10 Foods to Stop Eating Today. Since I’ve Eaten 6 of the 10 This Week, I’ll Start Tomorrow

Oh great, another "not to eat food" list that takes a direct hit at my food choices. Men's Fitness magazine recently put together a list of the "10 Foods To Stop Eating Today." They say that if you want better health and a better body, you need to remove these foods from your home today. If I removed these foods from my home, I'd have a pretty empty fridge and cupboard.

Out of the ten food items on the list, I've eaten six in the past week. That's not a good percentage.

Let's take a look at their list:

1. Processed meats - There's a study that shows processed, packaged meats are high in nitrates, which have been linked to stomach cancer. Have you ever put a piece of bologna in the microwave with a piece of cheese on it. The bologna curls up into a bowl and it's good eatin'.
2. Margarine - I have not bought margarine in years. First of all, butter tastes better, and in some ways, is better for you. According to Men's Health, margarine's trans fats are far worse than the natural saturated fat you'll find in butter.
3. Sugary cereals - NO! I love my Lucky Charms. Since these types of cereal are high in sugar and low in nutrition, sugary cereals set you up for fat gain and a 3:00 PM slump. I DO have frosted mini wheats in my pantry, that's a step in the right direction.
4. Fast food burgers - Ultra cheap food is made from ultra cheap ingredients. According to a study of eight fast-food brands, researchers found that all of those burgers contained between 2.1 percent and 14.8 percent meat. The rest was water, connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, fat, cartilage, and in some, even parasites. Yuck!
5. Donuts - NO! I love donuts! Of course I do, they're not good for me.  The article says some food manufacturers and donut shops use nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide, which is possible carcinogenic to humans. I don't know what I'm going to have for breakfast tomorrow.
6. Microwave popcorn - And, here I thought I was making a healthier snack choice by not eating a pint of Ben and Jerry's. According to the list, all of the trans fat in microwave popcorn pretty much outdo any benefits its fiber holds. Some brands contain diacetyl-containing butter flavorings, which when breathed in, can cause a life-threatening lung disease.
7. Toaster pastries - These are typically high in sugar, trans fats, and low in protein and fiber. But, they taste so good! Bye-bye chocolate Pop Tarts.
8. Blended Coffee Drinks - By itself, coffee is great for you, but by blending it, you're probably adding more sugar and fat. I don't like fancy blended coffee drinks, but I do like coffee, as long as it is half cream/half coffee and I'm dunking a donut in it.
9. Bagels - There goes my three-time-a-week asiago cheese bagel stop at Panera. They contain refined carbs, leaving you with little more than sugar in bagel form.
10. Soda - Mens Fitness calls soda public enemy number-one. According to a study, drinking soda can age you by as much as smoking. I've recently stopped getting a Dr. Pepper with my bagel and switched to iced tea.  Baby steps.