March 2026 Newsletter

{{contact.first_name}}, have you ever heard of the “Mandela effect”?

It’s a term used when many people incorrectly remember the same thing. 

A common example: People often think it’s “Looney Toons,” but Bugs Bunny actually dueled Elmer Fudd in “Looney Tunes.”

Today, I’m going to examine seven examples of the Mandela effect that relate to nutrition and food. 

I’ll give you common mistakes and assumptions, then provide the truth.

1. Cheese and nuts are great sources of protein.

Both items are mostly fat. With cheese, about 75% of the calories come from fat. Same with nuts. 

While both foods contain protein, too, you have better options if you’re just looking for protein and want to limit caloric intake.

2.  All granola is “healthy.”

Granola got a blanket reputation as a “health food,” but many types of granola are actually “dessert.”

Check your labels: Is your favorite granola loaded with added sugars and saturated fat? If so, you might be taking in more sugar and calories than you want to.

3. Smoothies are always great for breakfast.

Smoothies can be great—but if they contain certain ingredients, or if you don’t watch portion size, you can take in way more calories than you intend to.

For example, a smoothie with juice, oats, peanut butter and fruit might hit 1,000 calories. That can really throw your meal planning off track for the rest of the day.

4. Wraps beat bread every time.

Lots of people will order wraps to “cut down on carbs,” but many wraps are much denser than bread, so you take in more calories in the end.

Check your labels! Two slices of bread will often fall in the range of 70 to 150 calories, while a 10-inch wrap can be 170 to 300 calories.

5. Salads are always low in calories.

Vegetables are low calorie. But when you add in cheeses, dressings, nuts and other toppings, a salad can deliver a lot of calories. 

The main culprit? Dressing—especially at restaurants. Ask for dressing on the side and use only a small amount if you want to reduce the calorie content of a salad.

6. Protein bars are a great snack.

They can be—but some protein bars have a ton of added sugar. In many cases, they are more accurately “candy bars with protein added.” 

If you’re after protein, look for bars without added sugar or lots of fat, and check the calorie total. 

7. Cooking oils don’t count.

If you’re tracking intake but forget to add in calories from cooking oil, you can significantly underestimate total calories in a meal.

One tablespoon of olive oil has about 120 calories, but many people don’t add oils into calculations because they’re “not food” and considered “part of the prep.” Oils count!

Need More Help?

I know nutrition can be confusing, so I hope this info helps you in the kitchen!

If you’d like to talk about a more detailed plan to use food to accomplish your health and fitness goals, let’s talk about it. 

To book a chat with us, click here [LINK].

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