The Worst Foods you can eat

Top 10 List how we choose

Bacon
Is bacon really all that bad for you? Probably not every once in a while, but
studies consistently prove out that you shouldn't make it a staple of your
diet plan if you want to be healthy. For those following low carb diets, it
might be best to mix it up with some leaner meats as well. One of the main
problems is all that smoking and curing of the bacon before it ever reaches
your grocery store shelf. So, the rule of thumb here is to eat bacon in
moderation.

Canned Chicken Soup
The main problem with canned versions of this classic recipe is the sodium
content. One cup of canned chicken noodle soup can give you a whalloping
1000 milligrams of salt. Yikes! You're much better off cooking up your
own version of this soup. You can always freeze in single serve portions, if
you like the convenience of ready-made soup. You can find some great
recipes for homemade soup at CountryLiving.com.

Cheese Cake
Cheesecake makes the list, more than likely because of those huge servings
of cheesecake doled out by restaurants like the yummy, but oh so sinful
Cheesecake Factory. Again, this is one of those foods that can be made
healthier at home with your own recipe. Any store-bought cheesecake is
likely to be filled to the brim with fat and sugar. Also, really watch portions
on this food.

French Fries
It's probably no surprise to anyone that French fries are one of the worst
foods you can eat. Yet, they seem to be as much a part of the American diet
as popcorn and apple pie. French fries are often double fried in oils that
contain bad fats that can lead to the production of cholesterol and other
health problems. Again, the solution may be as simple as cooking some
fries up at home. Try sweet potatoes instead of regular fries and bake them
instead of frying. There are many creative things you can do to make your
meals healthier. This is just one idea.

Fried Chicken
Anything fried is typically fairly bad for you. Even if you pick off the skin,
there may still be oils in the meat itself. Movies such as SuperSize Me have
brought the problem of the unhealthiness of the American diet to the
forefront of everyone's thoughts. While an occasional meal out of fried
chicken isn't likely to harm you, eating little fried chicken nuggets three
times a week, or feeding them to your children, is not the best solution. Try
broiling or grilling chicken breasts instead.

Hamburgers
Although we love the taste and smell of a grilled burger, fast food
restaurants that serve these beasts often come in the top 10 for worst for
you foods of the year. For example, Carl's Western Bacon Six Dollar
Burger made number one on Spark People's 10 Worst Foods list. Other
burgers that topped other lists? T.G.I. Friday's Cheesy Bacon Cheeseburger
and the Red Robbin Peppercorn Burger.

Hot Dogs
Once you learn what hot dogs are made from, it may gross you out to the
point where you really don't want to eat these favorite picnic past times any
longer. There are some tips, such as staying with Kosher or higher end, all
beef hot dogs to avoid some of the health issues with the cheaper varieties.
There are many different ways to serve hot dogs and different types and
varieties of dogs. All in all, they are still inexpensive fare when feeding a
large group of people.

Pizza with Processed Meats
Even though we know that pizzas are rather unhealthy, most of us can't
seem to pass up the opportunity to sink our teeth into that ooey gooey
yumminess. There are some ways to dress up an unhealthy pizza and make
it a bit healthier, so you don't have to feel quite so guilty for choosing to eat
pizza. First, layer on the vegetables. Second, forego the organ meats, which
add calories and fat. Finally, limit how often and how much pizza you eat.

Pot Pie
Even as a meal, the store bought pot pies are rather high in calories and
sodium and not too filling. Most people eat those little pot pies as more a
snack than a meal and this is where this food can really eat into your
calorie counts for the day. There are frozen pot pies out there with more
than 1000 calories and over 60 grams of fat. In addition, you really aren't
gaining many nutrients from these highly processed meat pies.

Potato Chips
Most of the potato chips you purchase in the store are downright bad for
you. There is about $30 billion worth of potato chips moved every year.
That is an amazing number of people eating a truly healthy snack. While
eating potato chips may not make you unhealthy in themselves, they can
put you over your daily calorie budget and they provide no nutritional
value, it's still fine to have them occasionally. Just remember to try
everything in moderation.