Committing to living well does cost more money than swooping through the drive-thru for a $1 burger. Nevertheless, when it comes to improving your health, shelling out extra money is worth the long-term benefits–unless you’re paying for healthy benefits that you’re not actually getting. Here are some healthy moves, that while well-intentioned, might be a waste of your money.
Buying Foods Labeled Antibiotic-free
According to the site Greener Choices, the food label “antibiotic-free” is completely meaningless. In fact, the USDA has banned its use on meat and poultry products. While similar labels with terms such as, “no antibiotics administered” or “raised without antibiotics” are allowed, there is no USDA verification system in place to ensure that the claim is valid. A better bet for your budget is to stick to meats labeled as “Certified Organic.” You may pay more for these foods, but producers go through a stringent process to earn the right to use the label.
Splurging on 100% Vegetarian
According to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), “flexitarians” (consumers who are have not completely resolved to a vegetarian lifestyle, but make an effort to reduce their consumption of animal derived products) make up a quickly growing consumer group. To target this demographic, mass-market producers such as Kraft, General Mills and ConAgra foods have launched their own vegetarian lines that carry a label indicating as such.
The problem? Vegetarian lifestyles come in many forms: Some avoid meat, fish and poultry, but eat dairy and egg products. Others avoid all animal products, including honey. Furthermore, there is no governing body that regulates the “vegetarian” claim. Unless you buy products labeled “Certified Vegan,” which are verified by Vegan Action (a company that certifies vegan products based on documentation from manufacturers), the “vegetarian” label can mean any number of things.
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Will Hayes Fitness of Charlotte, NC 
I think the overconsumption of complex carbohydrates is the real issue for dietary health. Potatoes, for example are rapidly converted into sugar by amylase in the mouth and the pancreas causing huge sugar spikes. Eating a pound of potatoe chips results, is about the same as eating a pound of table sugar and what health conscious persone would sit down at a table and eat a pound of sugar? But they are doing it in reality and not realizing it. Just about any starchy food should largely be avoided!
I don’t think all starchy foods should be eliminated, but I do think they should be eaten in moderation. Moderation as well as the quality of the starch should be strongly considered for those trying to follow a healthy diet.
The Paleo diet and the Atkins diet are probabley more correct for human nutritional needs, and neither allows bread or any type of grains. We probably get enough complex carbs from leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables to meet out needs.
Everyone has their own opinion and different needs, but I am going to stick to and keep recommending a well balanced diet.
My favorite quote is one that my Dad taught me years ago, “Too much or too little of anything is bad for you.” This applies for so many things and this is one of them. If you eat too much you will get fat, if you don’t eat enough your body will store fat, and if you don’t eat enough of certain foods your body will lack the nutrients that are found in those foods.