REVEALED: Six ‘healthier’ foods that will make you gain weight quickly, according to top dietitians

If you want to lose weight, you probably avoid chips, pizza and anything sweet like the plague.

But you should also add some more, less obvious foods to the mix.

Dietitians have warned that some of the highest calorie foods that are often the cause of surprising weight gain are often seen as ‘healthy’ alternatives.

In a new report, nutritionists from diet analyst website Eat This Not That have highlighted a handful of “sneaky” foods known for sabotaging weight loss or weight maintenance plans.

Because some products masquerade as healthy, dieters think that eating a lot will make little difference to their waistline. But they would be wrong.

Some of the most common culprits of this cheating are fruit juice, yogurt, energy bars and dried fruit, according to nutritionists like Yelena Wheeler, a registered dietitian nutritionist at fitness consulting firm Endomondo.

Here are six foods you’re eating that are probably packing on the pounds without you even knowing it…

A SNACK OF NUTS EASILY ADDS UP TO 800 CALORIES

We’ve long been told that snacking on nuts is much better than ultra-processed alternatives like chips and chocolate.

But from a weight loss perspective, this isn’t entirely true.

Although nuts are packed with beneficial micronutrients, moderation is key, says Kimberley Gomer, a registered dietitian who runs a private practice. Yahoo. And crucially, they are very easy to overeat, she said.

For example, “There are 826 calories in one cup of almonds, and it’s very easy to eat one cup.” For comparison, there are an estimated 156 calories in a bag of chips. That means you’d have to eat about five and a half bags of classic junk food to reach the calories in a cup of almonds.

THE ‘HEALTHY’ FATS IN NUT BUTTERS THAT ARE ANYTHING BUT

Wellness gurus on social media like to add it to their beautifully crafted breakfast bowls – and claim it’s full of ‘healthy’ fats.

However, the creamy consistency of nut butters makes it easy to eat a lot of them – and that means a good amount of calories. Many people exceed the recommendations, Gomer said.

“There are 188 calories in two tablespoons of peanut butter, and you’ll probably eat double or triple that amount if you just dip an apple in it,” Gomer said.

These products contain a lot of fat. For example, there are 16 grams of fat in a serving of peanut butter and 13 grams of fat in a Hershey’s milk chocolate bar.

GRANOLA FOR A 500 CALORIE BREAKFAST…AND THAT’S BEFORE THE COFFEE

The recommended serving of breakfast cereal is about 1 cup, according to the American Heart Association.

But nutritionists say that with some grains, a smaller portion size is necessary to prevent weight gain. But too few dieters know this.

For example, the label of Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Coconut and Cashew Butter Granola states that a serving contains only 1/3 cup, which is 150 calories.

However, nutritionists say that Americans are unlikely to serve themselves such a small portion because they are used to larger portions with other grains.

And if you were to eat a cup of the product, you would consume 450 calories before even adding milk.

Many different brands have tried to turn cereal into a healthy breakfast option, but overall this product tends to lack nutritional value, Wheeler said.

“Many are low in fiber and high in sugar,” Wheeler said.

LOW SUGAR ICE CREAM THAT MAKES YOU FOOD

Although low-sugar, “healthier” ice creams may contain fewer calories or sugar, they may tempt you to overeat other foods, Sheri Berger, registered dietitian nutritionist told Yahoo Lifestyle.

If you’re craving sweets and are trying to satisfy those cravings with a “healthier version,” you can eat more of them to satisfy your cravings, Berger said.

Studies show that artificial sweeteners in these types of products can disrupt our natural hunger signals and lead to excessive cravings for sweet foods.

“If a food we all know and love has less fat or sugar, we identify the taste we are used to as not being present, and we may eat more, thinking that we will eventually get that taste,” Berger said.

IF YOU CAN, STICK TO COW’S MILK TO AVOID ADDED FAT

If you are lactose intolerant, don’t despair. In moderation, dietitians say nut milk is fine.

However, they “contain many items that otherwise make them challenging on the waistline,” Wheeler said.

Additionally, some of these products contain added sugars and fats to enhance the flavor of the product and prevent it from separating over time. according to Vox.

Although these products are considered safe by national food safety organizations, some researchers these products, especially carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate 80, are associated with intestinal problems.

One serving of Oatly extra creamy contains nine grams of fat, which is more than three times the amount of fat in one percent milk.

FREE OF GLUTEN… BUT HIGHER IN CALORIES

You may reach for gluten-free products under the assumption that they are healthier than their gluten-containing cousins.

“However, they still contain sugar, fat, and ingredients that replace gluten,” says Wheeler, which can increase the total calorie count.

She explained that some gluten-free versions have a higher caloric density than the regular ones.

For example, Tate’s, the bakery brand known for their crispy cookies, has gluten-free and regular versions of many of their treats. In their crunchy coconut flavor, there are 150 calories in the regular version versus 170 calories in the gluten-free version.