Unfortunately, a lot of people feel that if a food has the word salad in it- pasta salad, chicken salad, pimento cheese salad, fruit salad (that has enough sugar dressing on it to cause a diabetic coma)- then it is healthy. I used to be the same way! I would go out to eat and instead of getting a fried chicken sandwich, I would order the chicken salad sandwich, thinking I was choosing the best option. Why is it not? Well, because it has a ton of mayonnaise in it!!! Or I would order a soup because I have always thought of soups as being an healthy option. Well, NOPE not if they are cream based soups- clam chowder (my favorite), cream of broccoli, cream of potato, cream of tomato.......or even better soup in a bread bowl!!!
So many people will get a salad bar, with great intentions, but then ruin it with adding all the meats, cheeses and pasta salads. Then they pour about a cup of dressing on it! I used to LOVE ranch dressing!!! I would get a salad just so I could eat Ranch! All of your mayonnaise based dressings RUIN a healthy salad!! Anything that is creamy- Thousand Island, Blue Cheese, Ranch, Creamy Italian....... these are not good for you! You need to go with an oil or vinegar based dressing, or better yet sprinkle a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil with a little ground black pepper.
I will say that was one of the hardest things to give up. I switched out slowly! At first, I would ask for Ranch on the side. I would stick my fork in it and then get some salad to eat. Eventually, I switched over to an Italian dressing or a balsamic. Finally, I now either eat a salad with no dressing and enjoy the flavors of the veggies, or I will add a little olive oil and vinegar.
So, if you are exercising consistently and can't figure out why you aren't losing weight you just might want to look at the food you are eating. Just because it has the word soup or salad in the title does NOT mean that it is healthy for you! If you are not sure what it has in it, ask!! If you are eating out, your waiter should know the ingredients or can go ask.
There are many other foods that are not healthy, but these are two that I hear most consistently misunderstood. If you want soup then get a broth based soup: a vegetable, chicken and rice or vegetable and beef minus the bread bowl and grilled cheese. If you are wanting a salad, go easy on the dressing. Ask for it on the side and try the fork dipping method.
Once you get accustomed to the changes, it will become second nature.
