5 Foods You Don't Have to Feel Guilty About Eating

Are you struggling with your weight? If you’re of the millions fighting the battle of the bulge, it may be time to start thinking differently.

What if everything you think you know about food is wrong?

Much of what determines rather or not a food is bad for you depends on the structure of your diet. If you’re ready to unpack some of the myths that surround foods that are ‘bad’ for you, read on.

Two Major Schools of Thought

Weight loss and diets often go hand in hand. Successful dieters, however, aren’t really on diets at all.

Most successful, health-conscious individuals adopt new lifestyles instead of new diets. Depending on what lifestyle appeals to you, you’ll need to adjust your good foods and bad foods.

Two of the major schools of thought that many people have found success with are the plant-based lifestyle and a low-carb lifestyle.

Good Foods for Low-Carb

Much of the low-carb lifestyle still has its roots in a caloric base. You’ll need to stay under your carb limit while also keeping your calories under control.

However, good foods for a low-carb diet vary greatly from a plant-based diet.

1. Orange You Going to Eat That?: Carrots & Sweet Potatoes

The keto lifestyle is a great example of a low-carb diet in long term action. On a keto diet, some foods that are generally considered to be ‘good’ aren’t good for weight loss.

Carrots and sweet potatoes, for example, are both a no-no for keto dieters. Because these foods are dense in carbohydrates, they’re undesirable for low-carb dieters.

2. Cured Meats: Good or Bad?

On the other hand, there are ‘good’ foods for a low-carb lifestyle that you should be cautious of. Cured meats, for example, have long been a staple of the low-carb diet. Cured meats, however, have recently been recognized as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

This research comes after 22 doctors in 10 countries reviewed over 800 studies relating to the link between processed meats and cancer. While not all meat is included in this grouping, meats like bacon and hot dogs should be avoided as much as possible.

3. Butter, Cheese, & Oil: Yes, Please!

Low carb diets often utilize high-fat foods like butter, cheese, and oil. While these foods have widely been accepted as a no-no for those who aren’t following a low-carb diet, they can be perfect for low-carb dieters.

For those looking to get into ketosis, high-fat foods aren’t just acceptable, they’re a crucial component in getting your body into a ‘fat-adapted’ state. Think heavy whipping cream is a fatty, bad-for-you food? You’re only half wrong.

4. Heavy Whipping Cream

If you’re looking for a little something to put if your coffee, reach for the heavy whipping cream. While this keto staple might get a bad rap outside of the low-carb world, it’s perfect for those on a keto diet.

Good Foods for Plant-Based Diets

If you’re looking to go with a plant-based diet, your good foods will likely look far different than the foods that are considered bad for low-carb dieting. Looking for a great plant-based restaurant? Check out this top 20 local business directory perfect for helping you pick a healthy restaurant.

5. Pass the Fruit!

While some diets may recommend staying away from too much fruit, with the plant-based diet, you’ll want to indulge! For low-carb dieters, nutritious foods like whole fruits and sweet potatoes are considered ‘bad foods’. With plant-based diets, however, you can have just about as much as you’d like.

These foods make up a crucial component of a healthy diet for plant-based dieters. While these foods might be considered ‘bad foods’ for dieters who are looking to stay away from carb-laden dishes, carbs don’t really matter much when you’re on a plant-based diet.