There are certain foods that are good to eat when on a diet – certain fruits and vegetables, fish, lean meats, etc. But just as there are good diet foods, there are bound to be foods that are terrible for dieters and should not be consumed if one is trying to lose some weight. What foods are these and why are they considered to be the worst foods for dieters to consume? Let’s look into 5 bad diet foods.

MARGARINE

Packed with empty calories and loaded with trans fats, margarine is one of the worst foods for a diet. Trans fats are terrible for health because it raises the body’s bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and lowers good cholesterol (HDL). Margarine increases the risk of several diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

WHITE BREAD

Believe it or not, eating white bread is bad for you! White bread is made from white flour containing unhealthy ingredients. Ingredients are bleached and refined, an unhealthy process in itself which also eliminates the nutritional content of grain and fiber. This type of bread is also addictive making you feel hungry easily because your body becomes nutritionally starved. It also acts to elevate insulin levels, resulting in higher fat storage.

FRENCH FRIES

Just like margarine, french fries are packed with trans fats that are detrimental to one’s health. It is also loaded with cancer-promoting agents. Because french fries are deep fried in oil and fat, it makes diets go down the drain when eaten even just occasionally.

PROCESSED CHEESE

Not having any nutritional value, processed cheese is rich in salt, fat, and empty calories.

BACON AND SAUSAGES

A single slice of bacon has nearly 100 calories, and most of those calories are in the form of fat. These two foods are filled with nitrates which are metabolized into carcinogens or cancer-influencing materials.

Keep these foods in mind when looking into your diet motivation. Although they may taste good, these foods are doing your body more harm than you might know.

It is not enough for you to have the freshest and healthiest ingredients, how you cook these ingredients holds as much importance. You may have the greenest vegetables, the freshest fish, or the leanest meat, but if you cook them incorrectly – you risk losing all the valuable nutrients and worse, you may even damage your diet.

So here are some healthy cooking methods you should master for better diet motivation:

STEAMING

Place food in a basket and place on top of simmering water. You may use ordinary pots, a rice cooker, or a bamboo steamer. This type of cooking is best suited for vegetables to help retain their nutrients and natural taste. You may add seasoning to the boiling water to help flavor food as it cooks.

GRILLING

Adding a smoky flavor to foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, and even fruits, this method of cooking allows you to prepare low fat and healthy meals. Take additional care in not overcooking  grilled food since charring has been linked to some cancers.

STIR-FRYING

Needing just a small amount of oil, this method of cooking food such as vegetables very quickly, they retain their nutrients, texture, flavor, and color.

ROASTING AND BAKING

Good for meat, seafood, vegetables, and poultry, roasting is similar to baking but it is done in higher temperatures. In roasting you may brush food with a coating of oil, allow to drip after wards. Baking on the other hand uses parchment paper instead of  butter to make foods healthier.

POACHING

A good cooking technique for fish, chicken, eggs, and other food types you may overcook by boiling. Poaching is done by adding water and food to a pan and cook in low heat.

Learn these healthy cooking techniques and enjoy the full benefits of your food!