It’s a constant battle, isn’t it? You want to eat well, but you also really want that bar of chocolate or that glass of wine. So you either control your craving and feel deprived, or you indulge and feel guilty. It’s like you can never win! Well, what if I told you that chocolate and wine are actually good for you? Yes, you read right! Read on to learn about other delicious foods you didn’t know were good for you.
Chocolate. Dark chocolate has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that actually makes it a good snack or dessert choice. The key is moderation, but it’s perfectly fine to enjoy two squares of chocolate when you have a craving.
Red Meat. Red meat is probably not something you should eat every day, but lean red meat once or twice a week is an excellent source of iron.
Cheese. You try to stay away from cheese because of the fat and calories, but options like feta, Parmesan, Swiss, mozzarella, and cottage cheese give you protein, calcium, and phosphorus.
Wine. The anti-oxidants in red wine are good for heart health, so one glass a day is actually a good thing to indulge in!
Eggs. Eggs are high in cholesterol so that scares people off, but the truth is that they are low in saturated fat, which is the real culprit in causing high cholesterol counts in your body. They also have lots of iron, protein, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Eggs should be a regular part of your diet.
Potatoes. Okay, if you’re afraid of carbs, you’ve probably been conditioned to hate potatoes, and that’s a real shame! Because potatoes are also fat-free and have fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B. Eat them with the skins to get the most benefit.
Almonds. Yes, nuts are high in fat, but it’s the good fat that’s good for your brain and heart. Almonds have fiber, protein, and lots of vitamins and minerals. Eat them unsalted and watch your portions, and you’re fine.
Avocado. Avocados also get a bad rap because of their fat content, but they also have the good fat, so go ahead and enjoy them. Because they have a low glycemic index, eating avocado will keep you from getting hungry too soon.
Canned tomatoes and ketchup. Canned food is the ugly stepsister to fresh, and in most cases fresh is better. But canned tomatoes contain lycopene, which can help decrease your risk for heart disease, and canning them when they’re fresh helps retain all their nutrients, like vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and iron. Just watch out for salt, and the sugar in ketchup.