10 Healthy Foods That Aren't

By  Carolina Diaz-Bordon

Healthy or not healthy? Not a simple question these days. While you're aware banana splits and double bacon cheeseburgers are not the best choices when watching your waistline, some foods you least suspect can also be troublemakers.

The growth of portion sizes, sodium levels and sugars in foods have transformed healthy meals into nutrient-deficient diet traps.

Fortunately, not all good things must come to an end. It's possible to eat healthy without forgoing taste and flavor. The key is to find out exactly what you are putting in your mouth. The best way to do this is by reading the food labels.

The Nutrition Facts food label can tell you which nutrients are in food, and how each serving contributes to your daily nutrient intake.

Hold the fries, please
Make smart choices when you go out to dinner. Imagine you and a friend go to a restaurant and order chicken sandwiches. You both tell the waiter to replace the French fries with a much healthier option, such as soup.

Now, how could it be that your meal contains almost double the fat and calories as your friend's? You both ordered chicken and that's lean meat, right? You had soup and that's much better than fries, right? WRONG! Your friend ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and tomato soup, and you ordered the fried chicken sandwich with cream of potato soup. There is a huge difference between the meals.

Understanding these distinctions is the pivotal factor in keeping your health in check.

Remember the Seinfeld episode in which everybody on the show begins to frequent a nonfat yogurt shop. They indulge, gobbling down loads of the sweet treat, and they feel good about it because it's fat-free. When they begin to gain weight, they are flabbergasted; convinced the yogurt is a full-fat fraud.

It's important to remember that nonfat does not mean all-you-can-eat. If it sounds too good to be true, it will more than likely end up on your waistline.

Too often when you are trying to do the best for your body, you don't take a close enough look at what you are actually eating. Minor modifications can transform most unhealthy foods into healthier options.

Be on the lookout for these 10 foods
Let's tap into the wisdom of an expert for some insight. Nutritionist Susan Burke, MS, RD, LD/N,CDE has uncovered the truth about 10 foods you thought were healthy, but may actually be adding to your waistline.

1. Olive oil. Though healthier than butter, olive oil is still oil. More is not better, especially if you're watching your weight. (Don't even think about using margarine.)

2. Honey. "It's natural." That's a common saying. People often offer it as a reason to eat something sweet. The snack may be natural, but it still contains sugar, and not enough redeeming nutritional value to make it healthy.

3. Juice. Orange juice. Apple juice. Cranberry juice. Juice can be the quickest way to gain weight. It takes a minute -- actually less than a minute -- for most people to drink 150 calories. Gulp. Gulp. Watch your thighs expand.