Are Hidden Calories...

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Wrecking Your Diet

Eating healthy and keeping calorie, carb, and fat contents under control can be a challenge in a world where fast food reigns supreme. One of the biggest obstacles to successful weight loss is the presence of hidden calories found in prepared foods you order from restaurants and fast food establishments. Hidden calories become a problem when you think you’re making a healthy food choice only to find later your meal was laden with calories from hidden sources.

Here are some of the most common sources of hidden calories and how to avoid them:

Mayonnaise

How many times have you stood in a deli or fast food restaurant and opted for the tuna salad sandwich rationalizing that it must be healthy since its fish. Yes, tuna fish itself is healthy with its low calorie count and high content of omega three fatty acids, but when the restaurant mixes it with several servings of mayonnaise, you have a hidden calorie disaster. It’s not unusual for tuna fish sandwiches in restaurants to have up to seven hundred calories. That’s probably a few more than you bargained for.

Salad dressing

You load up your plate with fresh greens, cucumbers, bean sprouts, cabbage, and tomatoes. These are all great, low calorie, high nutrient choices. You top it off with several scoops of the ranch dressing. You just turned your healthy lunch into a calorie laden fiasco. At this rate, you could have saved calories by ordering the burger and fries. Don’t let the salad dressing blow the health properties of your salad. If your favorite restaurant doesn’t have a low calorie dressing alternative, bring your own from home or use lemon juice and a little low calorie sweetener. Never let the restaurant put the dressing on the salad themselves. Ask for it on the side.

Beverages

In some people’s minds, what you drink doesn’t count as calories. Nothing could be further from the truth. Think you’re drinking healthy when you drink those presweetened bottles of tea? Some of them have as many calories as a soft drink. By the time you guzzle three bottles a day, you could have had an additional meal. Instead, drink iced tea with non-calorie sweetener or water with a bit of lemon. Why waste calories on tea?

Sauces and gravies

You may pat yourself on the back when you order the fresh catch of the day along with a vegetable. Not so fast! If the fish is served with a heavy sauce and the vegetables drowning in butter, you may not need dessert to blow your diet. Some cream based sauces are frightfully high in calories and fat. When you order in a restaurant, ask for the sauce on the side so you can dip your fork into it to get the taste. Ask for your vegetables steamed with minimal butter or oil.

Don’t let those sneaky hidden calories derail your weight loss attempts. Scrutinize the menu at a restaurant or fast food establishment and be aware of what you’re ordering. Your waist line will thank you.

by
Dr. Kristie