Nutritionists and Dietitians Dish on What They Would Never, Ever Eat

no one eats perfectly 100 percent of the time, but if anyone out there best knows what foods to avoid, it's definitely the experts who make a living showing others how to eat healthy. Here's a look at the foods and products nutritionists and dietitians said they certainly wouldn't consume:
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There are foods that should be eaten in moderation (think, ice cream, cookies, cake, cocktails), and then there are foods (or maybe I should say "food-like products") that should probably never be eaten all.

No doubt, items in the latter category may have a certain "tasty" appeal (honestly, who doesn't love Cheetos?), but since they offer hardly any nutritional value and in some cases might even pose a threat to your health, for the most part it's better to avoid them altogether.

What kinds of foods and products fall into this realm?

Nutritionists and Dietitians Dish on What They Would Never, Ever Eat
Non-Natural Peanut Butter (01 of05)
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“Like Skippy and Jif or any peanut butters that contain sugar and hydrogenated oils,” said Jennifer Cassetta, a Los Angeles-based clinical nutritionist and personal trainer. “Nut butters should contain one or two ingredients — the nut and salt. That's it. No sugar necessary and certainly no trans fats to help keep them on the shelf longer.”Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Things Nutritionists and Dietitians Would Never Eat
Raw Spinach (02 of05)
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“There have been several recalls of washed raw spinach contaminated with E.coli and Salmonella, which may lead to foodborne illnesses,” said Jennifer Glockner, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the creator of the Smartee Plate e-book series for children. “Unfortunately, additional washing at home doesn't remove the pathogens. Consequently, I recently stopped eating raw spinach. However, I love spinach and eat it cooked." Glockner noted that cooking spinach may be more important for the elderly, immunocompromised people, pregnant women and kids.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Soda and Sugary Drinks (03 of05)
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If you’re aware of the effects of sugar on the body, then this probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Still, nearly every nutritionist and dietitian we spoke with said, for the most part, they entirely avoid soda,diet soda and all other sugary beverages. “Soda pop or bottled teas, coffees, energy drinks, and most smoothies are sugar water,” said Elizabeth Somer, M.A.,R.D., an Oregon-based dietitian and author of Eat Your Way to Happiness. “A wealth of research shows they are directly linked to weight gain and all the diseases associated with it, from diabetes,heart disease and hypertension to cancer, dementia and infertility. In fact, a person’s risk for being overweight increases for every ounce of these sweetened beverages consumed each week.” Photo Credit: ShutterstockClick Here to See Things Nutritionists and Dietitians Would Never Eat
Fake Cheese(04 of05)
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“I will not eat anything with a ‘cheese’ powder on it, such as Cheetos or nacho-flavored chips,” said Natalie Rizzo, M.S., R.D., a New York City-based dietitian. “There is so much processing that goes into making those food items taste like cheese, and I just can’t justify putting that in my body.” Mandy Unanski Enright, M.S., R.D.N., R.Y.T., creator of Nutrition Nuptials, agrees. “Real cheese is one of my favorite foods, but these snack food items don’t taste anything like the real deal,” she said. “Anytime cheese comes in powdered or plastic form, that should be cause for alarm. And just like the fake cheese used in snack foods, these items come in an unnatural shade of orange.” Speaking of "unnatural shades," it's also worth noting that many of the experts we talked with suggested avoiding artificially colored foods, as many dyes (like Yellow 5, Red 40) have been associated with risks like hyperactivity in children, cancer (in animal studies), and allergic reactions, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Instant Noodles and Soups (05 of05)
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Tehzeeb Lalani, a Mumbai-based clinical nutritionist and sole proprietor of Scale Beyond Scale, said she avoids instant noodles and soups because they often contain excess salt, MSG, and added colors and flavors. She explained that they have a very poor nutrient profile and that MSG is linked to short-term side effects like headaches, dizziness and fatigue. “Recently, in India, a popular brand of instant noodles was recalled in several states because very high levels of the toxin lead were found in it,” Lalani said. “Increased lead levels in the body, amongst other things, leads to developmental delays in children and behavioral issues in both adults and children.”Click Here to See Things Nutritionists and Dietitians Would Never EatPhoto Credit: Shutterstock

Well, we recruited the help of a several nutritionists and dietitians to find out. Of course, no one eats perfectly 100 percent of the time, but if anyone out there best knows what foods to avoid, it's definitely the experts who make a living showing others how to eat healthy.

Here's a look at the foods and products they said they certainly wouldn't consume.

Katie Rosenbrock,

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