Unhealthy foods crowd out the more nutritious contributions to a good diet. Like most Americans, you may be getting too much cholesterol, fat, salt and sugar, which can harm your health. If you avoid eating the worst food offenders, you'll reduce your intake of high-calorie foods at the same time. This leaves more room in your daily diet for foods rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E -- nutrients that the USDA notes that many diets lack.
Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches
According to the USDA Nutrient Database, a high-calorie biscuit, egg and sausage sandwich has more than 90 percent of the total daily value, or DV, of cholesterol, as well as more than half of your fat and sodium allowances for the day.
Fried Shrimp
A fast-food serving of breaded fried shrimp contains 66 percent DV of cholesterol, as well as high fat and salt content in 6 oz. The American Heart Association suggests that you avoid eating fried foods in general and crustaceans in particular.
Double-Patty Hamburger
Double hamburgers overload a good diet with 35 percent DV of cholesterol and 40 percent DV of fat, as well as salt and sugar. The American Diabetes Association notes that cheese adds 100 calories to this unhealthy food's 540 calorie total.
Potato Salad
Avoid eating potato salad if your blood cholesterol is too high, the American Heart Association recommends. This unhealthy veggie salad gets 55 percent DV of cholesterol and 30 percent DV of fat from mayonnaise-based dressing.
French Fries
Even though a large order of fast-food french fries has no cholesterol, its 40 percent DV of fat and 539 calories are too great to include often in a good diet.
Pork Spareribs
The USDA encourages you to avoid eating fatty meat such as pork ribs, with over 30 percent DV of fat and cholesterol in 3 oz.
Tacos
The 50 percent DV of fat and salt in high-calorie tacos can harm a good diet in a single day, if you eat other unhealthy foods with similar content. The addition of veggies doesn't offset its high cholesterol count from fatty beef, as per the USDA.
Milk Shakes
Despite the nutritious milk, chocolate and vanilla shakes become unhealthy foods with the addition of ice cream and flavoring that deliver as much as 62 g of sugar in 16 oz. Substantial fat and cholesterol accompany up to 493 calories. The USDA suggests limiting sugar intake to as little as possible, and does not set a daily value.
Carbonated Sodas
As the USDA Dietary Guidelines report, sweetened sodas contribute 33 g of sugar, 137 calories and no other nutrition to your diet.
Sugar-Enhanced Cereals
If you eat cereal often, choose a brand with the least sugar for a significant healthy impact on your diet. According to the USDA, commercial cereals may contain between 1 and 17 grams of sugar, with as few as 78 and as many as 200 calories per suggested serving.
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