It's hard enough being on a diet without having certain foods pack on extra calories without you knowing it. The stubborn weight you've been trying to burn off may be sticking around due to foods you think are healthy, but are actually packing on the pounds. Before hitting up your next family dinner, make sure you're aware of the surprising foods that actually make you gain weight. Before you grab your next bite, we are breaking it down for you.
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1. Cereal: Before you pour your next serving of cereal thinking you're skimping on your daily calorie intake–think again. Not all cereals are created equal and most of them are packed with sugar, nuts or dry fruits that could make you gain weight. Even the type of milk you pick could be ruining your weight loss diet. Dietitian Sarah Krieger explains, "Anything that has 200 calories for 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup could easily become a 500-calorie bowl of cereal." Be aware of the labels and try going with fat-free milk instead.
2. Juice: Be wary of juices that you love to drink. For example, grapefruit juice has about 100 calories a cup while grape juice has about 120 calories per cup. Ice tea or a fruit punch ranges from 200 to 300 calories per cup! Swap your fruit juice for plain water or make sure to dilute your juice by pouring 1/2 a cup of juice and 1/2 of water. When you're counting calories every little bite counts.
3. Starchy vegetables: Veggies like corn and potatoes contains lots of starch, which could end up adding to at least 25 calories for only half a cup. Instead, stick with leafy greens like spinach, broccoli and kale. They are packed with potassium and vitamins and are way lower in calories.
4. Soups: While a soup for lunch may make you feel better than eating a fatty sandwich or full meal, a cream-based soup could have caused you the same amount of damage as a sandwich with fries on the side. For example, a cup of clam chowder will cost you about 250 calories per cup. If you're having a big serving that could easily add up to over 500 calories for one meal. Stick with non-dairy and water-based soups that are packed with green veggies and no pasta.
5. Frozen yogurt: Believe it or not, frozen yogurt could be just as fatty as a serving of ice cream. It all comes down to the sugar content in the yogurt and the toppings. One cup is about 30-35 calories per ounce and includes about 20g of sugar. A large serving can easily run you 380 calories! Try ordering a small cup instead and skip out on so many toppings.
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