When choosing which food you want to eat, you typically choose by the description of the food. When you buy bean dip, you expect it to be made from beans. And when you buy guacamole,you assume it is made from avocados. But is it?
 
The Truth: Many foods on the market contain only a fraction of the ingredients you'd expect. Take guacamole for example - specifically guacamole "dip". Packaged guacamole often lacks real avocados but rather contains fillers and chemicals, including modified food starch, soybean oils, locust bean gum, and food coloring. 

If, on the other hand, you were to eat a real avocado, which is loaded with fiber and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, you would be doing your body a service. Look for the real stuff in labels or take control of the ingredients and make it yourself at home.

This same concept can be applied to many packaged foods available today. Yes, often it is about convenience, but try not to sacrifice healthy eating for a quick solution. Take a look at the packaging and understand the ingredients.

Fast food is another buyer beware scenario. Unlike packaged-food manufacturers, fast-food and sit-down restaurants don't typically rely on chemicals to enhance flavor. Instead, they pack in sugar and sodium, adding extra calories. So you still should ask the question, or order a simpler menu item, like grilled fish, where you know what you are getting. And if there is a sauce, ask for no sauce or sauce on the side to control what you consume.

Being aware of what you eat can make a significant difference between a healthy diet and a diet filled with chemicals and manufactured ingredients.