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Pantry items are a godsend, especially when you can’t get to the grocery store. However, not all pantry foods are good for you, especially when you are trying to lose weight. Kick these four foods that aren’t doing any favors for your body out of your pantry.
Rice Cakes
Rice cakes are a diet staple from the past. Although they can be low in calories, rice cakes are nothing but simple carbs. Simple carbohydrates rank high on the glycemic index. High GI foods provide a rush of energy at first but can leave you hungry within a few hours. Food that has a high GI index creates the perfect storm for overeating and weight gain. If you miss the crunch, sub it out with celery sticks and peanut butter.
Granola Bars
Granola bars offer calorie-dense carbs and fat. Although that may be a good thing is you plan to eat one as a meal replacement, but most people tend to eat them as a snack. Some contain the same about of sugar and fat as a candy bar. Although granola bars may have more fiber than the average candy bar, they still have plenty of simple sugars that are not filling enough to substitute for a meal or snack. A better alternative is to eat roasted peanuts, almonds, or cashews. They will keep you fuller longer and give you plenty of fiber.
Low-Fat Packaged Baked Goods
Low-fat doesn’t always mean diet-friendly. The problem with many low-fat packaged baked goods that these items are processed and packed with chemicals that are added to reproduce the flavor of the full-fat. You are better off eating smaller portions of full-fat baked goods—they will keep you fuller, longer.
Canned Soup
Canned soup is also a go-to item for most dieters. However, they are loaded with salt and low on nutrients. Consuming large amounts of can overwork your kidneys and cause water retention and bloat. They do not keep you full for long, and you end up eating more than you planned. Instead, make soup from scratch and load it up with veggies and lean meats.
