Don’t Be Fooled By These “Low Fat” Snacks

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Approximately 86 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their bodies and 68 percent of the total American population is currently overweight.   Although it is a popular weight loss method, obsessively counting calories and fat grams is not an advisable way to embark on weight loss because it often leads to feelings of deprivation, and deprivation leads to binge eating. Despite this fact, it is helpful to be aware of the approximate amount of calories and fat grams that are in the foods which you are consuming, and emphasizing those foods which are higher in nutrients and lower in calories and fat will help you to lose weight naturally. With that in mind, below is a list of six snacks with “hidden” fats that are sure to sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Putting a Dent in Your Weight Loss Efforts

#1: Wraps

Many people believe that choosing a wrap for lunch will benefit their waistline but they are wrong. Most wraps are loaded with high fat dressings such as mayonnaise, and they contain processed cheese, salt and butter. In fact, one medium sized egg or chicken salad wrap contains a whopping 650 calories and 25 grams of fat, which is higher than the amount of calories and fat that is contained in a McDonalds’ Big Mac!

#2: Trail Mix

The dried fruits found in most trail mixes are stripped of their natural nutrients and loaded with sugar. The processing of the nuts also strips them of many of their nutrients but leaves their extremely high calorie and fat content in tack. Most ½ cup servings of trail mix contain at least 340 calories, 20 grams of fat and 22 grams of sugar, and you could probably double those numbers if the mix contains sweetened coconut or chocolate bits.

3#: Granola

What could be healthier than granola? Well a lot of things! One cup of granola contains over 400 calories, 24 grams of sugar and at least 12 grams of fat.    Worse still, most granola products are loaded with artificial sugars such as high fructose corn syrup and processed oils. In fact, the ingredients are so dismal that one “all natural” company conveniently covered up their ingredients list online with a banner, preventing readers from seeing exactly what goes into their granola products. Coincidence? I think not!

#4: Sushi

Sushi has a rep for being both healthy and low in calories, and if you choose the right kind (.i.e. the traditional, non-Americanized, raw fish version), it can be. However, many sushi varieties such as tempura, now come deep fried, and even some sushi rolls contain deep fried veggies and fattening additives such as cream cheese.

#5: Muffins

Choosing a muffin over a cookie is unlikely to contribute much to your weight loss efforts. Most muffins, (including bran and carrot) are loaded with calories and fat and the “low-fat” versions aren’t much better, because companies compensate for the lack of fat, with increased sugar and calories, in order to preserve the flavor.

#6: Gluten Free

Despite popular belief, gluten free does not automatically mean healthy. Just because a product does not contain gluten, it does not mean that it is not loaded with sugar and/or fat, and many gluten free products are highly processed and full of preservatives.   Bottom line, gluten free does not equal a free pass to binge eating—and just like every other food item, you should t take the time to look over the ingredients list and nutrition label, before you make any gluten free product a staple in your diet.

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