Oh, the joys of Fall: leaves changing color, wearing jackets every day, and perfect football weather. Pretty soon it will be time for you to have an excuse to drink hot chocolate every night! Comfort foods, especially around Thanksgiving, are only an arm’s length away. Beware before you pick up that warm apple pie or big bowl of chili. Researchers at WebMD are telling us to stay away from these top fattening fall foods, but they left us with delicious alternatives.
1. Pot Pie
Store bought and homemade pot pie can have more than 1,000 calories in one pie. Not to mention a ton of salt. Instead try a roast chicken breast and a warm whole-wheat roll.
2. Tailgate foods
You’ve got to have a burger, a brat, queso dip and some spiked cider; how else will you stay warm during the game? Eat from a plate instead of grazing the entire menu. Also, if you’re throwing the tailgate bash, serve veggies and low-fat dip as part of your buffet.
3. Oktoberfest = Calorie fest
Bratwurst has about 95 calories per ounce. To put that in perspective, one ounce is of meat the size of 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. When it comes down to it eat smaller portions, choose light beer over regular, and limit yourself on how many “Das Boot” challenges you do.
4. Chubby Chili
The most important thing to remember is that chili can be an incredibly healthy meal... when prepared correctly. Instead of beef or sausage stews smothered with cheese, try chili’s with plenty of beans, veggies, spices, lean meat and a sprinkle of cheese.
5. Cream soups and Hearty Stews
Baked potato soup from Panera has 22g of fat and 1210mg of sodium. If you’ve been paying attention, that’s not exactly an ideal meal. Most restaurant soups and stew are loaded with cream, cheese and/or meat. If you choose a bread bowl or add noodles, you add extra calories. Choose broth-based and vegetable-based soups to fill you up for fewer calories.
6. Seasonal Beverages
If you wait every fall for Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, maybe you should reconsider. From lattes to hot chocolate to eggnog, seasonal drinks can carry up to 350 calories. Try hot green tea, which is calorie free and full of antioxidants.
7. Carmel Apples
Creations like these make nutritionists all over the world just cringe. A beautifully healthy apple turns into a body wrecking machine. Instead of the thick layer of caramel and nuts, try apple slices with a small portion of low-fat caramel dip.
8. Trick-or-Treat?
Unfortunately Halloween candy comes out way before the big day and extends its stay past the 31st. Stash sweets out of sight until Halloween night when the kids come by. When your sweet tooth comes creeping along, try fruit or sugarless gum.
9. Mac & Cheese
Kraft has nothing on your Aunt’s homemade macaroni and cheese. When the casserole dish comes your way, remember small portions. If you make it yourself, modify the recipe using low-fat cheese and milk, and even throw some veggies in!
10. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Whether the gravy comes from a package or straight from the turkey drippings, it’s not all gravy with gravy. Try mashed potatoes without gravy.
11. Candied Yams
Sweet potato casserole with cream, butter and marshmallows can reach 500 calories per serving. Try oven-roasted or grilled sweet potatoes to get your healthy dose of vitamins A & C without the extra fat.
12. Stuffing
A must-have on the Thanksgiving table is turkey with stuffing, so don’t skip it. If it’s grandma’s recipe, keep the portion small, chew it slowly and enjoy each mouthful, and resist smothering it in gravy. If it’s your turn to make the stuffing this year try using fruits, vegetables, and low-fat stock.
13. Pies
The idea begins right, using fresh fruits or nuts, but buttery crusts and ice cream on the side adds too many calories. Minimize calories by skipping the crust, using light whipped topping, and keep the portions small.
Store bought and homemade pot pie can have more than 1,000 calories in one pie. Not to mention a ton of salt. Instead try a roast chicken breast and a warm whole-wheat roll.
2. Tailgate foods
You’ve got to have a burger, a brat, queso dip and some spiked cider; how else will you stay warm during the game? Eat from a plate instead of grazing the entire menu. Also, if you’re throwing the tailgate bash, serve veggies and low-fat dip as part of your buffet.
3. Oktoberfest = Calorie fest
Bratwurst has about 95 calories per ounce. To put that in perspective, one ounce is of meat the size of 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. When it comes down to it eat smaller portions, choose light beer over regular, and limit yourself on how many “Das Boot” challenges you do.
4. Chubby Chili
The most important thing to remember is that chili can be an incredibly healthy meal... when prepared correctly. Instead of beef or sausage stews smothered with cheese, try chili’s with plenty of beans, veggies, spices, lean meat and a sprinkle of cheese.
5. Cream soups and Hearty Stews
Baked potato soup from Panera has 22g of fat and 1210mg of sodium. If you’ve been paying attention, that’s not exactly an ideal meal. Most restaurant soups and stew are loaded with cream, cheese and/or meat. If you choose a bread bowl or add noodles, you add extra calories. Choose broth-based and vegetable-based soups to fill you up for fewer calories.
6. Seasonal Beverages
If you wait every fall for Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, maybe you should reconsider. From lattes to hot chocolate to eggnog, seasonal drinks can carry up to 350 calories. Try hot green tea, which is calorie free and full of antioxidants.
7. Carmel Apples
Creations like these make nutritionists all over the world just cringe. A beautifully healthy apple turns into a body wrecking machine. Instead of the thick layer of caramel and nuts, try apple slices with a small portion of low-fat caramel dip.
8. Trick-or-Treat?
Unfortunately Halloween candy comes out way before the big day and extends its stay past the 31st. Stash sweets out of sight until Halloween night when the kids come by. When your sweet tooth comes creeping along, try fruit or sugarless gum.
9. Mac & Cheese
Kraft has nothing on your Aunt’s homemade macaroni and cheese. When the casserole dish comes your way, remember small portions. If you make it yourself, modify the recipe using low-fat cheese and milk, and even throw some veggies in!
10. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Whether the gravy comes from a package or straight from the turkey drippings, it’s not all gravy with gravy. Try mashed potatoes without gravy.
11. Candied Yams
Sweet potato casserole with cream, butter and marshmallows can reach 500 calories per serving. Try oven-roasted or grilled sweet potatoes to get your healthy dose of vitamins A & C without the extra fat.
12. Stuffing
A must-have on the Thanksgiving table is turkey with stuffing, so don’t skip it. If it’s grandma’s recipe, keep the portion small, chew it slowly and enjoy each mouthful, and resist smothering it in gravy. If it’s your turn to make the stuffing this year try using fruits, vegetables, and low-fat stock.
13. Pies
The idea begins right, using fresh fruits or nuts, but buttery crusts and ice cream on the side adds too many calories. Minimize calories by skipping the crust, using light whipped topping, and keep the portions small.
Article was provided by WebMD Healthy Eating & Diet
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