Hidden Calorie Countdown
Sneaky Calories that could derail your diet
Could your morning bagel or afternoon pick-me-up be sabotaging your diet? Hidden calories in many of today's most popular foods can derail even the most dedicated dieter or health-conscious eater.
You may know about the 580-calorie Big Mac, but how about the 700-calorie cup of coffee and 590-calorie muffin? Or the 660-calorie salad with 51 grams of artery-clogging fat?
Those are just some examples of the worst offenders. But by learning the calorie count of some common grab-and-go foods and adopting some simple preparation and ordering strategies, experts say you can banish many of the biggest diet busters.
Top of the morning: Doughnut or bagel?
Having just a bagel or muffin at breakfast may sound innocent enough, but dietitians say the size of those breakfast staples has basically tripled in recent years in many cases. Muffins that were once the size of tennis balls now more closely resemble softballs, and bagels have grown from about four inches in diameter to more than six. Of course, that means the calorie counts have also risen exponentially. For example:
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Muffins. With 590 calories and 24 grams of fat, a Dunkin' Donuts Chocolate Chip muffin makes a 200-to-300 calorie doughnut look relatively healthy. Even the reduced-fat blueberry muffin packs 450 calories.
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Bagels. A traditionally sized bagel, like Lender's Original frozen bagels, has about 200-300 calories, but a fresh bagel from Starbucks or Dunkin Donut's now has more than 400 calories.
Focus on the size of the portion. Try eating just half of the bagel or muffin. Buy one and eat it over two breakfasts.
Lunch: Choose Your Salad Wisely
Although fast food chains are now offering expanded salad choices at lunchtime, grabbing a salad at lunch isn't always a healthy choice.
Just because it's called a salad doesn't mean it's low in calories. Lettuce is low-cal and healthy, but it's what goes on top, such as fatty dressings, bacon bits, croutons, and crispy noodles, that can pile up the calorie count and fat quickly.
For example, McDonald's Bacon Ranch Salad, when ordered with "crispy" (i.e. fried) chicken over grilled adds an extra 8 grams of fat and 100 calories (70 of them from fat). Top it with a packet of the Newman's Own Ranch Dressing that's offered with the salad and you've suddenly got a lunch calorie count of 660 and 51 grams of fat. At that rate, you'd be better off with a Big Mac, which weighs in at 580 calories and 33 grams of fat.
Slim down the salad offerings at fast food restaurants and salad bars:
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Have the salad done "your way." Most people wouldn't think of ordering a burger with toppings they don't want, and the same goes for salads. Just because it comes with a host of options doesn't mean you have to take all of them.
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Explore different salad toppings. Try a new vegetable, such as hearts of palm, or options that add extra protein without a lot of fat, such as tuna, chickpeas, kidney beans, or a hard-boiled egg.
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Use cheeses sparingly. Sprinkle on a small amount of grated cheese for added flavor and volume without as much fat or calories as using cheese chunks or cubes.
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Adopt the "stab-and-grab" method. Order salad dressing on the side and use the "stab and grab" method of dipping your fork into the dressing before grabbing each bite. You'll end up using less dressing and still get flavor in every mouthful.
Snacks: Mega-Calorie Coffee and Triple-Sized Chips
Stopping at the vending machine or Starbucks for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up could end up costing you more calories than lunch if you're not careful.
A venti (that's large in non-barista speak) Mocha Coconut Frappuccino with whipped cream gives you much more than a java jolt with 710 calories and 26 grams of fat. If you're in the mood for something hot and sweet, a large café mocha with whipped cream at Starbucks will cost you 490 calories and the same 26 grams of fat.
But experts say it is possible to get your caffeine fix without breaking the calorie bank by following this advice when ordering:
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Ask for your beverage to be made "skinny." (That's with nonfat or skim milk.)
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Skip the whipped cream on top.
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Order the smallest size.
By applying those rules, you can slim down that café mocha to 170 calories and 1.5 grams of fat and get still 30% of the recommended daily amount of calcium and 11 grams of protein at the same time.
Or you can make your own iced coffee beverage by combining coffee, ice, skim milk, cocoa powder or cinnamon, and a packet or two of sugar-free sweetener.
Look out for chips. Snack-sized bags that once contained only a single serving of potato chips are now up to two to three times bigger.
Read the nutrition label and look at how many servings are included and look at the number of calories. For most people, once they have that bag open, they're going to eat the whole thing."
Dinner: Time for Portion Patrol
When it comes to eating a healthy dinner at a restaurant or at home, a little portion control can go a long way. Portions served at most restaurants are up to two and three time larger than the standard serving size, which is the amount of food that serves as the basis for standard nutritional information and calorie counts. Order dinner and take half home or share with a friend.
