'I'm a dietician and here are six foods I avoid buying from the supermarket'
A health expert has revealed what foods she steer clears from while doing her weekly food shop.
These days, there is no end to the food options available at supermarkets, but they're not always the healthiest. Even with the best of intentions, it's easy to give into temptation when at the supermarket.
Susie Burrell is a well-regarded dietician, how has revealed what foods she makes the point of avoiding, Wales Online reports. Ranging from meats to baked goods, spreads and types of drinks, the expert has also shared some of her food shop habits to help others make healthier choices.
The first step in her advice is to reassess what's in your shopping basket, especially those foods that can be potentially harmful if not consumed in moderation. Susie has offered her simple "food rules" as guidance for maintaining a balanced weight and physique, dishing out insights on the two least healthy diets and how they can negatively impact your metabolism.
Six foods that one dietician never buys in the supermarket
Processed chicken pieces
Two-minute noodles
Chocolate nut spreads
Fizzy soft drinks and cordial
Processed meat snacks
Bakery cakes and muffins
Susie disclosed her aversion to buying commercially produced pastry-based foods. "One of the few supermarket foods likely to still contain trans fats especially when margarine is on the ingredient list," she explained to FEMAIL.
Furthermore, products like processed meats that contain minimal meat, which itself is fat-rich and loaded with artificial colours, additives and processed ingredients - is also a no go.
Chicken-based items containing less than 50% chicken, like nuggets or other meals needing frying or oven cooking, also get booted off her shopping list. Processed snacks marketed towards kids are a further no-no for her.
"The rise in processed meat snacks for kids is completely misaligned with the association between a high intake of processed meat and the risk of developing bowel cancer," the dietitian cautioned. "I don't buy two-minute noodles packed with salt and MSG," she added, expressing her disapproval of such products.
While not against noodles per se, she took issue with the accompanying seasoning packets. "I don't buy full-sugar soft drinks of any flavour or cordial," she further shared, highlighting her stance on sugary beverages. The expert remains vigilant about drinks laden with artificial colours, though she notes that some diet options might be acceptable upon close inspection.
She was adamant about the role of sugary drinks in a healthy diet: "There is no place for full-strength soft drinks in a healthy diet. Closely linked to weight gain in children and adults, a single 375ml can contain a massive 9 tsp of sugar, and all varieties are as bad as each other."
Susie is also careful when it comes to scrutinising labels, steering clear of nut spreads that contain more oil and glucose than nuts. She suggests that if you have a blender or food processor at home, making your own spread ensures you know exactly what's in it.
Additionally, any cakes or muffins containing over 30g of sugar are omitted from her shopping list.
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