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.
