These ‘healthy’ snacks are secretly making you fat

We’re all guilty of falling into the trap of ‘diet’ foods – it’s easier to eat that whole bar of chocolate when it says sugar-free, tbh. Unfortunately, while the bar doesn’t lie, it also doesn’t give away the whole truth. We decode five ‘healthy’ snacks that have got you fooled and what you could munch on instead.

Ditch the sugar-free chocolate and opt for dark chocolate instead, the darker the better. Sugar-free chocolates more often than not contain synthetic artificial sweeteners which are hardly natural, let alone healthy. Dark chocolate, on the other hand, contains antioxidants and can even protect your skin from the sun.

Flip through the gallery for more 

Anything that says 'no preservatives' but allows you to store it for weeks: lies. This includes all those handy juice packs. Instead, spike your water bottle with antioxidant-rich fruits like strawberries and watermelons. You can thank us later.

Flip through the gallery for more

Granola bars look so easy to eat, if there was a way to consume a full meal with one, we'd do it. You can blame their great taste on the high-on-fructose corn syrup and palm oils which actually diminish the idea of a 'healthy snack'. Pack small portions of nuts instead as a quick midday snack. 

Flip through the gallery for more

While the fat-free label on the box of creamy salad dressing looks super inviting, there's a reason it's on there. The fat (which might actually be good for you) is replaced with a ton of sugar and artificial thickeners. Skip the margarine and low-fat butter and go for the real, full-fat stuff instead. In small portions, of course.

Flip through the gallery for more

Going gluten-free is another fad everyone seems to be jumping on - breads, cookies, the works. The fact of the matter is that if you're not gluten intolerant, it's completely harmless to you. Gluten only makes you bloat if you have a condition called celiac disease. Besides, gluten-free food contains added fats and sugars to give it the texture which could do more damage than actually eating gluten. On that note we'll have another (dark) chocolate chip cookie.