Healthy Food Myths: Foods We Think Are Healthy (But Are Not), and the Opposite

OPENING

Welcome listeners to Ovi English School. Today we talk about healthy food myths. Some foods look healthy, but they trick us. Other foods look bad, but they can fit our day. Here is one trivia question: Which drink can have as much sugar as soda, a large fruit smoothie or water with lemon? I will tell you at the end. Visit ovienglish.com for free practice and transcripts. We have a free study guide for today's lesson. You can find the link in the description. It has vocabulary lists, exercises, and practice questions.

NEWS STORY

Last week, I went shopping with a friend. He picked a granola bar. The box said natural and zero fat. He smiled and said, this is healthy. First, we turned the bar over and read the label. The sugar number was very high. It was more than a cookie. The label on the front looked kind, but the back told the truth.

Then we talked about the word natural. In many places, natural is not a strong rule. It can just mean few changes. It does not mean low sugar or low calories. After that, we looked at organic cereal. Organic can be great for the planet. It means fewer farm chemicals. But it still can have a lot of sugar. Organic sugar is still sugar. Many shoppers do not know this detail.

I told my friend about serving size. On the box, numbers are for one small serving. It is often less than you eat. A cereal box may show half a bowl as one serving. But most people fill the bowl to the top. Next, we talked about fruit juice and smoothies. Whole fruit has fiber. It fills your stomach. Juice takes away most fiber. A large smoothie can have sugar like a soda. My neighbor drinks a huge smoothie every morning. He thinks it is a health habit. But he feels tired later. That is a sugar crash.

Now, let us visit a restaurant salad. The menu says super green power bowl. It sounds very good. But the salad is big like a mountain. It has sweet dressing, fried chips, cheese, and bacon. In the United States, portions are often very big. They are larger than in many countries. So the salad can be more than one meal. It can have more calories than a burger. So what can we do with salads? Ask for dressing on the side. Use a small spoon of dressing, not a lot. Add color with tomato and carrot. Choose grilled chicken, not fried chicken. You can still enjoy the salad, just with balance.

Some foods seem unhealthy, but can fit your plan. Dark chocolate is one example. One small square is fine. It tastes rich and sweet. Peanut butter is another example. One spoon is okay with an apple. It has protein, and it helps you feel full. Pasta or white rice can also fit. Measure the portion. Add many vegetables and some beans, fish, or tofu. Low fat foods can also trick us. When companies remove fat, they often add sugar. Flavored yogurt is a common case. It tastes like dessert. Try plain yogurt with fruit and nuts. It is fresh, simple, and sweet enough. Your body will thank you.

Let us repeat the key idea in new words. Read the back label, not just the front. Watch serving size, because packages are sneaky. Think about sugar, and where it hides. And remember your daily context. If you move a lot today, you may need more food. If you sit all day, you may need less. This story matters because we make food choices every day. Small choices build our health over time. Smart choices also save money. You buy what you truly need. In the end, food is not an enemy. It is your friendly tool. Learn the rules, and enjoy every bite.

CLOSING

The trivia answer is a large fruit smoothie. Two interesting things today were that front labels can trick us, and big salads or smoothies can hide lots of sugar and calories. Get more practice and a free quiz at ovienglish.com. Thank you for learning with Ovi English School. Take care, be kind to yourself, and goodbye. If you want to practice more, check the study guide. The link is in the description below. You will find vocabulary lists, exercises, and more.