How many summer foods do you eat when the weather is warm?
Summer means long, warm, and lazy days spent under the sun, laying around, and… eating all sorts of food your body craves. Just like you can’t spend Thanksgiving without eating a bit of turkey, you can’t say that summer started until you’ve had a drippy, creamy, and delicious ice cream or a freshly grilled burger.
Even though you might enjoy eating these foods and there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while, there are a few things you should stay away from.
They are not the healthiest options out there and they’re also not that good for your waistline. You can always look for healthier alternatives or try to cook them at home. With that being said, check out these 10 foods you should stay away from this summer.
1. NachosÂ
We love everything about nachos: they are crunchy, salty, cheesy, and overall delicious. Unfortunately, even though they contain some lettuce and tomatoes, this doesn’t mean that they are very healthy for you.
A basket of nachos has no less than 750 calories, 38 grams of fat, and a lot of sodium: roughly 1,300 milligrams of sodium. If you really like eating this type of snack, make sure to eat in moderation and limit yourself to consuming it once-a-week tops.
2. Onion RingsÂ
Don’t fall into the trap and think that onion rings are a better choice compared to the French fries. Even though onions are rich in antioxidants and can help support bone, gut, and heart health, those benefits aren’t that strong if the onions are deep-fried in lots of oil.
Onion rings are a salty snack that is breaded in a coating of white flour and are cooked in tons of oil in the deep fryer. They might taste delicious, but they contain no less than 30 grams of fat and almost 500 calories – which is more than a big donut topped with frosted chocolate.
3. Processed cheese slices
You might be tempted to add a big sandwich that is full of butter and processed cheese sliced on your grill on a Sunday barbeque with your friends, but you better not.
That is because this type of food doesn’t contain as many nutrients as you need. It’s mostly a tiny bit of real milk combined with salt, thickeners agents, and tons of preservatives.
It won’t do any good for your body or your health, so it’s better to avoid it as much as you can. If you’re looking for some delicious and gooey cheese, you can get fresh mozzarella or cheddar. Trust us, your sandwich will taste a lot better!
4. Chocolate FudgeÂ
We get it! Chocolate fudge is delicious, especially when you lay in the sun, waiting to get a nice tan on your body. However, for every little piece of fudge that you eat, you actually put 5 grams of fat, 4 teaspoons of sugar, and 130 calories into your body.
And we all know that too much sugar doesn’t go well with our swimsuits or our health!
5. ColeslawÂ
Have you ever wondered how bad a shredded cabbage side dish can be for your health? Quite bad, if you ask us. Cabbage is usually a healthy food because it can keep inflammation symptoms in check, can lower blood pressure, contains a lot of vitamin K, and so many other good things.
However, these benefits tend to go away when you combine this food with lots of mayo and sour cream. They can hide a lot of sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. For instance, a cup of tasty coleslaw contains over 2 teaspoons of sugar and 15 grams of fat.
6. Soft Pretzels
They might seem like the healthier options, compared to a sugary candy bar or fatty corn dog. But if we take a closer look at this food, we’ll discover that it’s actually identical to eating five slices of white bread.
And the nutritional facts are not that pretty either. A soft pretzel contains approximately 408 calories, 84 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fat, and 10 grams of protein.
Don’t be fooled by the number that indicates the protein compound and you should try not to eat one every single day!
7. Fried Clams
If you eat clams that aren’t cooked in tons of oil, they might be considered a great source of protein, but they lose most of their nutrients once they’re combined with too much butter and oil.
For instance, if you eat an entire basket that contains only 20 fried clams, you’ll actually consume 20 grams of fat and roughly 380 calories. This food is the equivalent of a medium order of French fries.
8. Frozen Cocktails
There is nothing wrong with having a happy hour or a wild night from time to time, but you should definitely know what you get yourself into. For instance, an 8-ounce frozen margarita can pack approximately 400 calories.
And you’re more likely going to have a second glass. Another bad thing about drinking too much alcohol is the fact that you get dehydrated really quickly, you can’t think properly anymore, and you won’t longer care what you eat.
Besides that, if you wake up the next day and you’re hungover, your body might crave greasy, fatty, and sugary foods in order to cope with the ingested alcohol. If you want to have fun and drink something, make sure you stick with cleaner alternatives, such as vodka with seltzer and lemon.
9. Diet SodaÂ
You might think that diet soda is a better alternative to regular soda, but in reality, it’s not like that. Even though it’s sugar-free and calorie-free, those sweeteners are not good for your health.
Several studies have discovered that there is a connection between diet soda consumption and obesity. Those artificial sugars can make your body crave even more of them.
Diet soda also contains several chemicals, such as phosphoric acid, which can affect the body’s absorption of calcium. In the end, it’s not good for your bones either.
10. Potato ChipsÂ
Eating a handful or two of potato chips every now and then is not that bad for your health or for your waistline. It’s finishing off the whole family-sized bag that can get you into some serious health issues.
Don’t get us wrong, it’s very easy to eat an entire bag of chips in just a sitting, but the after-effects are not that great. Your stomach hurts and the sodium will definitely leave you bloated for a few hours.
Make things easier for you by buying smaller bags of chips or trying to divide a big family-sized bag into smaller portions. If you find yourself at a party with a huge bowl of chips next to you and you know that you can’t help yourself once you start eating, it is better to stay away from them.
Another thing you can try is to cut potatoes into thin pieces and bake them with a bit of olive oil or your favorite spices and maybe even sprinkle some cheese on top. There are many recipes on the Internet, so you can choose one that works best for you.
CONCLUSION
If you want to keep up with your health and fitness goals and also have fun during summer, you can always look for more alternative versions. For example, if you crave a mint chocolate ice cream, you can make one at home.
Other than that, make sure to limit your consumption of these unhealthy foods, even though they are tasty! They won’t hurt you if you eat them in moderation. Just remember that balance is key!
…Now that you know a bit more about eating healthy and consuming foods in moderation, make sure to read something about working out as well. Pair it with the previous tips and you’ll be golden! Here is a great recommendation on what to read next: 10 Realistic Fitness Goals Recommended By Personal Trainers!
