Unhealthy Fridge Items

How healthy is your fridge? Of course that takeout order of fettucine alfredo is unhealthy, but what about those products which you purchase at the grocery store?

According to WebMD.com, there are quite a few products that have sneakily adding in extra calories, sodium, fat and sugar into your diet. Here is a list complied by a doctor:

Mayo: regular mayonnaise isn’t that terrible if it is used in the amount of a teaspoon or two, but it gets to be unhealthy when people slather it on. Check out the new olive oil mayo which cuts half the calories and has no trans fat or saturated fats. To avoid mayo completely use mustard or salsa.
Sugary drinks: including pop, tea, juice… these all are packed with unnecessary sugary calories. Any sweetened beverage is considered an empty calorie drink, which means they have zero nutrients for your diet. Opt for good ole plain water to stay hydrated, milk is another excellent option, stick to skim milk to steer clear of the extra calories, green and black teas are also a great option as well.
Alcoholic drinks: these suckers are full of empty calories and easy to over-consume. If you must drink choose a glass of red wine above all else, one glass is great for your heart.
Processed lunch meat: bologna, ham, salami… all of these are full of fat and sodium as well as preservatives. Processed meat could cause colon cancer, heart disease and stroke. Instead go straight to your deli counter and request freshly roasted turkey or chicken.
Hot dogs and sausage: contains tons of sodium and a lot of saturated fats. Switch to turkey dogs, turkey sausage, chicken sausage or even grilled veggies.
Whole milk: milk is an excellent source of protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin b-12 but whole milk also has a lot of fat and cholesterol. Switch to skim milk and low-fat cheese and Greek yogurt.
Fancy Ice cream: that Ben & Jerry’s is baaaaad. Even a half a cup will have an incredible amount of saturated fat and calories. Switch to Haagen-Daz new “Five” ice creams which have only five basic ingredients and no hidden chemicals or frozen yogurt or even better sorbet.
Creamy salad dressings: ranch… unhealthy! Adding two tablespoons of this favorite dressing is an extra 120 calories not to mention 12 grams of fat and a lot of sodium. Oil and vinegar is the best salad dressing option.
Butter or margarine: butter is high in saturated fat but at least it is at it’s simplest form without any chemicals… just use in moderation. Olive oil is the best alternative; it can be used in baking, cooking… anything you can use butter for. (I use it in my daily diet and I not only love the taste but feel healthier by that simple switch!)
Frozen french fries: any frozen potato side dish is going to be unhealthy. Not to mention it is made from white potatoes which have no nutrients, but since they’ve been frozen they most likely contain all kinds of chemicals in them: tons of fat, sodium and empty calories. Opt for mashed red potatoes (skin on), roasted potatoes or baked yukon potatoes… avoid regular white potatoes.