Not All Food In Health Food Stores Is Good Health Food

If an item is sold in a health food store, then it naturally follows that it’s a good-for-you health food, right?

Would that life would be so easy. Unfortunately, it’s a little more complicated than just walking into a health food store, pick up anything you see, and it’s a true health food. Just like in regular grocery stores, you need to read the labels. If it’s a food made with more than one ingredient, better check and see what those ingredients are.

Here’s a sampling of some items on the “Be Wary” list:

Granola – It has a reputation as being a health food, mostly because it’s better than a lot of the heavily sugared, highly processed cereals available. However, it can still contain a lot of fats, and even sweeteners, depending on the brand, and is high calorie.
Granola Bars – Far worse than granola alone, because there has to be some sort of sweetener to make the bars stick together, whether it’s honey, fructose or any kind of syrup. You’re often getting as many calories as a candy bar. At least with a candy bar you realize you’re eating a high calorie treat!
Banana chips – Dried slices of banana are one thing, but some banana chips are fried and sweetened.
Soy Delicious Non-Dairy or any other brand of frozen desserts – Be especially wary of any with chocolate coatings, even if labeled organic. Check out the saturated fat and calorie counts.
Cookies – The ingredients may be organic, but it still is important to check out the kind and amount of fat, sugars and salt.
Candy- Just because it’s made with organic ingredients, and carob instead of chocolate, doesn’t give you a free pass to eat as much as you like. Calories still count, even with ingredients that are of themselves healthy. Remember, it’s a treat. Don’t overindulge.
Frozen Dinners – Yes, even if they are in the health food store and touted as organic and even vegan, check out the labels. Many are high in saturated fats and sodium.

Mind you, I’m not knocking health food stores. They’re a great resource for health foods and I love shopping there. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t eat any of the above foods. Just be aware of what you’re eating, and how much you’re eating.

And remember that not every food in the building is a true health food.