Being Smart With Condiments

One of the biggest reasons why people start gaining weight is because they allow 'sneaky' calories to get into their diet. Often this comes in the form of additional condiments that they are putting on their food that add up without them even knowing it.

It is perfectly possible to turn what would be an otherwise healthy dish into a diet nightmare simply by adding a small amount of certain types of condiments. The sad thing is that far too many times the individual doing this doesn't even realize the condiment has been put on their food (this occurs at restaurants) and therefore thinks they are actually making a very healthy choice.

The following are some condiments to watch out for that can really put a dent into your diet:

-Bearnaise sauce - ½ cup - 350 calories, 35 grams of fat

-Cheese sauce - ½ cup - 150 calories, 10 grams of fat

-Mushroom sauce - ½ cup - 120 calories, 8 grams of fat

-Gravy - ¼ cup - 50 calories, 8 grams of fat

-Hollandaise sauce - ½ cup - 125 calories, 10 grams of fat

-Pesto sauce - ½ cup - 450 calories, 40 grams of fat

-Ranch dip - 2 tbsp - 60 calories, 5 grams of fat

-Creamy salad dressing - ¼ cup - 350 calories, 28 grams of fat

-Vinaigrette salad dressing - ¼ cup - 420 calories, 44 grams of fat

-Hummus - ½ cup - 230 calories - 12 grams of fat

-Teriyaki sauce - ½ cup - 120 calories, 0 fat (but high in sugar)

-Plus sauce - ½ cup - 230 calories - 1.5 grams fat (also high in sugar)

-Sour cream - 2 tbsp - 50 calories, 5 grams of fat

Whenever you are making a dish that calls for one of these sauces or are ordering one in a restaurant it is best to serve it (order it) with the condiment or dressing on the side. This way you can control how much you are eating and can keep calorie and fat counts under control in your diet.

Or rather, an even better idea is to just substitute some of the above condiments with a smarter choice so that you can easily stick with your diet and ensure you food still tastes great. Here are some healthier alternatives:

-Black bean dip - 2 tbsp - 20 calories, 0 grams of fat

-Tomato sauce - ½ cup - 50 calories, 1 gram of fat

-Marinara sauce - ½ cup - 70 calories - 2 grams of fat