Unhealthiest snacks including soda, chips, candy, and processed meats – avoid these for better weight loss and longevity

Top 4 Unhealthiest Snacks That Sabotage Your Health

And why you shouldn’t keep them in your house—even if you think you have willpower.
By Lorie Eber, Certified Nutritionist & Tough-Love Life Coach | Orange County, CA

We all love a little something to take the edge off after a long, stressful day. But if you’re serious about your health—or just tired of feeling like junk—you need to get real about your snack stash.

According to Blue Zones expert Dan Buettner (yeah, the guy who studied the places where people live to 100+), there are four types of snacks that simply should not be in your house.

He’s not saying you can never have them. He’s saying don’t make them convenient. Don’t let them be the default. Because if they’re in your pantry, let’s be honest—you’re going to eat them.

1. Processed Meats

Think:

  • Bacon

  • Pepperoni

  • Sausages

  • Beef jerky

  • Ham

  • Luncheon meats

🔴 These are directly linked to cancer, heart disease, and chronic inflammation.
They’re full of preservatives, sodium, and nitrates that wreck your health over time.

👉 Better swap: Roast your own turkey or chicken and slice it yourself. No nitrates. No junk.

2. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

This includes:

  • Regular soda

  • Energy drinks

  • Sweetened iced tea

  • “Natural” fruit juices

Even diet sodas don’t get a pass—they can mess with your metabolism and gut health.

🚫 Associated with:

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Obesity

  • Tooth decay

  • Gout

👉 Better swap: Sparkling water with lemon, cucumber water, or plain iced herbal tea. Refreshing AND smart.

3. Salty Snacks

Potato chips, cheese puffs, pretzels, flavored nuts—salty, crunchy, and engineered to make you overeat.

They’re:

  • Ultra-processed

  • High in refined carbs and sodium

  • Linked to weight gain and water retention

👉 Better swap: Air-popped popcorn or roasted chickpeas with a sprinkle of seasoning.

4. Packaged Sweets

Cookies, candy, snack cakes, pastries—basically, any “treat” wrapped in plastic and designed to sit on a shelf for six months.

🧁 These spike your blood sugar, crash your energy, and contribute to:

  • Weight gain

  • Tooth decay

  • Type 2 diabetes

👉 Better swap: A square of dark chocolate or DIY date balls. You’ll still feel satisfied—without the sugar rollercoaster.

The Bottom Line:

💥 If it’s processed, sugar-loaded, or shelf-stable for eternity, it doesn’t belong in your house.
💥 You don’t have to cut out joy—just cut out the junk you can’t stop eating.
💥 Out of sight = out of mouth. That’s the rule.

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Ready to stop letting your pantry sabotage you?

I’m Lorie Eber, a certified nutritionist, life coach, and former New York attorney who doesn’t sugarcoat the truth (pun intended). I help real people create real results—with zero gimmicks.

📅 Book your free 30-minute consultation: https://app.lunacal.ai/lorie-eber/meeting
📧 Or email me directly at: Eberlorie@gmail.com

Let’s clean up your food environment and your habits—for good.