1. Buckwheat
Although it gets treated like a grain similar to rice, buckwheat is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel. In spite of its name, it doesn’t contain any wheat at all, which makes it a perfect swap for those who are sensitive to wheat or grains that contain gluten. Buckwheat has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and it’s also associated with helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. It’s also a good source of magnesium, which may assist in reducing blood pressure.
[See: The Best Foods for Lowering Your Blood Pressure.]
2. Sweetbreads
Not sweet. Not bread. Rather, sweetbreads are actually either the thymus gland or pancreas of a lamb, cow or pig. This organ meat has a unique smooth, creamy texture and a somewhat bland taste. Whether baked, breaded, fried or braised, if you have a hankering for a chocolate croissant, sweetbreads will not do the trick.
I know from experience. The first (and last) time I tasted them, I was at a party and my sister turned to me with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face. She asked me if I’d like to try sweetbreads. She knew I loved breads and sweets, so to me, it was a no-brainer (pun intended). After my first bite of the squishy substance, she announced I had just eaten “brains” — a far cry from a pastry!
3. Egg Cream
If you grew up in Brooklyn, New York, as I did, you probably know that a delicious frosty egg cream contains neither egg nor cream. This nostalgic summer thirst-quencher has been around since the 1930s, but you don’t need to call your grandmother for the recipe — it’s a cinch to prepare. With only three ingredients — namely chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer — you can whip up an egg cream in no time. Use skim milk instead of whole types and go easy on the syrup to shave calories without compromising taste.
4. Cream Cheese
Although cream cheese is essentially a cheese, it doesn’t compare to the (much better) nutrient profile of hard cheese. One tablespoon of cream cheese contains 0.9 grams of protein and 14.2 milligrams of calcium, whereas a slice of hard cheese provides about 7 grams of protein and 200 milligrams of calcium.
[See: 7 Ways to Get Calcium Beyond Milk.]
5. Apple butter
One of my patients swore off apple butter because of its cholesterol content. Rest assured, apple butter has no cholesterol, since it doesn’t contain any butter. Apple butter is primarily a concentrated form of applesauce that also has sugar and sometimes cinnamon.
6. Hamburgers
I don’t need to tell you this, but hamburgers are not made with ham. Some say the sandwich was named for the city Hamburg in Germany, but others claim that it first attracted attention via a vendor at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. In either case, the traditional hamburger is typically made using ground meat, such as beef or turkey, along with a medley of other ingredients to enhance its flavor. These days, veggie burgers are popular; however, they range in quality — some are composed of healthy, whole foods like beans and veggies, while others are made with more processed soy blends. Check labels to see what you’re really getting.
[See: What’s Really in Those Meatless Meats?]
7. Fruits de Mer
If you’ve seen this term on a French menu, don’t expect to get a medley of fruit. It actually translates to “fruits of the ocean” — in other words, a melange of seafood.
8. Rocky Mountain Oysters
On the flip side, don’t expect any seafood when you order this dish. In reality, it’s an appetizer made of deep-fried bull, pig or sheep testicles. Bon appetit!
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8 Poorly-Named Foods originally appeared on usnews.com
