Pros and Cons of Weight Loss "Diet" Foods

No matter which diet plan you decide to follow, there are endless pre-packaged foods and beverages you can use to substitute the things you used to eat and drink. There are packages of reduced calorie cookies, chips, protein shakes, cereals, cereal bars, and even whole meals, all ready to be unwrapped and eaten.

Are these weight loss foods okay to eat? Do they have more calories or less than "real" foods? Are there any drawbacks to consuming products like these? There are definitely both pros and cons with prepared foods.

Let's start with the cons:

Con 1 - Preservatives and chemicals.

Unfortunately, to make any food or beverage have a long shelf life, manufacturers must find a way to preserve the food so it doesn't spoil. That usually involves adding preservatives which have an unknown long-term impact on the body. Of course, manufacturers claim that these preservatives won't harm you, but many of them are so new that we don't know that for sure.

Con 2 - Hidden sugars and sodium.

A pre-packaged food may not be high in calories, but it may have a lot of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or sodium that can still work against your weight loss goals. If artificial sweeteners are used, that can create even more problems since some people have negative reactions to them and they have been known to stall weight loss for some people.

Con 3 - Bland taste.

There was a time when protein bars and shakes and other "diet" foods were really lacking in flavor, and thankfully that has been improving a lot in recent years. However, some of them still leave a lot to be desired compared with whole, fresh foods.

Con 4 - Not always good for you.

Just because something has 100 calories or is fortified with added nutrients does not mean it's good for your body.

Okay, how about pros - are there any?

Pro 1 - Convenience.

Pre-packaged foods can definitely come in handy when you're pressed for time and need to eat something quick, or while you are away from home.

Pro 2 - Can satisfy a craving.

Let's face it; if you're craving something sweet and your only choices are high calorie, high fat brownies or a chocolate protein bar, the protein bar is probably a wiser choice. In that sense these types of foods can be a good thing - but there is also the possibility that you'll overdo it and eat too many.

Pro 3 - Fill in nutritional gaps.

If you don't usually eat a balanced diet, pre-packaged foods can actually help you fill in the gaps in your diet. For example if you dislike most meats and beans, you'll certainly be lacking in protein, so drinking protein shakes can be a benefit - perhaps not quite as beneficial as traditional sources of protein but better than nothing at all.

Pro 4 - Affordable.

When these kinds of foods first appeared on the scene they were more expensive than they are now. Nowadays you may spend a little bit more on pre-packaged foods than on fresh foods, but not much.

When it comes right down to it, most health experts would agree that whole, "real" foods are much better for your body than anything that comes in a wrapper. However, at times you may find it necessary or even desirable to include a few meals or snacks that you didn't prepare yourself. You just may not want to make these foods the foundation of your diet.