There is an argument that all foods are OK in moderation, and this is largely based on not having ‘being healthy’ become something that feels like a chore or that has you missing out on some of the things you really enjoy. You know that I am not a purist, and I totally believe in never demonizing foods because having ‘extreme’ views on anything is never healthy. But as a nutrition professional, there are a few things that I NEVER eat.

1 Low fat/ reduced fat foods/ diet foods

These foods are, by definition, very highly processed. Where fat is taken out of a food, what nearly always goes in instead is either sugar or artificial sweeteners. The idea that fat is bad or leads to weight gain has now been acknowledged as being entirely wrong. We now know that sugars (and excess starchy carbs) are what mostly leads to weight gain and keep you craving sweet things. Many artificial sweeteners aren’t great for gut health either. I’d far rather stick to the natural, full fat version.

2 Haribo or similar sweets

I won’t go into how bad sugar is for you because I am pretty sure you know this by now. Sugar has no nutritional value, so I see no point in eating something that has no benefits to my health. Unfortunately, everyone eats far too much of it as it sneaks in many products not just cakes, biscuits, convenience foods but sugar is also in foods that are marketed as ‘healthy’.

3 Margarine and butter substitutes

Margarine and vegetable spreads are the nutritionally poorer relations of real butter, coconut oil and other healthy fats like olive oil. Again, they are heavily processed. Often what draws people to them is the thought that they are somehow healthier because of their lower levels of saturated fats. Given that saturated fat is not the enemy to your health – while artificially hardened vegetable oils (think trans-fats) are – it’s far better to stick to unadulterated fats, using regular butter, ghee (clarified butter) and coconut oil, or olive oil for cooking at lower temperatures.

4 Sugar free fizzy drinks, diet drinks and energy drinks

Sometimes I see clients ‘filling up’ on diet drinks, which (although they contain no actual calories) are doing your body no favours. They’re still conditioning your body to expect more sweet stuff, and the jury is still out on whether artificial sweeteners are not great or seriously detrimental to health. Energy drinks often provide a dual hit of very large amounts of caffeine accompanied by either a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners. When I’m working with clients who are propping themselves up with these drinks, I like to get to the cause of their fatigue, because what’s in the tin of Red Bull (or similar) will not help them solve the real issue.

5 Hotdogs and processed meat

It is quite shocking how little actual meat goes into hotdogs, and processed deli-style meats are often pumped with water, sugar (even if it’s not actually called sugar, look out for anything ending in ‘-ose’ – like dextrose), salt and preservatives. Some of the additives in processed meats have been linked to increased risk of colon cancer.

6 Shop-bought cereals

Most supermarket cereals are filled with sugar and very high in starchy carbs, which will have your energy levels crashing come mid-morning. Better options include home-made granola (like the cinnamon pecan granola from Deliciously Ella), which are easy weekend jobs and last a good while, porridge or overnight oats, omelettes or poached eggs (in fact, any kind of eggs) on wholemeal toast.

7 Rice cakes

These are often a go-to food for anyone counting calories. Unfortunately, they will skyrocket your blood sugar levels. A better choice would be a couple of oat cakes topped with unsweetened nut butter or a little hummus.

8 Mycoprotein like Quorn

Quorn is a very processed food that comes from a fungusFusarium venenatum and is fermented.  It has a lot of other ingredients added – like flavourings, yeast, starches and colourings, gluten to give it the texture and flavour of meat. It also tastes awful, in my opinion!  Lentils and pulses are a much healthier alternative if you’re after vegetarian choices.

9 Fruit Juice

The easiest way to get lots of sugar into your system in a short space of time is by drinking it. And since it comes in as liquid, the body doesn’t register it as “eaten”, so it cunningly slips past any detectors that might otherwise signal satiety or ‘satisfaction’. Fruit juice – particularly when freshly squeezed – certainly contains lots of lovely vitamins and minerals, but it contains lots of sugar too. So, if I want to drink a juice it’s usually a vegetable based one with perhaps just 1 piece of low sugar fruit, like berries.  Better still to make that into a smoothie and add some protein (like some nuts) and a healthy fat too (like half an avocado). If you want fruit, eat whole fruit because. Don’t drink it.

Does this list surprise you? Are you struggling to make sense all the nutrition information out there? Or maybe you would like to know what foods to eat to regain your energy and wellbeing.  I can help you to clear some of this confusion.  Book a free introductory session with me by calling 07772491975, tell me more about your health goals and find out how nutritional therapy can help you.