of ready-made soup. You can find some great recipes for
homemade soup at
CountryLiving.com. | |
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Cheese Cake
Cheesecake makes the list, more than likely because of those huge servings
of cheesecake doled out by restaurants like the yummy, but oh so sinful
Cheesecake
Factory. Again, this is one of those foods that can be made healthier at
home with your own recipe. Any store-bought cheesecake is likely to be
filled to the brim with fat and sugar. Also, really watch portions on this
food.
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French Fries
It's probably no surprise to anyone that French fries are one of the worst
foods you can eat. Yet, they seem to be as much a part of the American diet
as popcorn and apple pie. French fries are often double fried in oils that
contain
bad fats that can lead to the production of cholesterol and other health
problems.
Again, the solution may be as simple as cooking some fries up at home. Try
sweet potatoes instead of regular fries and bake them instead of frying.
There are many creative things you can do to make your meals healthier. This
is just one idea. | |
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Fried Chicken
Anything fried is typically fairly bad for you. Even if you pick off the
skin, there may still be oils in the meat itself. Movies such as
SuperSize Me have brought the problem of the unhealthiness of the
American diet to the forefront of everyone's thoughts.
While an occasional meal out of fried chicken isn't likely to harm you,
eating little fried chicken nuggets three times a week, or feeding them to
your children, is not the best solution. Try broiling or grilling chicken
breasts instead. | |
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Hamburgers
Although we love the taste and smell of a grilled burger, fast food
restaurants that serve these beasts often come in the top 10 for worst for
you foods of the year. For example, Carl's Western Bacon Six Dollar Burger
made number one on Spark People's 10 Worst Foods list. Other burgers that
topped other lists? T.G.I. Friday's Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger and
the
Red Robbin Peppercorn
Burger.
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Hot Dogs
Once you learn what hot dogs are made from, it may gross you out to the
point where you really don't want to eat these favorite picnic past times
any longer. There are some tips, such as staying with Kosher or higher end,
all beef hot dogs to avoid some of the health issues with the cheaper
varieties.
There are many different ways to
serve hot dogs and different types and varieties of dogs.
All in all, they are still inexpensive fare when feeding a large group of
people. | |
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Pizza with Processed Meats
Even though we know that pizzas are rather
unhealthy, most of us can't seem to pass up the opportunity to sink our
teeth into that ooey gooey yumminess. There are some ways to dress up an
unhealthy pizza and make it a bit healthier, so you don't have to feel quite
so guilty for choosing to eat
pizza. First, layer on the vegetables. Second,
forego the organ meats, which add calories and fat. Finally, limit how often
and how much pizza you eat. | |
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Pot Pie
Even as a meal, the store bought pot pies are rather high in calories and
sodium and not too filling. Most people eat those little pot pies as more a
snack than a meal and this is where this food can really eat into your
calorie counts for the day. There are
frozen pot pies out there with more than 1000 calories and over 60 grams
of fat.
In addition, you really aren't gaining many nutrients from these highly
processed meat pies. | |
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Potato Chips
Most of the potato chips you purchase in the store are downright bad for
you. There is about $30 billion worth of potato chips moved every year. That
is an amazing number of people eating a truly
healthy snack. While eating potato chips may not make you unhealthy in
themselves, they can put you over your daily calorie budget and they provide
no nutritional value, it's still fine to have them occasionally. Just
remember to try everything in moderation. |
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