We’re always hearing about how we should cut back on sugar and we know by now that processed foods and juices can be loaded with the sweet stuff. But there are sneaky sources of sugar that we don’t suspect, so we end up getting more of it than we realize. Here are a few hidden sugar bombs we should be avoiding, according to nutritionists.
Marinara sauce - You’d probably be surprised to find out that almost all popular marinara sauce brands have sugar as the second or third ingredient and a half cup serving can have as much as 13 grams of sugar. So read labels carefully and look for a brand that has less than six grams of sugar in a half cup serving, like Colavita Organic Spicy Marinara or Classico Riserva Marinara.
Nut butters - Edwina Clark, registered dietitian and head of nutrition and wellness at Yummly points out that many brands of nut butter contain a little sugar, molasses, honey, or dried cane syrup. So if you want to skip the sweet stuff, look for a brand that’s 100% nuts - the only ingredients should be nuts and salt. Smucker's Natural Chunky Peanut Butter and Trader Joe's Raw Almond Butter are good options.
Deli meat - A lot of popular deli meats “contain a myriad of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives such as nitrites, nitrates and sodium benzoate,” warns Clark. Add in the honey, dextrose, corn syrup, or maltodextrin - which are all forms of sugar - and you have a hidden sugar bomb! The fix is to only buy the nitrite and nitrate-free deli meats, and read the label to know what you’re getting. Applegate Naturals Uncured Black Forest Ham and Hillshire Farm Naturals Slow Roasted Turkey Breast are both healthier options.
Source: My Domaine