12 'Health Foods' That Are Sabotaging Your Goals
Plus what to buy instead (your new shopping cheat sheet)
THE BALANCE ROUTINE
July 1, 2025
Hi friends,
Today, I'm exposing the 12 biggest lies hiding in plain sight on grocery store shelves—and showing you exactly what to buy instead. Consider this your cheat sheet to never getting played by food marketing again.
The food industry is incredibly deceptive about what constitutes healthy food. The marketing is so good that even health-conscious people get completely fooled (been there!)
I'm going to break down exactly what's happening in these aisles. Consider this your insider's guide to not getting played by food marketing ever again.
The 12 Biggest Grocery Store Lies
1. Granola & Granola Bars
The lie: "Whole grains! Nuts! Natural energy!"
The reality: Most granola is basically candy. It's loaded with inflammatory seed oils (usually canola or sunflower oil), tons of added sugar, and often contains synthetic vitamins. Those "healthy" granola bars? They're held together with corn syrup and contain more sugar than some candy bars.
Buy this instead: If you want something crunchy, make your own with nuts, seeds, coconut flakes, and a touch of raw honey. Or just eat actual nuts. Your blood sugar will thank you.
2. Veggie Chips
The lie: "Made with real vegetables! Baked, not fried!"
The reality: These are potato chips with a tiny bit of vegetable powder for color. They're fried in inflammatory oils, loaded with salt, and have zero nutritional value from actual vegetables. You're basically paying more for regular chips with better marketing.
Buy this instead: Actual vegetables. Cut up bell peppers, cucumbers, or carrots. If you want something crunchy, try plantain chips cooked in coconut oil or make your own veggie chips in the oven. There are so many great recipes online.
3. Protein Bars
The lie: "21g protein! Perfect post-workout fuel!"
The reality: Most protein bars are ultra-processed science experiments full of synthetic vitamins, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, and protein isolates that your body barely recognizes as food. The ingredient list reads like a chemistry textbook.
Buy this instead: Hard-boiled eggs, beef jerky (with clean ingredients), or a handful of nuts. Real protein from real food that your body actually knows how to use.
4. Smoothie Bowls & Acai Packets
The lie: "Antioxidant powerhouse! Superfood breakfast!"
The reality: These are sugar bombs in disguise. Most commercial acai packets are loaded with added sugars and juices. Even the "unsweetened" versions are essentially fruit sugar without any fiber to slow absorption. You're starting your day with a blood sugar rollercoaster. Not to mention other ingredients like Citric Acid, Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Organic Locust Bean Gum, Organic Guar Gum.
Buy this instead: If you want a cold breakfast, try full-fat Greek yogurt with fresh berries and a drizzle of raw honey. The protein and fat will keep you stable instead of crashing by 10am.
5. Fat-Free Yogurt
The lie: "Low calorie! High protein! Heart healthy!"
The reality: When they remove the fat, they add sugar and artificial thickeners to make it taste like something. Fat-free yogurt often has more sugar than ice cream. Plus, without fat, you won't absorb the vitamins or feel satisfied.
Buy this instead: Full-fat, plain Greek yogurt or, even better, raw milk yogurt if you can find it. The fat will keep you full and help you absorb nutrients properly.
6. Whole Grain Bread
The lie: "Heart-healthy whole grains! High fiber!"
The reality: Most commercial whole grain bread is loaded with inflammatory oils, preservatives, and often contains more sugar than you'd think. The grains are processed to death and can be inflammatory for many people, causing bloating and energy crashes.
(There are 6 more grocery store lies ahead—plus I'm sharing my simple shopping strategy and label-reading shortcuts that make healthy shopping actually easy.)