Bad foods that are (somewhat) good for you

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Feb 21st 2008 9:12PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

If you're trying to lose weight, or even just trying to eat healthy, you've probably long since given up on pizza and ice cream. But not so fast, says WebMD. Here's their list of five foods that aren't as bad for you as most people believe:

Red Meat. Protein is great for curbing hunger and building muscle. Just make sure you get an extra-lean cut.
Ice Cream. Studies show that women who eat a serving of full-fat dairy a day lose more weight than those who don't. Who knew?
Eggs. Eggs are a great, low-fat source of protein, and contrary to popular belief, they're not bad for you heart -- at least in moderation.
Pizza. With a few healthy modifications, pizza can be a perfect meal. Opt for thin, whole wheat crust with tons of veggies and just a sprinkling of cheese and you're getting one well-rounded dish
Bacon. Well, Canadian bacon, that is. It's got a third of the fat of regular bacon, and none of those worrisome nitrates. Not a fan? Try turkey bacon.

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Comments (7)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

nikkicookers 2-21-2008 @ 11:19PM

When you mention pizza not being that bad for you, you have a good point, but I want to point out to readers that pizza hut triple decker and stuffed crust are among some of the most fattening foods around.

nikki cook
http://fitconnect.com/lilnicky1234

Martha Edwards 2-21-2008 @ 11:27PM

You're right about that, for sure

Andrea 2-22-2008 @ 8:39AM

Great article. As far as red meat goes, I don't eat beef because I disagree with farming practices. However, I've recently started eating venison, which is healthier and just as loaded with protein. Oh, and it is free if you or someone in your family hunts.
As far as the pizza, that sounds like a great idea, but definitely something you'd have to make at home. I'd be interested in a recipe.
One more thing, my boyfriend has some blood pressure issues so any kind of bacon or lunchmeat is out. Even the low sodium stuff still has about 18% rda in one serving, which is NOT how much he eats. Does anyone know of a brand that actually has LOW sodium?

Jacqueline 2-21-2008 @ 11:55PM

I'm glad red meat is not totally out! I don't eat it very often, but sometimes nothing else will do.

As far as the pizza goes, I like to make homemade veggie pizza with the Trader Joe's pizza dough - just add tomato sauce (easy to make yourself), a little shredded cheese, and lots of different vegetables.

Gregory Moore 2-22-2008 @ 12:20PM

Im not 100% sure of the sodium content, but just yesterday i bought some maverick farms brand bacon that is applewood smoked and uncurred so it doesnt have any of the nitrates or nitrites usually in bacon. And if im not mistaken those both come from the curing salts they use, so it might be what youre looking for. They're also pretty big on free range and ethical farming practices from what i understand, so it might be worth looking into. Delicious as well.

They also have ground buffalo that makes a deliciously lean burger.

Andrea 2-22-2008 @ 12:27PM

Gregory,
THANK YOU so much for that info. Although I think the brand is actually Maverick Ranch, the info you provided was enough for me to locate their website. They do have nutritional facts listed, and the bacon has 2% SODIUM! That's amazing!
The next hurdle is trying to find some locally. We've contacted the company and the next step is requesting our local grocer to carry it.
Thanks again, what a great tip!

dumbsoprano 2-23-2008 @ 10:28PM

Great article! I follow heath articles closely because I have hypoglycemic tendencies, and this one was really interesting to me. Ice cream is definitely a new one for me, but I love the idea. However, I prefer yogurt(not frozen) because it has protein in it. I would advise everyone to avoid low fat yogurts because they often include fake sugars which dupe your system and can cause all kinds of problems. Like the article said, the real thing is better for you anyway!