Zero Calorie Food Tricks

If you're one of those people that reads labels in the grocery store, you should be congratulated.  Sure it takes you more time to shop, but in the long run it's worth it.

For example, I do most of my shopping at a Southern Tier grocery store chain that has taken a lot of unnecessary things out of their foods such as, synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils and MSG out of their store brands, and I appreciate that.  I work hard for my money and want to support companies that work hard for me.

Another reason to check labels before you buy is, you may think certain foods are calorie- free, when in fact they are not.  EatThis.com recently published an eye-opening list of foods that you may think are low or calorie-free, when in fact they are not:

• Sugar-free candy and gum - While most of these "sugar-free" chewing gums and candy often has at least 5 calories, so you might as well splurge on a full flavor mint or stick of gum for a few more calories.  And real sugar is always better than the fake stuff.
• Diet soda - cut back or stay away from this habit in the first place; diet soda tricks your brain and you'll end of adding more weight than ever.  And some of those artificial sweeteners produced by the drug companies have been linked to cancer.
• Splenda - EatThis.com notes that "the first two ingredients in Splenda are dextrose and maltodextrin, which are carbohydrates that are not calorie-free"  In fact, one cup of Splenda has 96 calories and 32 grams of carbohydrates.  Not so splendid is it? That's why I grow my own easy-to-grow Stevia plants and make my own natural sweetener.

[via EatThis.com]