If you are trying to follow a healthy diet, the sheer number of harmful foods to try to avoid can be overwhelming. Of course, an analysis of eight foods to avoid barely scratches the surface of potentially unhealthy foods. However, these eight foods provide a good example of the types, categories or principles of harmful foods to keep in mind while planning your meals.
White Bread
Few foods define "empty carbs" like white bread. Instead, look for significantly more nutritious whole-grain alternatives.
Processed Pasta
Much like white bread, many processed pastas are high in carbs and calories but low in fiber or other nutrients. Choose whole-wheat or whole-grain pastas, which do offer significant nutritional value.
Sugary Breakfast Cereals
Many of the most popular and heavily advertised breakfast cereals are high in calories, sugar and sodium and low in nutrition. Check the nutrition information before you choose a cereal; there are many available that contain plenty of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Bacon and Sausage
Bacon and sausage both contain some protein, but their nutritional value is buried by high levels of fat and sodium. Enjoy them very sparingly; try bacon or sausage made with turkey for a somewhat less unhealthy alternative.
Boxed Macaroni
Boxed macaroni is a comfort food that is one of the quickest and most convenient meals you can make. Unfortunately, lots of calories, fat and sodium mean you will pay a high dietary price for that comfort food.
Fried Foods
Fried foods are a fairly obvious choice as a type of food to avoid. Whether they are french fries, fried chicken, potato chips or doughnuts, foods that are cooked by frying them in boiling oil are -- unsurprisingly enough -- very high in fat and calories.
Cream Cheese
If you choose a nutritious whole-grain bagel for your breakfast, but top it with a generous layer of cream cheese, you just shot yourself in the foot -- nutritionally speaking. Although the cream cheese does contain some protein, calcium and other nutrients, it is also packed with fat and calories. If you love cream cheese too much to give it up, look for a low-fat or skim-milk version.
Pastries
Many common breakfast pastries contain high levels of sugar, fat and calories, with little nutritional payoff -- even non-fried options like coffee cake or danishes. Instead, try yogurt, fresh fruit or whole-grain toast for a more nutritious breakfast.
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