Right now, Americans aren\u2019t getting enough of the good stuff, research suggests. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just one in 10 adults in the US are eating enough fruits and vegetables. And many of us are relying too much on the not-so-good stuff. The Western Pattern Diet (similar to the Standard American Diet) is high in fried foods, processed meats, and sugary beverages, for example.<\/p>\n
Below, with the help of a few dietitians and nutritionists, we\u2019ve listed some of the biggest food offenders when it comes to health, alongside some equally delicious but more nutritious alternatives.<\/p>\n
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RELATED: Less Processed Foods and More Plants: How to Manage PCOS With Diet<\/a><\/p>\n But one quick note before we start: this doesn\u2019t mean that you have to start avoiding French fries or chocolate like the plague. Food isn\u2019t just about nutrition, it\u2019s also about joy, comfort, and tradition. We love compiling lists of our favorite candy bars<\/a> and fast-food options<\/a>, as much as we love learning about the benefits of sweet potatoes<\/a> and dark leafy greens<\/a>, for example.<\/p>\n Just like life, food is all about balance. But it\u2019s important to note that some foods are a little more impactful on our health than others.\u00a0<\/p>\n These are 8 of the unhealthiest foods, according to experts<\/p>\n Learn more from the experts below about which foods are best avoided, at least on a regular basis.<\/p>\n 1 Bacon<\/p>\n \u201cMost bacon contains nitrates and nitrites, which are preservatives that bring with them risk factors that are known to form cancer-causing compounds,\u201d says Palina Lancaster, MS, RDN, LD of Morrison Healthcare. 2 All processed meats<\/p>\n \u201cIn general, most processed meats contain preservatives, and several studies have associated them with an increased risk of certain cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer,\u201d adds Lancaster. Megan Lyons, certified clinical nutritionist and founder of The Lyons\u2019 Share Wellness<\/a>, agrees. \u201cProcessed meats have directly been linked to increased incidence of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers,\u201d she notes. 3 Commercially baked goods<\/p>\n \u201cCommercially baked goods like doughnuts or pastries are made with hydrogenated oils, refined grains, and added sugar,\u201d says Lyons. \u201cThese have the double whammy of creating blood sugar instability (and, over time, leading to insulin resistance if consumed regularly) and poor-quality fats that lead to LDL increases and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and inflammation.\u201d 4 Milkshakes<\/p>\n \u201cMilkshakes are high in saturated fat, which can increase your risk of heart disease,\u201d says Alyssa Pacheco, RD of The PCOS Nutritionist Alyssa<\/a>. \u201cThey\u2019re also usually packed with added sugars, which can lead to weight gain, erratic blood sugar levels, and inflammation.\u201d 5 Fast food<\/p>\n \u201cFast food has become a staple in a lot of households, and let\u2019s face it, at times a life saver to individuals that are on the go,\u201d says Lancaster. \u201cHowever, most fast food is high in sodium, making it a threat to your cardiovascular system by elevating high blood pressure.\u201d 6 Candy<\/p>\n \u201cAn excessive intake of dietary sugars can cause metabolic disorders and induce an increase in the body\u2019s inflammatory response, including certain pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can lead to pre-diabetes or insulin resistance,\u201d says Lancaster. \u201cExcessive sugar is also another low-grade chronic inflammatory.\u201d 7 Sugary cereal<\/p>\n \u201cThese classic breakfast cereals are low in nutrients that keep you feeling full, like fiber and protein, which makes it very easy to eat double or triple the serving size to fill yourself up,\u201d says Pacheco. \u201cAt the same time, they have quite a bit of added sugar in a serving, so eating more than the serving size can easily have the same amount of sugar as a can of soda.\u201d 8 French fries<\/p>\n \u201cPotatoes are naturally low in salt when you bake them,\u201d says Lancaster. \u201cHowever, once fried, this adds an unhealthy amount of saturated fat, and then comes the salt, and who can eat just one?\u201d For more plant-based stories like this, read:<\/p>\n Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Diet plays a big role in health. The foods that we put into our bodies have an impact…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":315706,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-315705","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=315705"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/315705\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/315706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=315705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=315705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=315705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"VegNews.baconinapan.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.baconinapan.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? Whole-food bacon<\/a>. \u201cShitake mushroom may be a fun alternative to bacon due to its slightly rubbery texture,\u201d adds Lancaster. \u201cAdding spices and maple syrup to textured vegetable protein makes a quick bacon bit alternative.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.hotdogs.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.hotdogs.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? \u201cChoosing whole food protein sources, like beans, nuts, and seeds,\u201d says Lyons. Research also suggests that while they are not a health food, processed vegan meats tend to be healthier than animal-based alternatives (read more on this here<\/a>!).<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.donuts.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.donuts.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? Get baking<\/a>! \u201cA fun alternative is to make your own at home,\u201d recommends Lyons. \u201cYou\u2019ll use better quality ingredients, enjoy a stress-relieving activity, eat less frequently, and enjoy the consumption more.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.milkshake.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.milkshake.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? Smoothies<\/a>! \u201cSmoothies can be a healthier alternative and can provide an easy way to get a lot of nutrition into your daily routine,\u201d adds Pacheco. \u201cOne of my favorite smoothie combinations is frozen strawberries, banana, almond milk, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and some chia seeds. You could add a plant-based protein powder<\/a> to give you a protein boost too!\u201d<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.mcdonalds.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.mcdonalds.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? You can make delicious burgers and other fast-food classics at home using healthier ingredients. Check out this recipe for\u00a0Vegan Copycat Whataburger Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich<\/a>, for example. We also love this tasty Vegan Copycat Crunchwrap Supreme With Gooey Cashew Queso<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.candy.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.candy.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? \u201cFruit leather is a great and fun alternative to candy available in a variety of flavors and is just plain fun to eat,\u201d she notes. \u201cThey are easy to make at home by pur\u00e9eing your favorite fruit and dehydrating it.\u201d Homemade treats are nearly always better than processed store-bought options. Why not check out our recipes for Mango Fruit Roll-Ups<\/a> or Vegan Copycat Twix Chocolate Caramel Bars?<\/a><\/p>\n![\"VegNews.sugarycereal.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.sugarycereal.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? \u201cMaking your own can be a lot healthier, filling, and satisfying,\u201d notes Pacheco. \u201cOats are a great whole grain to use as your cereal base that can provide you with vital nutrients such as fiber, iron, and zinc. Add some fruit, a scoop of nut butter, and some pepitas for a satisfying and balanced breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.frenchfries.unsplash\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/VegNews.frenchfries.unsplash.jpg\")
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What to consider instead? \u201cMaking fries at home by tossing them in a little olive oil, your favorite seasonings, and baking them in the oven, is a much healthier alternative,\u201d she recommends. You can find several delicious recipes for vegan fries here<\/a>\u2014all made without a deep frier!<\/p>\n![\"VegNews.CharlottePointingBio\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/VegNews.CharlottePointingBio.jpg\")
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