The Best of The Worst
20 junk foods that are actually OK to eat
by Elizabeth M. Ward, M.S., R.D.
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What you're craving: pizza
What to buy: Amy's Spinach Pizza
Even if you eat the whole pie, you're taking in only 930 calories and 36 grams of fat (24 of them being the heart-healthy kind). Still feeling guilty? Think of the 36 grams of muscle-building protein and 6 grams of fiber you get in the process, as well as about 20% of your daily calcium quota.
What you're craving: cake or a doughnut
What to buy: Twinkies
They've got enough preservatives to last decades, but who the hell cares? At 300 calories and 10 grams of fat for two cream-filled delights, Twinkies trump almost all other ready-to-eat cakes. Just one thing: no deep-fried Twinkies, OK?
What you're craving: pie
What to buy: pecan pie
Yes, one slice sets you back almost 500 calories and 20 grams of fat. But since pecans are the kingpin of all nuts when it comes to antioxidant content, at least eating this pie instead of cherry or apple helps slay many of the disease-triggering free radicals running rampant in your body.
What you're craving: canned pasta
What to buy: Chef Boyardee Ravioli
Aside from a couple of chunks of pasta and a lot of sodium, the main thing you're downing when you eat ravioli is tomato sauce. And cooked pasta sauce is the absolute best source of the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene.
What you're craving: a hot dog
What to buy: Hebrew National Beef Franks
Since these dogs are kosher, they're made with a higher quality of meat; they also lack artificial colors and flavors. For an even leaner option, reach for Hebrew National Reduced Fat Franks. They're still junk food, but they have next to no fat and a third of the calories of the regular variety.
What you're craving: canned soup
What to buy: Dinty Moore Turkey Stew
As canned soup goes, this turkey-and-tater combo is remarkably low in fat (3 grams) and high in total protein with 10 grams per cup. Even better: The turkey in the stew is an excellent source of glutamine, an amino acid that provides your white blood cells with chow for energy to defend you against cold-inducing viruses.
What you're craving: something doughy
What to buy: frozen soft pretzels
Less dense and lower in calories and carbs than a bagel, pretzels are also cholesterol- and trans fat–free. To keep these street treats snack-worthy, however, brush off as much of the salt topping as possible before you nuke them.
What you're craving: a TV dinner
What to buy: Hungry Man Jumbo Rigatoni With Meat Sauce
For a frozen meal, this one rocks: It's packed with 28 grams of protein, yet it has just 16 grams of fat and only 620 calories. The biggest bonus (besides no cleanup)? It also supplies 45% of your daily vitamin C needs-essential for making the collagen that keeps skin and muscles toned.
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