Spring is in the air, the sun is shining and the flowers blooming. But if you’re not careful your waistline might be blooming along with the roses. Kathleen Zelman, a registered dietician and director of nutrition for WebMD Health says to watch out for Spring’s ten fattening foods. Before heading out for that picnic, think twice about how you plan your meal.
Top Ten Foods to Avoid this Spring:
1. Ice Cream: A favorite at carnivals and birthday parties, this treat can be overdone if too much is consumed. According to CNN a classic ice cream sundae can have as much calories and fat as a T-bone steak dinner. Jayne Hurley, author of “Living Large: The Scoop on Ice Cream Shops” conducted an in-depth analysis of ice cream treats and their nutritional value.
“A chocolate-dipped waffle cone at Ben & Jerry’s has about 320 calories and 16 grams of fat. Add one scoop of Chunky Monkey ice cream and the total surges to 820 calories and 26 grams of saturated fat – roughly as much as a one-pound rack of ribs.”
Frozen yogurt shops like Golden Spoon (also known as the “Ice Cream Lover’s Frozen Yogurt”) are becoming increasingly popular with their non-fat products. Red Mango original frozen yogurt has 90 calories and 0 grams of fat. Pink Berry original frozen yogurt has 70 calories and 0 grams of fat. Red Mango and Pink Berry offer healthy mix in options like fruit, cereal and nuts. Sure beats chocolate sprinkles.
***Test your knowledge of sweets with this ice cream quiz.
2. Hot Dogs: They’re practically at every family barbeque or church event. And let’s face it-they’re quick, easy and cheap- plus kids love them. There’s not a whole lot to them either. Just squeeze them between a bun and squirt some ketchup. More toppings means more fat. An A &W Coney Chili Cheese hot dog has 350 calories with 21 grams of fat.
According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition nitrates are widely used in preservation of hot dogs. Researchers from the University of North Carolina found direct links with nitrates in hot dogs to childhood cancer.
Children born to mothers who consumed hot dogs one or more times per week during pregnancy had approximately double the risk of developing brain tumors. Children who ate hot dogs one or more times per week were also at higher risk of brain cancer.
Why all the bad news about hot dogs? For one thing, they aren’t even pure meat unless specified on the package. Most hot dogs are a combination of pork, beef and chicken. Think of it as a puree. As you will see in this video, they are usually “left over” from the other meat. See for yourself.
3. Chocolates: Hurley says eating chocolates has certain health benefits, but only in small portions. Avoid milk chocolate if possible. According to a study conducted by Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research:
Milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate … and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate
According to Daniel DeNoon from WebMD, dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant that can help lower blood pressure.
Try a few Godiva dark chocolate covered almonds.
4. Brunch: This has to be the ultimate spring feast. Brunch foods include quiches, casseroles, buttery foods, creamy entrees and loads of sticky dessert treats like cinnamon rolls and scones. All the mimosas add up too! Hurley suggests simply prepared eggs, sliced meats, whole grain breads and fruit.
5. Toppings, dressings, sauces: Just like with ice cream, toppings can load on unwanted calories. If you’re eating vegetables with ranch, make sure your portions are small. Try and toss the dressing altogether and drizzle vegetables with lemon. Limit the béarnaise sauce on that prime rib too, the egg yolk and buttery ingredients pack on the fat. Revolution Health recommends using one teaspoon of dressing on your salad- or trying vinegar.
6. Seasonal beverages: Spring Break gives people a perfect excuse to guzzle down margaritas, smoothies, iced coffees and other blended treats. These liquid drinks don’t always make our bodies feel full; so many people don’t limit their intake. The average 11-ounce margarita contains 550 calories. A lot of times additional calories are added to these drinks like salt on margaritas and whipped cream in iced coffee.
7. Passover desserts: These desserts contain lots of nuts, chocolate and coconut which can add up real quick. Sarah Krieger, chef and weight management specialist advises to try fruit for dessert and eat small portions. Cooking Light suggests Passover Pear-Ginger Crisp or Frozen Strawberry Swirl.
8. Salads: Try making your salad the entree as opposed to an appetizer or starter. Avoid bacon, cheese, croutons, and excessive salt. Pack in the veggies and always limit the dressing. Oil and vinegar makes a great dressing as long as it’s in moderation. Adding in fruit like grapes or strawberries changes the traditional greenery also.
9. Grilled food: Ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, and steaks have high amounts of fat. They also are practically inviting fattening toppings like barbeque sauce, mayonnaise and cheese. Swap them for lean meat, fish, poultry and veggies. Lemon and onions make great additions too.
10. Coconut:
Who knew? Coconuts might be the staple of island bound castaways but this treat can harm almost any dish if overdone. According to Hurley coconut contains saturated fat and in one ounce of packaged coconut there are 129 calories and eight grams of fat. Coconut is used in variety of dishes like cakes, creams, shrimp, pies and even sauces. People like to pack it on ice cream too (see item #1). Make sure you read the ingredients and see if coconut is used.
