Sound Healthy? Think Again

Just because a food sounds healthy, doesn't mean it really is. Here are some products that can be misleading:

Multi-grain Bread

If it's really high in whole-grains, the first ingredient listed on the label will be whole-wheat flour. Many healthy sounding breads and crackers are made primarily of refined white flour, with some whole grains thrown in for flavor, color and crunch.

Energy Bars

Check the label of your favorite snack bar for calories, sugar and fat. Some energy bars have over 300 calories each. That's high energy, all right, but closer to a whole meal than a snack.

Fat-Free or Low-Fat Foods

Fat's not the whole story. Total calories, sugar, sodium and other ingredients count too. Read the ingredient label, not just the bold print, before deciding to buy a reduced-fat product.

Muffins

Bran, oatmeal and blueberry muffins sound pretty healthy. But there's more to a muffin than might meet the eye. Like sugar, fat and total size. Today's store-bought muffins are often huge, with enough calories to qualify for a whole meal. Check the ingredients before you bite in. And consider cutting your muffin in half – half for now and the other half for tomorrow.

Sports Drinks

If you're running a marathon, you may want a sports drink to replenish calories and electrolytes (like sodium and potassium) that are lost during strenuous exercise. But if your exercise is more casual or you're looking for a beverage to quench your thirst, tap water is the healthiest and least expensive choice.

Don't be fooled by healthy sounding names and seductive labels. Read the ingredient list and ask questions. Then decide for yourself if it's really good for you.