1. Donuts
The ingredient list alone in doughnuts read like an advanced chemistry class. Not to mention, bleached white flour that’s deep-fried and rolled in sugar is just never a good idea. Serving size: 1 original glazed doughnut Calories: 190 Fat: 11g Carbs: 21g Protein: 2g Sodium: 75mg Sugar: 10g
2. Cheetos
Many people ask, “What is a Cheeto, anyway?” Well, it’s highly processed corn that’s fried, infused with sodium and showered in orangey-red chemical dust. Serving size: Cheetos Flamin' Hot, 1 ounce, about 21 pieces
Fat: 11 grams
Calories: 160
Sodium: 250 milligrams
Carbs: 13 g
Protein: 1g
Sugar: 0g
3. Cheesy Kale Chips
Kale itself is extremely nutritious. It is loaded with vitamin K, has about three grams of protein per cup and has been linked to cancer prevention. However, packaged kale chips are another story. Next time you’re at the market, flip over a few bags and see for yourself. Most of them are loaded with fat and have stats similar to potato chips! Serving size: Approximately 3 ounces
Fat: 36 grams
Calories: 440
Sodium: 360 milligrams
4. Pork rinds
These may seem like a hearty, protein-filled snack, but are really just sodium-filled strips of crunchy pig fat. Serving size: 1 cup
Calories: 174
Fat: 10g
Carbs: 0g
Protein: 19.62g
Sodium: 588mg
5. Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
Credit: fritolay.com It’s no surprise that chips aren’t great for you, but the ones flavored with “cheese” or other dairy products are the worst. How about a sprinkling of some artificially-flavored and dyed chemical powder? No, thanks. Serving size: 11 chips (1 oz)
Calories: 160
Fat: 11g
Carbs: 14g
Protein: 2g
Sodium: 230mg
6. Skittles
Taste the rainbow of artificial coloring and flavoring. A package of Skittles is like a bag of mini sugar bombs brimming with corn syrup and trans fats. Serving size: 1 bag
Calories: 231
Fat: 2.49g
Carbs: 51.66g
Protein: .11g
Sodium: 9 mg
Sugar: 43.33
7. Haagen Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Credit: haagendazs.us Chocolate and peanut butter is delicious, but the calories, fat and sugar content in this one is through the roof. (And will you really limit yourself to half a cup?) Try a chocolate peanut butter smoothie bowl instead. Serving size: ½ cup
Calories: 340
Fat: 23g
Carbs: 26g
Protein: 8g
Sodium: 85 mg
Sugar: 22g
8. Easy Cheese
Easy cheese is kinda cheese, but not really. It also has a slew of chemicals and preservatives added in order to pour the stuff in a can and make it soft enough to squirt out of a one-centimeter spout. Serving size: 1.1 oz (about two tablespoons)
Calories: 90
Fat: 6g
Carbs: 2g
Protein: 4g
Sodium: 430mg
Sugar: 2g
9. Ritz Crackers
While you're ditching the Easy Cheese, dump these crackers as well. Crackers seem harmless, but if you want to be healthy, don’t put on this Ritz. There’s little nutritional value and zero fiber, but what they do contain is high fructose corn syrup and saturated fat. Serving size: 5 crackers
Calories: 77
Fat: 3.5g
Carbs: 9.5g
Protein: 1.2g
Sodium: 86mg
Sugar: 1.3g
10. Twinkies
Twinkies are such a processed weird wonder that someone actually wrote a book about its 37 ingredients, which include sulfuric acid, ethylene, lime, and phosphoric acid. What are those? Not food. Try a healthier version. Serving size: 1 Twinkie
Calories: 270
Fat: 9g
Carbs: 46g
Protein: 2g
Sodium: 360mg
Sugar: 33g
11. Mrs. Fields Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
Of all the store-bought cookies, Mrs. Fields topped the list in terms of calories and fat content. With 210 calories in just one cookie, it’s best to stay away. Serving size: 1 cookie
Calories: 210
Fat: 10g
Carbs: 29g
Protein: 2g
Sodium: 170mg
Sugar: 19g
12. Hot Pockets
What's in your pocket? Let's see: partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup solids, fake mozzarella cheese, artificial butter flavor, distilled monoglycerides and L-Cysteine hydrochloride. Oh, and in 2014, Hot Pockets were pulled from store shelves for containing “diseased and unsound animals.” Definitely not a pocket full of sunshine. 1 sandwich (Pepperoni Pizza)
Calories: 290
Fat: 11g
Carbs: 35g
Protein: 11g
Sodium: 590mg
Sugar: 5g
13. Peanut butters with hydrogenated oil
Yes, peanut butter can be good for you, but not all peanut butters are the same. Hydrogenation is a chemical process that converts liquid vegetable oil into solid fat – unnecessary for peanut butter. Check the labels – PB really only needs peanuts and salt. Yes, you’ll have to stir it, but it’s so worth it, and once you make the switch, you'll never go back. Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 190
Fat: 16g
Carbs: 8g
Protein: 7g
Sodium: 135mg
Sugar: 3g
14. Microwave Popcorn
While popcorn in general is not bad for you, the lining of microwave popcorn bags includes substances such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical the EPA lists as a carcinogen that has been linked to infertility and cancer. In addition, many brands include trans fats – and just look at all that sodium! Pop Secret Butter 1 bag
Calories: 540
Fat: 36g
Carbs: 45g
Protein: 6g
Sodium: 930mg
Sugar: 0g
15. Toaster pastries
Another “food” devoid of any nutritional value but containing plenty of bleached white flour, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated palm oil. Serving size: Toaster Strudel, strawberry, 2 pastries
Calories: 340
Fat: 14g
Carbs: 50,
Protein: 3g
Sugar: 18g
Sodium: 340mg
16. Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Rumors of pink slime aside, an abundance of fat (including saturated fat) and sodium make chicken nuggets a nope. Serving size: Tyson Fun Nuggets, 5 pieces
Calories: 276
Fat: 17.7g
Carbs: 15.8g
Protein: 13.8g
Sodium: 483mg
Sugar: 0g
17. Diet Soda
Although it’s got no calories or fat, the artificial sweeteners and chemical dyes make this a poor choice. In fact, the sweeteners can mess up your metabolism and have been linked to an increased risk of weight gain and depression. Serving size: 1 can
Calories: 0
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 15.8g
Protein: 0g
Sodium: 67mg
Sugar: 0g
18. Cheez-Its
Sadly, Cheez-Its are mostly flour, oil and a little bit of cheese. You’ll find no fiber in this cracker, but you will find a preservative called TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone), a form of butane. Serving size: 27 crackers
Calories: 150
Fat: 8g
Carbs: 17g
Protein: 3g
Sodium: 230mg
Sugar: 1g
19. Three Musketeers
The good ol’ Three Musketeers bar sounds harmless – I mean, it’s just chocolate and that creamy nougat filling, right? Yeah, but that nougat is basically a boatload of fluffy sugar with some corn syrup and hydrogenated palm oil thrown in. Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 240
Fat: 7g
Carbs: 42g
Protein: 1g
Sodium: 90mg
Sugar: 36g
20. Sugary coffee shop drinks
