We all know that sweets are real calorie bombs. But other fattening foods can also mess up our calorie balance!
Of course, very few of us can resist having one or two snacks during the day. But even if we almost all know what a healthy and balanced diet looks like, In everyday life we often stumble over a few calorie bombs, that are less obvious.
9 calorie bombs that we should keep an eye on
While the high calorie content (kcal) in chocolate, chips and the like is clear to most, there are still some fattening foods that are not quite so obvious. These include these calorie traps in particular:
1. Sweet spreads
Jam, honey, nut nougat cream and co. are part of a good start to the day for many Germans. But these spreads contain a lotSugar and actually only belong on the menu in exceptional cases. If you don’t want to do without it completely, you can save the sweet sins for a small breakfast special at the weekend, for example. A good alternative for a low-calorie spread for breakfast bread, for example, is low-fat quark garnished with small slices of cucumber and chives.
2. Fruit juice and soft drinks
Fruit juices are real calorie bombs, although they are often advertised as consisting mostly of oranges and apples, for example. At first glance, they give the impression that they are healthy. It’s straight the fructose it contains is a real hidden fattening agent. However, doing without it completely is not absolutely necessary here either – fruit juice, for example, can be mixed with plenty of water and turned into a healthier spritzer, which is sometimes allowed with meals.
Of course, the sugar problem also applies to soft drinks: A liter of cola contains the equivalent of about 35 sugar cubes. Therefore, soft drinks should really only be drunk in exceptional cases. Water is best for health, but unsweetened herbal tea is also fine.
3. Sauces and Dressings
You treat yourself to a big colorful salad for lunch and you are sure that you are doing everything right – until you reach for a little too much salad dressing. Straight ready-made dips and sauces are real sugar bombs and can really mess up the known calorie balance. Any examples? A tablespoon of ketchup is equivalent to a whole sugar cube. And a ready-made French dressing has an impressive 350 to 450 calories per 100 grams. Homemade dressings for salads are best – how about a vinaigrette made from vinegar, honey and oil, for example?
4. Nuts
It is true that nuts are very healthy – they are full of healthy fiber and unsaturated fatty acids, which protect, for example, cardiovascular health. However, nuts aren’t exactly a low-calorie snack, in fact, they’re quite the opposite rich. The rule of thumb here is our best friend – and literally: A handful of nuts a day is already enough.
5. Muesli
Similar to nuts, muesli can be a surprising calorie bomb and acts as a healthy breakfast option. This is where the detail matters: Homemade options are healthy with chia or linseed and oatmeal with berries. On the other hand, ready-made fruit or crunchy muesli, which often contains dried fruit, not only has a lot of calories, but also contains a lot of sugar, even in a small portion.
6. Coffee specialties
Most people can barely get their day off to a good start without their morning coffee. Those who prefer to drink their coffee black, or at least only with a small sip of milk, don’t have to worry too much about it, as long as it stays at two to three cups a day. Coffee specialties such as cappuccino or latte macchiato, on the other hand, are quite a calorie trap: A cup contains around 100 calories – and without added sugar! If you also sweeten these coffee specialties, a cup contains almost as many calories as a small meal.
7. Ready Meals
If you don’t like to cook, you probably like to put one or the other ready-made meal in the microwave for lunch. As long as this remains the exceptional case, that’s okay. The situation is different if you eat mainly ready meals. Usually contain fewer nutrients as freshly prepared dishes and also have a high fat and sugar content.
Also, ready meals often contain flavor enhancer, which not only confuse the natural taste, but also increase the risk of diseases such as obesity. It’s best to cook for yourself – so not only do you know what’s in your dish, but you also eat less sugar, fat and calories, studies show.
8. Fried foods
French fries are certainly one of the most popular side dishes in Germany. But they also have a lot to offer: such fried foods are extremely high in calories so that in terms of calories they are actually more of a main course in their own right than a side dish. So it’s a real calorie trap!
A little hint: Since French fries are often offered as a side dish in the restaurant, ask for an alternative – for example boiled potatoes. If you don’t want to do without fries entirely, it’s best to make them yourself at home in the air fryer. It works without fat!
9. Alcohol
A glass or two of red wine in the evening, a cocktail with friends at the weekend – we are often not even aware of how much alcohol we consume in a week. This is not exactly beneficial for our calorie balance – because one gram of pure alcohol contains almost seven calories. For example, if you drink a glass of vodka with orange juice, the calories you take in will skyrocket again, since fruit juice, as we now know, is also a real calorie bomb. And as if that weren’t enough, alcohol also hinders fat loss.
Therefore, you should avoid alcohol as completely as possible during a diet and change in diet waive. Is that too much of a good thing for you? restrict consumption – for example, treat yourself to just one cocktail for a girls’ night out at the weekend and save up a few calories during the week.
Extra tip: Be careful with white flour products!
Foods made from white flour, such as bread or rolls, may not be classic fat traps, but with your health in mind, it’s better if you whole grain variant grab. Whole grains not only keep you full for longer and prevent cravings, they also contain a lot of healthy fiber. The only point that needs to be considered: Whole grain products actually have more calories than the white flour variant.
You want some ideas for recipesthat are good for your health? Here you will find healthy recipes for every day!
Sources