I’m trying to lose weight, but I find the “healthy” supermarket ranges confusing and not as good as they seem. Are they the best option? Deborah, via email
You’re right when you say many “healthy” ranges are not always what they seem. The main reason for this is to do with taste. Fat contains most of the flavour of foods – so when you lower the fat content, you often lose a lot of the flavour, too. To compensate for this, manufacturers boost the salt and sugar content to improve the flavour. So although the label may say “low fat,” it doesn’t necessarily mean the food is good for you or even particularly low in calories. I’d even go so far as to say that some normal ranges of food are probably better overall than some of the “healthier” or low-fat options.
Don’t get too focused on “light” or “low- fat” foods – read the packet properly. Eating healthily is not all about fat – saturated fat is the real enemy, but salt and sugar levels are important, too. Women should consume no more than 6g salt, 70g of fat, 20g saturated fat and 90g of sugar per day. Too much salt raises blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke while, when you eat foods that are sugar-sweetened, it is easier to consume more calories, leading to weight gain. Home cooking really is the best way to go, as you have full control over what goes into your food.