1. Diet Soda

It really should come as no surprise that soda isn’t a good choice when you’re on a diet. But, did you know that diet soda could be bad for you as well? A zero-calorie can of soda is going to be artificially sweetened, and researchers have found that individuals who drink these diet sodas end up gaining more weight in the long run. On top of that, soda could boost your risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Yikes!

2. Yogurt

Yogurt is often considered a good treat to have when you’re on a diet, but have you looked at the sugar content of your favorite yogurt cup? It turns out that plain yogurt is pretty sugary on its own, with roughly 16 grams of sugar in a cup. Add in fruits and flavors, and you could be doubling that amount of sugar intake in one sitting. That’s why this is one of the diet foods to stop eating. You could switch to low-fat, plain yogurt-- plant-based or otherwise--and then sweeten it with some maple syrup if you can’t go without it. 

3. Granola and Cereal Bars

Like yogurt, granola and cereal bars might seem like healthy options at first, but once you look closer and see just how much sugar these contain, things get scary. So, even if you are purchasing these when they’re labeled “low fat” or “low calorie,” if the sugar content is high, it is best to steer clear. 

4. Ground Turkey

If you think that ground turkey is a better option than ground beef when you are dieting, think again. This is one of the diet foods to stop eating because it typically has skin and fat mixed in. Just 3 ounces could give you a whopping 13 grams of fat. And ground chicken isn’t any better because it has more than 40% of the daily recommended amount of cholesterol. Yowza!

5. Fat-Free Salad Dressing

You know that you should avoid fatty salad dressings, but did you know that fat-free salad dressing also makes the list of diet foods to stop eating if you want to lose weight? Rather than avoiding all fats, focus on getting the right fats, such as those from olive oil or avocados. Those are beneficial, and they could help your body absorb some of the important nutrients, like beta-carotene and lycopene, that are in the vegetables in your salad.