We all try to watch what we eat in order to be healthy and to maintain a healthy weight. We know that potato chips, cakes, and fried foods are going to pack on the pounds. What everyone may not be aware of is that many healthy foods can also be bad for you, and you may be consuming calories in your diet that are keeping you from meeting your weight goals. This is one reason why some people have trouble losing weight and cannot figure out why.

Dried Fruits – This culprit can have up to 8 times more calories than before dehydration. It is more compact, and a lot of companies add sugar for extra flavor. A cup of raisins can have almost 500 calories, whereas a cup of fresh grapes is only around 50 calories. Stick to a serving of a quarter cup of dried fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth, and be sure there is no sugar added.

Bran Muffins – This offender, though packed with filling fiber, is also full of butter and sugar. Even a plain bran muffin can carry a whopping 450 calories, 20 grams of fat, and nearly 35 grams of sugar. This is one you may just want to put on your “avoid list.”

Wraps – We think a wrap is healthy if we choose low fat cheese, turkey, or other lean meats, and lots of vegetables. WRONG! If you were to unwrap it, it would literally be 1-foot in diameter, so there is a lot of room for a lot of food on it, including the mayo or other dressing. Eat a regular size sandwich instead to save 150 calories or more.

Veggie Burgers – Yes, these little gems are great to keep your cholesterol low and to cut back on fat. The problem is that most of them are way too big in portion size, and then we toss it on a big bun with all the fixings. Depending on what those toppings are, you can easily jump to 1000-calorie burger.

Fruit Juices – It is best not to count on juice to meet your daily goals for fruits. If you consume a 16 oz. bottle of orange juice, you are downing a whopping 55-grams of carbs and 12 teaspoons of sugar. You could have a chicken sandwich on wheat bread, a glass of skim milk, and a chocolate chip cookie to equal that many carbs. Just eat an orange or an apple instead.

Vitamin Water – These drinks are refreshing after a workout, but you should just reach for a regular bottle of water. Vitamin waters can be full calories and sugar, so much so, that you could just drink a can of soda instead. Get your vitamins from healthy foods and supplements, and stick to regular H2O to quench your thirst.