I was really pleased with the feedback I received from the “Is It Healthy” series this week and I think I will start regularly incorporating a post entitled, “Is It Healthy,” each week. I loved hearing all your thoughts, concerns, and questions, so I hope that if you are still curious about any products or need any clarification, you will give me some inspiration for things to write about!!
Oh people of Walmart 
With that said, it has come to my attention that I have been pretty negative in the “Is It Healthy” series. I shot down each seemingly healthy food and I had a reader question, What DO you eat? Do you have any vices when it comes to foods that SEEM healthy?
I hope every reader understands that I’m not trying to make it seem difficult to make healthy choices. It should be super simple, but as I’ve said in previous posts, food marketers like to confuse you and appeal to the latest health trends. I’m not trying to make you MORE confused when you head to the grocery store, I’m trying to educate. I want you to be armed with advice and tools for how to look past the gimmicks and understand for yourself what is healthy and what is not so healthy. It’s like fashion, we all buy clothes (just like we all buy food), and although we THINK we’re being fashionable and trendy because we see something on the manikin, that is not always the case (just look at my “People of Walmart” pics!).
If you still CHOOSE to eat seemingly healthy foods that you KNOW are not really health foods, this is okay. I’m not telling you NOT to eat those foods. I just feel there are plenty of people who overeat these foods because they think they are being really healthy, when in reality they are just eating loads of hidden, empty calories, fat, sugar, chemicals, and sodium. In relation to fashion, exhibit A (below): somewhere he read that leggings are trendy, but it appears he doesn’t know the correct way to pull them off. If he only educated himself, perhaps his outfit would look a little more put together.
Do I have any vices? Keep in mind that I am a dietitian. While I am nowhere near a perfect eater (and I don’t pretend to be), I have been learning and evolving with the world of nutrition since I was 16. I know how to read labels and decipher ingredients. The more I learn, the easier it is for me to stay away from things like “healthy junk food” or “health beverages.”
Fashion trends? This is where I could use expert advice because even though I read through fashion magazines, that doesn’t mean I can weed through what’s hot and what’s NOT.
I'm not positive but mixing and matching animal prints might be a no-no. Someone tell me: Is It Fashionable?
I still enjoy pretzels occasionally, stop to get frozen yogurt in the summer, and sometimes choose a “hearty multigrain bread” to serve with dinner (even though I know the ingredient list is anything but whole grain). Why? Because I feel pretzels are a little better than chips or Ho-Ho’s when I’m in a bind and need something from the vending machine, the frozen yogurt might be sugar free and loaded with artificial chemicals, but I prefer to save the calories, and I REALLY like a hearty crusty bread but don’t always have time to drive an extra 20 minutes to get the REAL whole grain variety OR have time to bake a loaf myself. LIFE HAPPENS.
THIS should never happen though!! Much like eating lard straight from the tub; pull your pants up!
My main point in this series is not to be negative (trying to add some Friday humor…is it working?). I just want to debunk some common myths about what is considered healthy and what is not. Marketers are out to tell you what you want to hear and unfortunately “health gimmicks” are what sells! YOU have to make yourself the investigator and not fall for every health claim OR new fashion trend out there (some people just can’t pull off the skinny jean)!!
Have a great weekend everyone…IT’S FRIDAY!
Question: What foods would you like to see appear in the “Is It Healthy” posts?
I really like this series because I think a lot of people are unaware that many of the so called healthy items being pushed their way actually aren’t the best choices for a balanced diet. I would rather eat a few more calories but have a wholesome and fresh lunch then a low-cal/low fat packaged meal that is full of preservatices.
I just love you
You exude positivity, even when you are exposing the tricks of the marketing world. You are flexible…and you don’t demand perfection from yourself. I need to learn more from you 
I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow. Take time to love yourself and those that are dearest to your heart!
I loved your whole ‘Is It Healthy?’ series– it’s hard to describe just how much I value the information you’ve put on here.
I’d have to go with everyone else and say protein powders!
I totally agree with you, to know if something is healthy, all you have to do is look at the food label.
I recently posted an article on Twitter, which listed a bunch of foods that many marketers make people believe are healthy, but which really aren’t. I know pretzels were on that list! My dad thinks pretzels are just the greatest snack ever invented. I tell him that eating pretzels alone is just eating sugar + salt. They would be better dipped in some almond butter or some greek yogurt + salsa…..or something like that. Many of the frozen meal names, such as “Smart Ones” or “healthy Choice” send the message that they are healthy, when they really are just heathIER than others, and not really such great choices (Well, not all the time at least).
I LOVE those “fashionable” pictures you found online. Hilarious.
I know its bad to laugh at others, but damn, those pictures are hilarious. Have a great weekend Erin, thanks as always for your informative posts.
o dear God i am in love with these photos lol..some people haha ohhhh myyy!
hmm is it healthy: protein powders (and if so which ones)… and omg i was going to say Larabars (then i saw Victoria already beat me to it!) wow yes, definitely wanna know about larabars!
OMG!! hahah!!! How can these people think those outfits look good?! Anyway, I’d say my vices are diet foods in general. They’re aiming for low calories but provide little to no nutrition. Or take Special K for example. None are whole grain and most have hydrogenated oils in them. You get the same calories for wheat flakes!
What about protein bars, vitamuffins, stuff like that?
It’s YOUR blog and I love that you give YOUR opinion. I didn’t find your posts negative, but then again I agree with everything you had to say. I’ve sent the link to the Healthy Apron to so many people and I refer friends to specific posts all the time. Your advice is sound and the fact that you truly want everyone to benefit from a healthy lifestyle is evident in everything I’ve read here. As far as ‘is it healthy?’ suggestions, please review ‘Doritos’ because I’m up in the air on their place in my healthy lifestyle.
I LOVE this series!!! I’d love to see Kashi cereal, frozen veggies compared to fresh, Muri Glen Soup, etc.
Thanks for taking the time to do this! 
Those leopard pants crack me up!!
Another read made a comment about the PB & Co brand. I have never tried it, but I would be curious to see how it is nutritionally.
Have a great weekend!!
i LOVE this series!!!!!!!
Is is healthy—pb&co peanut butters! and packaged bread like FlatOuts, Sandwich Thins!
Frozen yogurt/soft serve is one of those foods for me! I know it has a bunch of chemicals and such that are not good for me, but nothing really compares to the texture!!
The People of Walmart always cracks me up!
I really enjoyed this week of posts! Looking forward to more.
Oh, the people of Wal-Mart. Always makes me smile!!
I like the series because it educated people about the foods. I never got the impression you were being negative. Just informative! Soft pretzels have been a vice for me lately. Really good soft pretzels…that you can only get in Philly. They are dangerous.
I had the BEST idea for you like i said. I wish I wrote it down..still waiting for it to come back to me!!!
Have a great weekend!
I’ve loved this series! I think that its important to know whats in our food, even if we do have to eat it sometimes! =D
I am dying laughing. Friday humor or Friday horror? Thanks for kicking off my weekend with a good laugh. Also, I am not sure I trust anyone who NEVER eats something less-than-100%-healthy. I’m sure those people are out there somewhere, I just don’t personally know them. I think we are all just striving to eat better most of the time. That is why your “Is It Healthy” posts are so good. Do you have any thoughts on those Clif Shots, Hammer Gels, and those types of energy foods that athletes use? I’m suspicious of the ingredient lists.
Wow those are quite the outfits!
Eek those clothes should never be worn. I’d like to see some popular restaurant foods or snack/granola/power bars.
For “is it healthy” I’d like to see an analysis of protein powders and nutrition bars. Some people are all over LaraBars, but they seem a little hefty on the sugar (even if most of it is from dates). I’d be interested in your take.
Those photos are horrific! Yikes!
Hmmm…Is it healthy — packaged oatmeal?