The 5 ‘healthy’ foods that could be causing you to pile on the pounds – and what to eat instead

IT MAKES sense that sweets treats or junk food might add a few inches to your waistline if eaten in large amounts.

So, you might assume you're in the clear if you're sticking to healthier foods and snacks.

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However, there are some less obvious foods that might be higher in calories, fats or sugars.

These might include snacks you'd previously thought of as healthy - and thus indulged in them with abandon.

Nuts, yoghurts and cereals - even avocados - are just a few of these sneakily calorific snacks.

Jess Hillard, sports nutritionist at , told The Sun: "Many foods at first glance look a healthy option but may contain more calories than we realise.

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"This isn’t to deem them as “bad foods” or “unhealthy”, just to be eaten in smaller amounts."

Tamara Willner, nutritionist at , echoed Jess in stressing that we don't need to avoid foods that are high in fat and calories.

"It’s important to consider all nutrients in food rather than focusing on the often-demonised ‘fat’ or ‘calories’," she explained.

"Fat, in the right context, is healthy and keeps us fuller for longer."

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Overall, staying away from things that are heavily processed if a good rule of thumb.

"Eating wholefoods is always a healthier option than buying pre-packaged, ultra-processed foods, which tend to be extremely high in sugar and have long lists of unfamiliar ingredients.

"Any food can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet, but in excess, some may pose health risks."

Here are five supposedly healthy foods that could cause weight gain if eaten in large amounts.

1. Low-fat yoghurt

Low-fat products usually require a replacement for fat, which usually ends up being sugar or sweeteners, Tamara told The Sun.

"Overconsumption of sugar leads to weight gain and many different lifestyle diseases," she said.

"Having lots of sweet flavours in our diet, artificial or otherwise, also increases our cravings for sweet foods."

2. Cereal and granola

"Many cereals and cereal bars are marketed as ‘high fibre’ or ‘fortified with vitamins’," Tamara went on.

"Although that may be true, these are ultra-processed and usually also contain heaps of sugar."

According to Jess, granola is another breakfast food that you might want to be warier of.

Granola is another breakfast food to take note of, as many brands will contain "saturated fats and excess sugar", according to Jess.

She suggested to pay special attention to granola labels before buying.

3. Dried fruit

You might think a handful of dried fruit is about the same as eating it fresh.

But when fruit is dried, the naturally occurring sugars become much more concentrated, Tamara shared.

"Given its size, it’s also very easy to overconsume," she added.

Nibbling on five pieces of dried apricot will yield about 30g of sugar, the equivalent of seven teaspoons of sugar.

4. Avocados

"Avocados are very high in fat and therefore do have a higher
calorie content," Jess noted

"However, these are healthy fats and high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, essential for brain function and anti-inflammatory properties."

As such, there's no need at all to avoid avos.

Just "be mindful of how much you are eating," the nutritionist advised, suggesting you have about half an avocado in one go.

5. Nuts and nut butters

Nuts are also calorific as they're high in healthy fats.

Jess advised you snack on no more than a small handful of whole, unsalted nuts.

As with granola, Jess advised you "be careful" with nut butters and "read the labels", paying attention to saturated fats and excess sugar.

"Opt for 100 per cent nut butters which contain no oils or sugar," she suggested.

She suggested you stick to about a teaspoon of the stuff to keep your calorie intake down.

WHAT SHOULD I EAT INSTEAD?

Tamara suggested you swap out your low-fat yoghurt for a full fat Greek or natural yoghurt. Add some berries for a touch of sweetness.

If you're craving a cereal bar, the nutritionist suggested you make your own wholefood ones - they won't take you much time at all.

Use oats, unsweetened peanut butter and banana.

Otherwise, mix some oats, nuts and berries into a portion of Greek youghurt.

You can also try making your own granola, as that way you know exactly what's going in it.

Meanwhile, Jess said that are good alternative to high-sugar snack options available, as they're carbs and sugar and contain 20 grams of protein to help curb cravings in between meals.

For a hit of protein, Tamara suggested you reach for some whole foods.

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Boiled eggs, a slice of cheese or some nuts and seeds are all packed with protein.

As for dried fruit, swap these out of the fresh variety. Try snacking on a source of protein or fibre alongside them, such as a few nuts.