Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle
  • News
    • All Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
    • Future Of Fashion
    • All Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
    • All Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
    • All Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
    • All Lifestyle
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Well, Well, Well
    • All Politics & Social Issues
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Vice President Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Moms
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Career
    • Charity
    • All Pop Culture
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
  • About InStyle

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • If the Coastal Grandmother Trend Isn't for You, How About Its Alternative, Fancy Grandma?

      If the Coastal Grandmother Trend Isn't for You, How About Its Alternative, Fancy Grandma?

      It's just as comfy but a tad more exciting. Read More
    • It Seems Like Everyone Has False Lashes These Days — Here's Why

      It Seems Like Everyone Has False Lashes These Days — Here's Why

      There's a reason why they're trending. Read More
    • 8 Ways to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress, According to Stylists

      8 Ways to Wear a Sheer Lace Dress, According to Stylists

      The pros are weighing in on this trick, celeb-loved trend. Read More
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion
    This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

    This Easy Guide Is the Trick to Finding Your Signature Fashion Color

    It's all about your skin's undertones.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
    • Future Of Fashion
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity
    The Best Beauty Looks From The 2022 Met Gala Scream Gilded Age

    The Best Beauty Looks From The 2022 Met Gala Scream Gilded Age

    Big hair, tiaras, and gold lids — oh my!
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty
    The Dos and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients

    The Dos and Don'ts of Mixing Skincare Ingredients

    Plus, when and how to use them.
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair
    How to Get the Wet Look Without Making Your Hair Feel Crunchy

    How to Get the Wet Look Without Making Your Hair Feel Crunchy

    It's really quite simple.
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle
    The One Nail Polish Color Your Zodiac Sign Should Wear for Taurus Season — and Why

    The One Nail Polish Color Your Zodiac Sign Should Wear for Taurus Season — and Why

    Leos should wear glitter, of course.
    • Astrology
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Well, Well, Well
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues
    50 Badass Change Makers

    50 Badass Change Makers

    The world may feel heavy at the start of 2022, but this list of change makers has us optimistic for brighter days to come.
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Vice President Kamala Harris
    • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Moms
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Career
    • Charity
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture
    17 Unforgettable Rachel Green Outfits You Could (and Should) Still Wear Today

    17 Unforgettable Rachel Green Outfits You Could (and Should) Still Wear Today

    From plaid skirts to slip dresses, we're ready to copy it all.
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
  • About InStyle

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle
  3. Food & Drink
  4. 5 Pantry Staples That Are Sabotaging Your Diet (and What to Swap Them With)

5 Pantry Staples That Are Sabotaging Your Diet (and What to Swap Them With)

By Arianna Friedman Updated Jun 07, 2016 @ 7:00 pm
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Pin
CEREALS WITH CLUSTERS OR CHOCOLATE
Credit: Getty

We all strive to be healthy, but sometimes, keeping up with the latest diet trends can be as exhausting as keeping up with the Kardashians. Enter The Naughty Diet ($15; amazon.com), an easy-to-follow guide to healthy eating created by nutritionist Melissa Milne, the brainchild behind the cult-favorite blog Eat This!. In the 288-page tome, Milne reveals that her savvy approach starts with the pantry—opting for nutrient-dense foods and banning artificial ingredients. Read on to see the five items that may very well be sabotaging your diet, and what to swap 'em with. You're welcome. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

FAUX-WHEAT BREAD

FAUX-WHEAT BREAD
Credit: Getty

There are many benefits to eating whole wheat, like reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes, but those pros do not apply to faux wheat. A quick scan of the ingredients list on the back of your grain of choice will confirm whether you're getting the real deal. If you're craving carbs (who isn't?), consider grabbing a fresh baguette, which is made with four pure ingredients.

1 of 5

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners
Credit: Getty

Pro tip: "sugar-free" does not mean "go crazy." Whether it comes in pink, blue, or yellow packages, synthetic sugar substitutes will still spike your blood sugar and can even increase your appetite. Instead, help yourself to natural sweeteners like brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia.

2 of 5

3 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Calorie-free salad dressing

Calorie-free salad dressing
Credit: Getty

"Calorie-free" is basically code for "loaded with chemical compounds and artificial sweeteners." Next time you're whipping up a salad, try making your own balsamic vinaigrette dressing using a 3 to 1 ratio of olive oil to balsamic vinegar, and season it with minced garlic, lemon juice, sea salt, black-pepper, and oregano.

3 of 5

Advertisement

4 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil
Credit: Getty

Don't let the name deceive you: vegetable oil is chock full of trans fats that can be harmful to your body. Stick with heart-smart options, like oils of the olive, coconut, sesame, or peanut variety.

4 of 5

5 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

CEREALS WITH CLUSTERS OR CHOCOLATE

CEREALS WITH CLUSTERS OR CHOCOLATE
Credit: Getty

Cereal of this kind is often loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. Start your morning right by sticking with boxes that contain four or fewer ingredients, or try alternatives like muesli with no added sugar.

5 of 5

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Arianna Friedman

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 5 FAUX-WHEAT BREAD
    2 of 5 Artificial sweeteners
    3 of 5 Calorie-free salad dressing
    4 of 5 Vegetable oil
    5 of 5 CEREALS WITH CLUSTERS OR CHOCOLATE

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    InStyle

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Accolades Licensing
    • Content Licensing

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithInStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright InStyle. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

    View image

    5 Pantry Staples That Are Sabotaging Your Diet (and What to Swap Them With)
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.