Fit by the Fork: Four “bad” foods that are actually good for you

It’s time to examine the food labels out there — and no, I don’t mean the nutrition facts labels. Our generation seems to believe everything they read (fake news, celebrity gossip rumors and all that jazz). When it comes to what we put in our mouths, the same applies. The food on your plate can’t speak out against the stereotypes associated with it, so that’s what I’m here for.

Peanut butter

It’s a little scary to see that two tablespoons of good old peanut butter contain roughly 16 grams of fat (25 percent of the recommended daily intake for a 2,000 calorie diet). However, most of that comes from the healthy kinds of fat — polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. So fear not, just be sure to choose a jar that has no added oils (eek, saturated fat!) or sugar.

Full-fat ice cream

Because it’s seen as a junk food, it’s easy to be tricked into thinking that low-fat is better for you than the real deal. Here’s the scoop: your body actually needs the full-fat ice cream to feel satiated and fulfill that craving. What a great excuse to indulge, right?

Egg yolks

Eggs are one of the cheapest foods out there to meet your protein needs for the day, but tossing the yolks isn’t a smart idea, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. Egg yolks contain a fat-torching nutrient called choline. Scrambled, fried or hard-boiled, this power food should be added to your diet a few times a week.

Baked potatoes

Take it from the Hot Potato Food Truck parked on East Union Street. Baked potatoes are magical because they go with pretty much any savory topping you can think of. Want to know why else they’re magical? Baked potatoes contain resistant starch (also found in green bananas). Resistant starch is not digested until it reaches the large intestine, which means it feeds and increases the number of good bacteria there.

Moral of the story: don’t judge a book by its cover … or a food by its label.

Emily McIntyre is a senior studying journalism with a focus in news and information at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What foods are deceivingly bad for you? Let her know by emailing her at em564912@ohio.edu.