5 Appetizers to Avoid to keep your hot figuare for the Summer
It may be your waistline that blossoms if you're a fan of fried
onions. "It's good to start off with a vegetable," says Joan Salge
Blake, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
"But once you fry it, you're frying in calories." The onion blossom at
one popular restaurant has 1,949 calories, 161 g of fat, and 4,100 mg
of sodium -- more than double the daily sodium limit for healthy
adults.
WORST: Spinach Artichoke Dip
Don't let the word "spinach" fool you. Traditional spinach artichoke
dip is not a healthy starter. A typical order contains about 1,600
calories, 100 g of fat, and 2,500 mg of sodium. The trouble is the
cream base, which is loaded with saturated fat. If you make this dip at
home, try using a base of nonfat Greek yogurt instead.
WORST: Cheese Fries
The worst appetizers can "take over the meal," Blake warns. "Some of
them have more calories than the main entrée." One offender is cheese
fries -- French fries with melted cheese on top. Variations may include
bacon bits or ranch dressing. A full order packs up to 2,000 calories,
134 g of fat, and 2,800 mg of sodium -- more than you should eat in a
whole day.
Ugggggg, this one made me just slouch in my chair!
WORST: Cheeseburger Sliders
Don't be fooled by their size -- "sliders" pack a lot of calories
into a tiny sandwich. A typical restaurant order includes three
mini-burgers with cheese and sauce, totaling 1,270 calories, 82 g of
fat, and 2,310 mg of sodium.
WORST: Fried Calamari
Like many forms of seafood, squid can be nutritious. But when you
bread it and fry it in oil, you're drenching it with calories and fat. A
typical restaurant portion contains about 900 calories, 54 g of fat,
and 2,300 mg of sodium -- not including any sauce.
