How to Avoid Hidden Salad Calories

By Genevieve Cunningham

When you're ready to start eating healthier, one of the easiest things that you can do is to reach for a salad. We all know that salads are supposed to be healthy. They are full of lettuce, tomatoes, and other vegetables. What could be bad about it? If you’ve recently made the switch to salads, it's important to make sure that you're not eating more calories than you realize. To keep your diet on the right track, take a look at these hidden calorie locations in salads so that you can avoid them for good.

Easy on the Toppings

Calories can add up quickly whenever you start to add toppings on a salad. And unfortunately for many people, it's the toppings that make it so good. Bacon bits, cheese, croutons, and even many kinds of fruit can pack on the calories before you know it. If you're trying to keep your salad low-cal, stick to vegetables and low-calorie fruit when possible.

Read the Dressing Label

There's no faster way to make a salad unhealthy than by adding the wrong kind of dressing. Unhealthy dressings come in all forms. Some are high in calories. Others are high in fat. And still others may be packed with sodium. It's important to read the labels so that you have a better understanding of what you're putting on your food. Stick to dressings that are on the healthier side, and you’ll be able to enjoy the salad without the negative consequences.

Be Aware of Portions

Portion sizes still count even when you're eating healthy foods. It's easy to get portion sizes that are much too large when you're eating a salad. You assume that because the salad is supposed to be healthy, that it doesn't really matter how much you eat. But this is not true. Look at the portion sizes of the foods that are included in your salad, and add up your calories accordingly. Doing this can save you from eating hundreds of calories over what you intended, and can keep you healthier in the long run.

Salads can definitely be a good addition to your normal diet. But it's important that you keep them healthy through diligence and self-awareness. Make sure that you're not eating too many calories by paying attention to these easily concealed calorie hiding spots, and your diet and health will be better than ever before you know it.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in South Gate, Calif.

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