I do not really discuss much about health food here but somehow this topic caught my interest as I was munching on a delicious cereal bar.
I bought Kellogg's Special K Bar from Johor Bahru on last Saturday, while on a 1 day trip. Its not available in Singapore and its really delicious.
But a glance at the nutrition label show that its not providing as much fibre and protein as it should be, if I do follow Greaves' requirement as below
< 15 grams of sugar
< 2 grams of saturated fat
>= 3 grams of fiber
>= 5 grams of protein
Energy Bars
Energy bars are not necessarily a healthy choice. In fact, “a lot of them are nothing more than glorified candy bars,” says Sari Greaves, RD, nutrition director for Step Ahead Weight Loss Center in New Jersey. “They can be packed with enriched white flour, high fructose corn syrup, and other sweeteners.” Many are high in saturated fat, too, and low in fiber.
Eat Smart:
If you’re replacing a meal with an energy bar, choose one with 200 to 300 calories; for a snack, shoot for 150 calories or fewer.
Opt for a bar whose ingredient list is short and begins with a whole grain such as brown rice, whole wheat, or whole oat flour.
Make sure your pick meets at least two of Greaves’s requirements: fewer than 15 grams of sugar, less than 2 grams of saturated fat, at least 3 grams of fiber, and at least 5 grams of protein.
If you can’t find one containing that much protein, add it yourself: Spread a low-calorie bar with a thin layer of peanut butter, or enjoy a glass of low-fat milk or a piece of low-fat string cheese with it. “Adding in the protein will help you feel more satisfied longer,” says Greaves.
Granola
“Most have too much sugar and very little fiber. A healthy breakfast cereal should be the exact opposite,” says Keri Gans, RD, author of the forthcoming Small Change Diet
Eat Smart:
Gans recommends picking a cereal that has the same satisfying crunch as granola but contains more grams of fiber than sugar. Add a heaping tablespoon of nuts (try walnuts) and your favorite berry for sweetness.
If you just can’t give up granola, sprinkle a small amount (less than a quarter of a cup—that’s how unhealthy it is!) over low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt with a handful of blueberries or a half-cup of sliced strawberries.
Smoothies
When a smoothie’s main ingredient is fruit juice, it adds calories without providing any of the good-for-you fiber you get from the fruit itself. What’s more, some smoothie spots use sugar-loaded sherbet or frozen yogurt to bump up flavor. “The average smoothie is going to provide enough calories for a meal—400 to 600—but not satisfy you like a meal,” warns Gans. Which means you’ll be adding on the calories later when hunger comes roaring back.
Eat Smart:
On the go, opt for a low-fat yogurt and a piece of fruit.
At home, try Gans’s recipe for a healthy smoothie: Blend a half-cup low-fat yogurt, a half-cup nonfat milk, one serving of fruit (such as a cup of frozen berries or a frozen banana), and a tablespoon of flax seed.
Vitamin Drinks, Sports Drinks, and Other Sweetened Beverages
A growing body of research suggests that ingesting added sugar from sweetened beverages increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Eat Smart:
In restaurants, ask for unsweetened beverages—like ice tea—and add in a zero-calorie sweetener.
Look for sugar-free versions of Vitamin Water and lemonade (like good ol’ Crystal Light), and Gatorade’s G2 reduced-sugar drink.
At home, make your own flavored water, adding in sliced cucumbers, oranges, berries, lemons, or limes. Looking for a boost of vitamins? Pop a multi with your water.
Fat-Free Foods
They sure sound good, but the problem with fat-free foods, says Greaves, is that “people view them as a ticket to eat more.” Which is especially troublesome because when you take fat out of foods, something has to replace the flavor—and that something is generally added sugar and sodium. The right kinds of fats are actually essential to a healthy diet, providing flavor, reducing the risk of heart disease, and even picking up your mood, says Greaves. Furthermore, fat can help you feel full; many food become less satisfying without it, which may lead you to eat more at your next meal.
Eat Smart:
Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, are typically high in saturated fat; choose fat-free or low-fat versions.
Ditto with commercially processed foods such as stick margarine and frozen meals, which are often high in trans-fats.
Always go with full-fat, natural peanut butter, which is rich in healthy polyunsaturated fats. Reduced-fat versions replace them with hydrogenated oils (which are high in trans fats) and sugar.
Fat-free salad dressings are loaded with sodium and sugar. Instead, mix two teaspoons of olive oil with lemon juice or flavored vinegar.
Salads
Many salads are packed with unhealthy add-ins, such as cheese (100 calories in four dice-sized cubes), bacon bits, creamy dressings, and croutons. Nothing against a big bowl of healthy greens; it’s the company they keep that’s worrisome.
Eat Smart:
When you’re dining out, always ask for dressings on the side. Dip your fork into the dressing first, then spear some greens.
At the salad bar, skip anything that’s mixed with mayonnaise, such as tuna or egg salad. Choose grilled chicken breast, tofu, or a half-cup of chickpeas instead.
If you love cheese, dust a tablespoon of grated Parmesan over your salad before eating, to give it a lot of flavor with way fewer calories.
Instead of chopped ham or croutons, go for a tablespoon of slivered almonds or sunflower seeds for flavor and crunch.
At home, replace dressing with flavorful fresh fruit—such as pears or mandarin oranges.
Wraps
With little leaves of lettuce peeking out and slim slices of deli meats, wraps seem like a solid choice. But the flat breads that give the sandwiches their name can bring 300 calories to the table all on their own, says Marisa Moore, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association in Atlanta. By the time you add in some cheese, cold cuts, and a spread, you can be putting away a 700-calorie meal that feels more like a snack. Plus, wraps are often made from refined grains—which means they don’t give you the fiber you need for a healthy lunch.
Eat Smart:
Check nutrition info, if it’s available: A wrap made of whole grain is best. Barring that, look for the choice that’s highest in fiber, which will help you feel fuller.
Eat only half of the sandwich for lunch, with a piece of fruit and a side of greens; save the other half for a post-exercise or afternoon snack.
Skip the cheese and choose avocado (which is full of heart-healthy fat) instead.
Pile on extra veggies, such as green peppers, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Source :
Real Simple
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