As I get older, I increasingly realize that the foods we find delicious and the foods our bodies actually need are quite different.

If I had to choose two representative foods, I would pick ice cream and donuts loaded with sugar.

Of course, eating these occasionally isn't going to cause major issues.

First, let's talk about ice cream. If you think of ice cream as a food made from milk, it doesn't seem that bad for you.

It contains calcium and protein, after all. But if you take a closer look at the nutrition label, your perspective might change.

The key ingredients that make ice cream tasty are ultimately fat and sugar.

Regular ice cream is made by adding a significant amount of sugar to milk and cream.

So even a small amount can quickly add up in calories. The high saturated fat from the cream combined with the sugar is the real issue.

What's even scarier is how easy it is to eat ice cream.

If you were to eat 500 calories of meat, you would feel full, but 500 calories of ice cream can disappear quickly while watching TV with just a few spoonfuls.

Its cold, smooth, and sweet nature leads you to eat more before you even feel full.

Of course, since it contains milk, there is calcium and protein. But there's no reason to eat ice cream just to get those nutrients.

A typical cup of vanilla ice cream can easily exceed 250-300 calories, depending on the product, and it contains a significant amount of sugar and saturated fat.

Instead, if you eat plain Greek yogurt with blueberries or strawberries, you'll get protein and feel full for much longer.

Donuts are even worse. The dough is made with flour and sugar, then fried in oil, and topped with glaze or more sugar.

It's a combination of refined carbohydrates, sugar, and fat all at once. If you think a sugar-coated donut has about 200-300 calories, it doesn't seem like much.

But if you have two donuts and a sweet coffee in the morning, it's a different story.

You've consumed calories close to a proper meal, but you might find yourself hungry again in a few hours due to a lack of fiber and protein.

This is why I consider these two foods nutritionally poor.

High calories aren't inherently bad.

Salmon, nuts, and olive oil are also high in calories.

But these foods contain nutrients like protein, unsaturated fats, vitamins, and minerals that our bodies can actually use.

In contrast, ice cream and sugary donuts allow you to consume a lot of calories very easily, but they lack fullness and nutritional density.

Especially if eaten frequently, your intake of saturated fat and added sugars will naturally increase.

That doesn't mean you should avoid them for life.

Eating ice cream on your birthday or having a famous donut while traveling won't ruin your health.

The problem arises when these foods are consumed daily under the guise of snacks.

If you keep ice cream in the freezer and scoop it out every night, or if you eat two donuts for breakfast on your way to work for years, that's a different story.

Ultimately, ice cream and donuts should be thought of as desserts to enjoy occasionally, not as meals.

They are foods to be enjoyed for their taste, not for their nutritional value.