Healthy today, not so tomorrow

It's hard to keep track of what foods are healthy on which days of the week during what month. This article featured by MSN Health reviews five foods that appear harmless but are not, followed by five more that are overlooked as surprisingly healthy foods. In short...

Not so good...

1) Drinkers of diet soda know they are saving calories, but apparently, there is risk that drinkers of the calorie-free beverage tend to overdo sweets at other times of the day or compensate for avoided calories with extra foods. This is obviously drinker-dependent.

2) Pretzels are great for a quick snack or salt fix, but varieties made with white flour should be chosen only in a vending machine emergency. A few thick pretzel rods with a few dabs of peanut butter will up the ante for lasting power.

3) Green may equal good when it comes to leafy veggies and ripe fruit, but any other items that claim to be "veggie"-enriched may not be so. Spinach wraps, for example, are dyed green and are mostly made of refined white flour (see #2, Pretzels). Stuff the wrap with the vegetable plus more veggies to really get the vitamins.

4) Blueberry scones. Are these really on the list? Scone is another word for flaky, trans-fatty, buttery biscuit. No misleading here.

5) Vitamin water has vitamins, but it also has calories...nearly 200 per bottle. Pop a multi instead.

Good for you? Who would have guessed?

1) I love a handful of sweet dried pineapple or a few crunchy banana chips, so it made me very happy to see dried fruit on the list. Although they are loaded with all the vitamins and minerals of the fruits they used to be, some varieties may be sweetened. Opt for the unsweetened versions and munch mindfully; calories can climb.

2) Frozen veggies are basically what they sound like: frozen veggies. Studies show that the amount of some antioxidants and minerals in nature's wonders actually increased when the goods from the ground were frozen. Make sure you choose those with no added preservatives or sauces for the most natural benefit.

3) Bananas? Another shocker in my book. As a die-hard banana fan, I find almost nothing wrong with this fruit unless it's used in cream pies. This article notes that this fruit is higher in carbs and lower in water than other fruits, but I consider it the perfect pre-workout snack for that exact reason.

4) Po-tay-to, po-tah-to; turns out they're good for you whether they're red, white, or new. USDA scientists found more than 60 vitamins and antioxidants in spuds, and more potassium than number 3 (bananas)! I see a meal forming here...

5) Juice is last, and I think I know why: higher calorie content, higher sugar, and lower satiety compared with the fruit from which it is extracted. Some new juices, however, boast antioxidant boosters, and natural sugars from the fruits themselves come with nutrients not included with added sugars.

Stay tuned...a new list will be out tomorrow.