You had me at halo.<\/p>\n
Health halos are foods that seem healthy because they are marketed as \u201corganic,\u201d \u201clow-fat,\u201d \u201cnatural\u201d or \u201cgluten-free,\u201d but they\u2019re not actually good for you since they\u2019re high in sugar, salt or calories.<\/p>\n
Research has consistently shown<\/a> that consumers have trouble distinguishing health halos. For example, a recent study found<\/a> that people \u201csignificantly underestimated\u201d the calories in high-calorie items slapped with an organic label.<\/p>\n Jimmy Chill, head\u00a0chef\u00a0at Olea & Bloom in Florida, said he\u2019s seen how marketing buzzwords make healthy eating confusing. Courtesy of Jimmy Chill<\/p>\n Jimmy Chill<\/a> \u2014 head\u00a0chef\u00a0at Olea & Bloom<\/a>, a Mediterranean restaurant at an indoor padel facility in South Florida \u2014 knows that it can be difficult separating nutrition from notion.<\/p>\n \u201cWith years of experience as both a private and commercial\u00a0chef\u00a0specializing in curating nutrient-driven menus, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how \u2018health food\u2019 marketing buzzwords can make healthy eating become confusing,\u201d Chill said.<\/p>\n He reveals five \u201chealthy\u201d foods that don\u2019t live up to the hype.<\/p>\n A\u00e7a\u00ed bowls<\/p>\n These spoonable smoothies<\/a> may seem wholesome because they\u2019re made with pur\u00e9ed acai berries and other frozen fruits \u2014 but the problem often lies with the toppings.<\/p>\n This fruit bowl is not as healthy as it looks! The toppings add extra sugar and calories. New York Post<\/p>\n \u201cOnce you add granola, fruit and honey, this superfood becomes a sugar bomb that will eventually make you crash,\u201d Chill explained.<\/p>\n He recommends steering clear of store- and cafe-bought bowls, which are often filled with added sweeteners and preservatives, in favor of making them at home with 100% pure a\u00e7a\u00ed fruit.<\/p>\n Processed vegetarian products and veggie chips<\/p>\n \u201cPlant-based does not always mean it\u2019s healthy,\u201d Chill said. \u201cMany plant-based products are made with lab-created ingredients and are highly processed.\u201d<\/p>\n In fact, a UK study last year<\/a> found that vegetarians tend to consume more ultra-processed foods than people who eat a \u201cmodest amount of meat or fish.\u201d<\/p>\n Veggies are good for you, but veggie chips are often ultra-processed, salty and not nutritious. grinchh \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n One plant-based food that gets Chill salty is veggie chips<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c[They] actually offer no vegetable nutritional value,\u201d he said. \u201cThe vegetables have to be cooked down so much that all nutrients are lost, and many brands use refined starches. Ditch the fake plants and opt for whole vegetables.\u201d<\/p>\n Protein shakes<\/p>\n Protein is being wedged<\/a> into everything from coffee<\/a> and cereals to chips and even peanut butter that\u2019s already packed with protein.<\/p>\n