7 healthy things that are not so healthy at all

Crying in a corner

If you eat like a Parisian, in little bites, then you're safe. If you eat like me, preferably a lot and often, then you need to pay attention. Because all those healthy alternatives sometimes turn out not to be so good for you. Listen and shiver. And just cry softly.

1. Oh no: popcorn
   I like to toss a bag of salted popcorn into my shopping cart. And it's definitely a healthy alternative, but scientific research shows that we eat twice (TWO!) as much of something when we think it's healthy. So that bag is a trap, what a shame.
2. A light soda
   It might have zero point zero percent sugar in it, but the sweetness gives your body a massive sugar craving. Result: on a sugar hunt.
   
3. A slice of gingerbread 
   Even in the zero-sugar variant, sugar seems to be present, in the form of sweeteners, of course. And I kept thinking that that slice with coffee was a healthy alternative.
4. Good granola
   Manufactured granola has sugar or honey added, just after it's been baked in oil. So you're actually consuming much more fat than you think. The solution? Make it yourself.
5. One hundred grams of nuts 
   For me, one handful of nuts quickly becomes two or three, sometimes four. Let's just call it the popcorn effect for convenience. And then you think you're doing well with a handful (or three) of unsalted nuts, but you quickly hit 100 grams and that's 600 calories. You could have a complete dinner for that.
6. Dried or candied stuff
   Everyone is into figs because they are healthy. Well, not entirely, because when you dry a fig, the calories shoot up. Fresh they have 63 per 100 grams, but in dried form, you get 273 calories per 100 grams. The same goes for dates, by the way.
7. Edamame a.k.a. the soybean
   Not a fattening food and a healthy alternative for snacking, but this holy bean can be toxic if it's undercooked, resulting in stomach pain, nausea, fever, and diarrhea. You can even suffer kidney damage from it. This is how long you should cook them before it all becomes a bit safe.

But actually, it's just exactly like my mother always said: ‘Anything that has too much in front of it is not good for you.’ But it just happens to be all really delicious, ha.

P.S.: Also read why you better eat a croquette than vegetable chips? You’re welcome.