These foods seem like they should be pretty healthy, but some of them contain more sugar than a donut. Yes, you read that correctly. The World Health Organization called for the reduction of our sugar intake to a small 5% of our daily calories. That’s only about 90-100 calories per day of sugar!!! Here are some foods that might be disguised as healthy that you should try to steer clear from☺

1. DRIED FRUIT

Dried fruit may as well be candy… It’s great to have once in a while, just like a candy treat! It’s filled with concentrated sugar. Try to stick to fresh fruit instead☺

2. CEREAL

One time, my friend told me she was on an “all cereal diet…” This scared me. It came as a shock to me that most do not understand that cereal is not as healthy as you think. Cereal contains so much added sugar, surprisingly even the so-called “whole grain cereals.” Most of the popular cereals are rice clumped together with sugar and fat. I love Raisin Brand, and for the longest time I thought I was having a nice healthy breakfast- I was mistaken. It’s like having sugar coated paper…no nutritional value. Try Kashi if you love cereal!

3. FRUIT YOGURT

Every single type of yogurt contains at least some sugar in the form of lactose (milk sugar). Watch out for the “fruit at the bottom” yogurts, especially. Check the nutrition facts and make sure that no ingredient says “high fructose corn syrup.”
This is one of the most potent and toxic ingredients you can put in your body!

4. 
SALAD DRESSING

Salad dressing can be so fattening. Even if you go for the fat-free dressings, they are filled with salt and sugars to make up for the lack of flavor. The fruity vinaigrettes contain so much sugar! When you go to a restaurant and feel like being healthy, ask for the dressing on the side, so YOU can control how much you’re putting on the salad! Or try this simple and easy recipe that is sure to make any salad taste amazing: olive oil, lemon juice from half of a lemon, splash of balsamic, and pinch of salt and pepper!

5. ARTIFICIAL SMOOTHIES/JUICE I once had an obsession with Jamba Juice and Smoothie King… I thought I was being healthy… These kinds of smoothies are often made with ice cream, milk, or frozen yogurt, and can be crammed with sugar. Make your smoothies at home with frozen fruit and sugar-free yogurt☺ The labels on juices can be so deceiving. You think you’re in the clear because it says, “made with real fruit,” but honestly that can mean 10% or just once slice of an apple. Make sure you’re buying the juices that say “100% pure fruit juice.” Stay in the clear from “cocktail” juice as well!

PS. Since we are in the holiday season, I’m just going to put it out there! The pumpkin spice and peppermint holiday drinks…. Stay away. Check out: http://foodbabe.com/2014/08/25/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/