Foods secretly ruining your diet

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Are you wondering why you've not lost weight despite going on a strict diet? Or maybe you've just started to put on weight even though you always choose the healthy option? It might come as a surprise that sometimes the healthy option is not always the skinniest option. Some 'health' foods can jeopardise your weight loss as fast as you can say diet! Here are some of the most common diet spoilers and the best alternatives.

Cinema popcorn

We all like to have a snack at the cinema but before you part with your cash, be careful of what you're buying. The obvious unhealthy things to avoid are sweets, cheese-covered nachos and maybe a hotdog but did you know that popcorn is actually the worst of the bunch? A large sweet-flavoured popcorn holds a whopping 1,800 calories and even a bag of salty isn't much better at around 1,779 calories. Popcorn is often thought of as a healthy snack so the fact one bag can hold your entire daily calorie allowance (or the equivalent to a large curry, sides and two beers) is shocking!
What to eat instead Making popcorn yourself at home makes it a lot healthier. Buy a bag of un-popped maize kernels from the supermarket and pop them yourself before you go out. That way, you know exactly how much butter, salt or sugar you're adding - saving you calories and cash! Try sprinkling some spices over it as an alternative, healthier option to sweet or salty.

Shop-bought sandwiches

When it's lunchtime and you're stuck for what to eat it's so easy to just grab a sarnie, and there are so many tempting varieties. But did you know that some sandwiches contain as many as 900 calories? A small takeaway burger is only around 500 calories!
What to eat instead If you make your own sandwiches then you can ensure you use your favourite low-fat spread, a low-fat filling and stuff it with salad, which will fill you up and lower the calories. But if you're tired of sandwiches or you don't like the way they go soggy in your lunchbox then try using pitta bread instead, which doesn't tend to go as soggy and is lower in calories. Read our lunchbox tips for more ideas.

Shop and restaurant salads

You think you're being good by ordering the healthy option on the menu but restaurant and shop-bought salads often contain high amounts of fat because of the sauces and accompaniments, such as egg mayonnaise and Caeser dressing. A recent survey found one of the salads at a large chain of pizza restaurants contained nearly 1000 calories!
What to eat instead You can still tuck in to a salad just ask for dressing on the side and stay away from the cheese and croutons. Or ask for balsamic vinegar or olive oil, which is a good fat and great for your skin and heart.

By Louise O'Connell

Next: Snacks

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