Supermarket Shockers

Posted Fri, Mar 21, 2008, 1:36 pm PDT

The aisles are not safe, people! There are some crazy-high-calorie and freakishly fatty foods lurking in your local grocery store -- prepare to be shocked!

Bear Naked All Natural Granola, Apple Cinnamon
PER SERVING (1/4 cup): 140 calories, 7g fat, 5mg sodium, 17g carbs, 3g fiber, 5g sugars, 3g protein

If you were scanning the granola section, you might think this Apple Cinnamon stuff is a diet-friendly choice. After all, it's fruity and natural, and 140 calories per serving doesn't seem unreasonable for a breakfast cereal/snack food. But get this -- the serving size is just 1/4 cup! That's only four measly tablespoons! A full cup of this stuff packs in 560 calories and 28g fat. At the very least, you'd think this would be a better option than Bear Naked's chocolate or peanut butter granolas... right?!? Wrong-O! The Heavenly Chocolate actually has HALF the fat and 10 fewer calories a serving, and even the Peanut Butter has less fat than the Apple Cinnamon. Watch out for this stuff, unless you have amazing self-control. Click here for some of our cereal suggestions.

Trader Joe's Veggie Chips (Potato Snacks)
PER SERVING (about 26 chips, 1 oz.): 160 calories, 10g fat, 240mg sodium, 16g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g sugars, 1g protein

Time and time again people at T.J.'s grab these so-called Veggie Chips and say to their shopping pals, "Look! Chips made from vegetables! Perfect for my diet and my potato chip addiction!" Sadly, these are nothing but veggie-flavored potato chips with as much fat as the real things. In fact, they're not even MADE with actual vegetables. After potato, oil, and salt, you'll find "tomato powder" and "spinach powder" on the ingredients list. Powder?!? Puh-leeze! Click here for a much better alternative to fattening p-chips...

Oscar Mayer Lunchables Maxed Out Ham and Cheddar Cracker Combo
PER SERVING (1 container): 660 calories, 22g fat, 1,600mg sodium, 101g carbs, 2g fiber, 57g sugars, 18g protein

Attention moms and dads!!! Just because something is labeled "Lunchables," that does not make it a healthy pick for your kids. This simple cracker pack contains 34% the daily value of fat, 45% the DV of saturated fat, 67% the DV of sodium (1,600 salty milligrams!), and too many calories altogether. Once you recover from reading those INSANE stats, consider this: Those percentages are based on a 2,000-calorie diet, the estimate for the average adult's daily needs. Craziness! We don't recommend that anyone, of any age, snack on this wacky cracker pack. But for some kid-friendly treats that even you'll love (pssst... they're guilt-free!), click here now!

Hershey's Shell Topping (original chocolate)
PER SERVING (2 tbsp.): 220 calories, 18g fat, 15mg sodium, 16g carbs, 1g fiber, 14g sugars, <1g protein

A few squirts of candy-flavored dessert topping on your low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt certainly seems like it would be a guilt-free alternative to an actual candy bar. But a serving of this stuff actually has MORE fat (and just 50 fewer calories) than a full-sized Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar -- and that's BEFORE you factor in your ice cream or fro yo! Not only that, but the plain chocolate topping's even got more fat and calories than the Reese's and Heath flavors in the Shell Topping lineup (don't get excited -- those have horrendous nutritionals as well). Talk about shell shock! Get a guilt-free chocolate fix with some of these finds, instead!

For more food shockers, plus guilt-free recipes, food finds, tips, tricks, and more, visit hungry-girl.com and sign up for free daily emails. Woohoo!

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614 Comments

1. Posted by Carriexpress on Sun, Mar 23, 2008, 2:55 pm PDT

My daughter (Ms. Picky) LOVES Fiber One bars. They are fantastic in nutrition and the oats and chocolate is a real treat!
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2. Posted by GrammarGirl95 on Sun, Mar 23, 2008, 5:12 pm PDT

Yes! Fiber One bars rule! The chocolate is great and the peanut butter is too! I also love Luna Bars. Helllooo...peanut butter cookie...nuts over chocolate? It's like a chocolately, healthy combination of a reeses peanut butter cup and a rice crispy treat!
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3. Posted by ccteacher on Sun, Mar 23, 2008, 6:23 pm PDT

Yes...I agree Luna bars are great, try the chocolate peppermint stick. It's a great pick me up before a workout. Clif bars are also great, the chocolate brownie, tastes like a brownie and it's good for you too :) Good energy booster :) enjoy I have to try the fiber one bars...thanks for the advice.
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4. Posted by lauramcd123 on Mon, Mar 24, 2008, 3:45 pm PDT

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but do consider: Fiber One Bars (though they are a treat!) are made with high fructose corn syrup, a big no-no in all food. And while Luna bars are better for you than the average granola bar, they aren't exactly "healthy" they have a lot of sugar and should be eaten not as a pre-workout pick-me-up, but rather as a candy bar replacement. I think Lara Bars or Pure bars would fit the bill of all my comment predecessors. They are fruit and nut bars with enough fruit sugars to satisfy a stubborn sweet tooth but also enough protein. They taste great, have incredibly simple ingredients (my favorite Lara bar is made only of unsweetened cherries, dates, and almonds) , and only natural sugars (like those in fruit). Good luck in your "bar" endeavors!
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5. Posted by binx99@rogers.com on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 11:00 am PDT

Excellent comment lauramcd123,,,sometimes ,,when we are thinking we are choosing the best,,,we actually are being fooled by these companies proclaiming to make a so called "health" bar. I have become very aware and read the labels like a mad-woman! lol If we stay true to "whole,,healthy foods" like real fruit and real veggies,,and try to stay away from prepackaged sugar snacks,,,we all would be sooo much better off! take care,,,,
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6. Posted by edithriffe on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:38 pm PDT

shorty
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7. Posted by Tim on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:39 pm PDT

no surprises here
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8. Posted by lizzeen on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:43 pm PDT

Try the Clif Bars they are good for you and in many flavors....
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9. Posted by onterryline on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:44 pm PDT

Need to show the amount of Saturated Fat in the Nutritional breakdown of the items you review..Thats the real bad stuff along with Trans Fats...Thanks
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10. Posted by jja on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:44 pm PDT

Yeah, lots of companies trick you with high fructose corn syrup.
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11. Posted by shannonhint on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:44 pm PDT

Wow! Diddent know Veggie Chips where that bad!
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12. Posted by teresa_sanchez1 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:45 pm PDT

I've never realized how bad those Lunchables are. I won't be reaching for those any longer!!!
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13. Posted by mbarone5 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:45 pm PDT

All the bars in your regular supermarket have high fructose corn syrup! Including Kashi bars (surprising since their cereal is one of the only cereals without it) There's been some talk about Fiber One bars here and they at least have the LEAST amount of high fructose corn syrup than most bars. Your only option is organic bars, Luna, Odwalla, etc. Your best bet is to shop the perimeter of the food store if you are trying to avoid high fructose corn syrup.
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14. Posted by Guido on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:46 pm PDT

Eat an apple instead.
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15. Posted by globejumper360 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:48 pm PDT

Also, I love V8 and against my better judgment I got the New V8 Splash!... the very first ingredient is High fructose corn syrup! If you want to get a perspective on how healthy food is, use a weight watchers "Point finder"... it's great way to tell how bad things are....
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16. Posted by HCW on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:48 pm PDT

There's quite a bit of misconception that "healthy" choices like the granola you mentioned, really are healthier. This tends to be the case at many of the organic/natural stores where the green-washing of some of these products falsely lures people into a sense of security that isn't there. OrganicGroceryDeals.com has an unfettered look at brands and helps consumers better understand which are really better and which are lots of hype.
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17. Posted by jillyz19 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:48 pm PDT

Yes, the Fiber One bars taste good, but the ingredients are not good. They have hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup in them. Not good for you or your little kids people!!
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18. Posted by geokatgrl on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:49 pm PDT

I have to agree with lauramcd123 on the Lara bars. I just found these last year and I love them! They even have chocolate! The density of these bars makes a little go a long way, too. These are a raw food (fruits, nuts, etc), so they are not baked, and they do not contain any animal products (i.e. milk). If you've ever tried any of the raw food cookies this is similar. No matter what, these are a much more healthy alternative.
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19. Posted by NRtch2 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:50 pm PDT

One of the best ways to avoid scary stuff in your food (high fructouse corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, etc.) is to seriously limit the amount of packaged, processed, and prepared foods we eat. Even foods marketed to dieters as "healthy" (Lean Cuisines come to mind) are packed with chemicals, perservatives and SODIUM like you wouldn't believe!!! Best bet - take the advice of binx99 and eat "real" food. :)
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20. Posted by pitbullx13 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:51 pm PDT

people should stop worrying of what they eat and should start worrying of how much they eat and try to exercise .
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21. Posted by flem b on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:52 pm PDT

Warning!!!! It isn't safe to go to the grocery anymore!!! You'll get fat just looking at the display of 'acceptable diet foods'!!!
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22. Posted by Angela R on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:52 pm PDT

Ouch.
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23. Posted by sumnut_sumnut on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:55 pm PDT

so what just eat food and stop complaining about col, card, fat just eat them....dont eat you will die...... eat a hershey bar, snickers, twix, m&ms its food
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24. Posted by mpfunt on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:56 pm PDT

One must be a millionare to eat healthy all of the time!
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25. Posted by davidpjames2002 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:57 pm PDT

I get your point in the bear naked granola, if it were meant to be eaten by the cup. I admit, I'm overweight at 6' 3" 290lbs, but even I wouldn't eat nutrient dense granola by the cup, that's a full coffee mug, yikes. Anyhow, methinks that stuff is trail/snack food and should be eaten as directed. But thanks for the info on the other stuff, i try not to fall for the so-and-so "flavored" gimick, myself.
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26. Posted by Foodie on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 4:58 pm PDT

I have to agree w/the ladies above. Stay away from high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. I found Kashi products to be good b/c they lack high fructose corn syrup and they are high in whole grain....usually sweetened w/evaporated cane juice. As for a drink....Snapple makes lightly sweetened Red Tea (fructose sugar) and Earl Grey Tea (Sugar)...a good alternative to soda. An 18oz bottle is about 70-90 calories depending on which flavor you pick. Something else I recently stumbled across is naturally flavored water called Hint......0 calories, 0 aspartame, 0 artificial flavors.
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27. Posted by jakinew on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 5:00 pm PDT

Fiber One is the BEST. I have one for my morning break with fresh fruit.
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28. Posted by arturo0811 on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 5:00 pm PDT

forget all the nonsense and get your senses back by eating REAL fruits and vegetables...the only pure alternative to fruit bars or veggie chips or whatever that crap is!!!!!!!!!!
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29. Posted by Chony&Eric Nelson on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 5:00 pm PDT

We'll go for the "real foods" response. Why does anyone think s/he is getting nutrition in these products intended for shelf life and company profits?
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30. Posted by lovefood on Tue, Mar 25, 2008, 5:01 pm PDT

The best food should be all natural products like fruits and veggies, and homemade breads that leave out all the additives. Prepared foods: are they made for profit, or for our best interests? Medical professionals are beginning to understand the differences between alkalinity vs acidity, and how the latter promotes illness and disease. Prepared foods. regardless of the "healthy" content, are more acid than alkaline, and promote disease. The research continues to discover how the additives, sugars, sodium all promote bad health.
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