Hidden food dangers

A perfect illustration of misleading is what happened to me the other day. At my favorite "after gym" restaurant, I decided to have a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. I figured I would splurge a little and have some fattening dressing. The calories, fat and carbs couldn't be that much I reasoned. It's salad with grilled chicken. After all it's my job to know these things.

My meal arrived along with laminated sheet from which caloric information on every item on their menu could be perused. So I decided to look up the feast in front of me. I nearly had a seizure as I read the totals for my so-called healthy meal (their wording not mine). With dressing on the salad the total calories were 1768 with 9 grams of saturated fat. Carbs were over 70 grams. The kicker was the sodium, which was an astounding 2700 mg!!

I always get dressing on the side so I was able to discard a huge portion of fat and calories. I didn't eat the garlic bread, nor did I have all the greens so I was able to cut a large amount of sodium, sat. fat, carbs and calories from the salad. If this was a healthy meal then I wonder what constitutes an unhealthy one. Let's just say that reading the nutritional info for the kid’s meals will send you running for cover. I want you to be aware of what lurks out there and how a lot of prepared food is not as healthy as you are led to believe. Don't be afraid to ask, and more important don't be afraid to make substitutions. All restaurants will accommodate your requests, you just need to ask. Read the tips below and try to incorporate them into your daily routine.

Here are 3 Steps why most people overeat

Let's face it; the extra pounds you're carrying around are due to overeating - plain and simple.

Why do you overeat? Here are a few likely reasons:

Habit: Whether you realize it or not, you eat in a learned pattern, rather than out of need. You clean your plate because that's what your mother taught. You eat what is served without stopping to check if you are full. You butter two pieces of toast for breakfast rather than questioning if one piece would do the job.

Absentminded: You forget to pay attention when you eat. Mindless munching while watching a movie, snacking while driving, or picking at food while cooking - these absentminded calories really add up.

Something Deeper: Sometimes you use food for recreation or to change your mood. These calories may lend you a temporary sense of comfort or pleasure, but ultimately your body suffers from the indulgence. Depression certainly plays a large part in overating and any eating disorder. Speak with your doctor about treatment.