NutritionHealthy recipes

6 foods that aren't as healthy as you may think

These foods can be deceptively full of saturated fat and added sugars.


LearnHealthy eating6 foods that aren't as healthy as you may think
Ground turkey
Sushi
Couscous
Nut butters
Frozen diet dinners
Smoothies and juices

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Clever marketing, celebrity endorsements, and social media trendiness can make it easy to think certain foods are healthy. But it’s important to learn how nutritious (or not!) they really are. If you train yourself to read labels more carefully, you can spot the imposters before you even toss them into your shopping cart.

Learn which so-called healthy foods may be deceiving you—and how to kick up their nutritional value.

Sources: Ground Turkey vs. Ground Beef: Healthies... + 5
  1. Ground Turkey vs. Ground Beef: Healthiest Meat. Unity Point Health. Accessed June 13, 2025.
  2. Mayo Clinic. Dietary fat: Know which to choose. February 15, 2023.
  3. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Sushi Basics. April 22, 2024.
  4. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Barley, Farro, Sorghum and More: 9 Whole Grains to Try. Accessed June 13, 2025.
  5. Mayo Clinic. Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health. November 15, 2023.
  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine. How to Make a Healthy Smoothie. Accessed June 13, 2025.
Written by Elisse Miller.
Medically reviewed by Gaby Vaca-Flores, RD.June, 2025
Updated onOctober, 2026
Written by Elisse Miller.
Medically reviewed by Gaby Vaca-Flores, RD.June, 2025
Updated onOctober, 2026
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